DELTA

Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances:

Resources   DELTA at a Glance

Purpose of the Program

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem in the United States. Research indicates that IPV exists on a continuum from episodic violence-a single or occasional occurrence-to battering (Johnson, 1995). Battering is more frequent and intensive and involves one partner who develops and maintains control over the other. For additional information about the magnitude and consequences of IPV, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) web site.

All forms of IPV, from episodic violence to battering, are preventable. The key to prevention is focusing on first-time perpetration and first-time victimization. Knowledge about the factors that prevent IPV is lacking. CDC is working to better understand the developmental pathways and social circumstances that lead to this type of violence. In addition, the agency is helping organizations evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs to reduce both victimization and perpetration.

The Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA) program seeks to reduce the incidence (i.e., number of new cases) of IPV in funded communities. The program addresses the entire continuum of IPV from episodic violence to battering through a variety of activities. Learn about other activities that CDC is engaged in to prevent IPV.

History of the Program

The Family Violence Prevention Services Act was passed in 1994 to support the work of Coordinated Community Responses (CCRs) addressing IPV at the local level. U.S. Code Title 42, Chapter 110, Section 10418, Demonstration Grants for Community Initiatives funded nonprofit organizations to sustain IPV intervention and prevention projects (CCRs) in local communities.

A CCR is an organized effort to prevent and respond to IPV. These efforts can be organized formally (e.g., nonprofit organization) or informally (e.g., group of concerned citizens). CCRs typically involve diverse service sectors (e.g., law enforcement, public health, and faith-based organizations) and populations. Historically, CCRs have focused on providing services to victims, holding batterers accountable, and reducing the number of recurring assaults. Few have concentrated on stopping initial IPV, otherwise known as primary prevention.

CDC was given the responsibility of administering the federal funds provided by this legislation. The monies were first used to fund 10 CCR demonstration projects. To facilitate primary prevention at the community level, CDC began funding the DELTA program in 2002. Nine state domestic violence coalitions were initially funded; five more were added in 2003.

The federal legislation is intended to support community level efforts. CDC funds state-level domestic violence coalitions to provide prevention-focused training, technical assistance, and funding to local CCRs. A local nonprofit organization serves as the fiscal agent and receives DELTA funding to support the local CCR’s adoption of primary prevention principles and practices. CCRs integrate prevention strategies through increased cooperation and coordination among participating sectors.

Program Concepts

Primary prevention is the cornerstone of the DELTA Program. Program activities are guided by a set of prevention principles including:

• Preventing first-time perpetration and first-time victimization;
• Reducing risk factors associated with IPV perpetration or victimization;
• Promoting protective factors that reduce the likelihood of IPV;
• Planning evidence-based programs;
• Using behavior and social change theories in prevention program planning and evaluation;
• Evaluating prevention programs and using results to form future program plans.

Prevention requires understanding the circumstances and factors that influence violence. CDC uses a four-level, social ecological model to better understand violence and potential strategies for prevention. This model considers the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors, and allows us to address risk and protective factors from multiple domains.

The DELTA program encourages the development of comprehensive prevention strategies through a continuum of activities that address all levels of the social ecology. It is important that these activities are developmentally appropriate and are conducted over several life stages. This approach is more likely to prevent IPV across a lifetime than any single intervention or policy change.

STATES funded in United States:

LOCAL Programs funded in North Dakota:

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kelly Moe Litke
DELTA Program Director
North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services/Coalition Against Sexual Assault
418 East Rosser, # 320
Bismarck, ND 58501
888-255-6240/701-255-6240, ext. 16
[Email]