Developing a Faith-Based Intervention to Address Domestic Violence in the African American Community

Purpose: This paper provides information on a project focused on the development of a culturally competent faith-based intervention targeted towards stopping domestic violence in the Black community. The project provided Black churches with an opportunity (1) to learn more about domestic violence and its impact within the Black community, (2) to discuss how domestic violence can be reinforced through the Church, and (3) to examine responses to the problem using a faith-based approach. African Americans are more likely to suffer lethal injuries, serious health consequences, and death as a result of domestic violence than other populations (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). African Americans often experience barriers to care and limited access to formal service providers that impede their ability to address this issue within the professional community (Bent-Goodley, 2007; Williams, 1999). Services are often not geographically accessible and not integrated with other needed services. In addition, limited culturally competent services and poor service provision have resulted in African Americans turning to their families for support first and their religious communities next to deal with domestic violence (Bent-Goodley & Fowler, 2006; West, 1999).

Method: The participants completed a survey that assessed their knowledge, beliefs and experiences with domestic violence (n=122). Second, the participants had an opportunity to participate in Community Education Groups (CEG), which formed the basis for the 7-week intervention. The curriculum items explored the following topics: (1) the purpose of the program and its importance, (2) understanding domestic violence, (3) examining domestic violence within the African American community, (4) exploring strategies of what constitutes a faith-based response to domestic violence in the Black community, (5) identifying domestic violence, (6) exploring how to bring public awareness to domestic violence, and (7) evaluating the project. Following the implementation of the intervention, three focus groups were conducted to obtain feedback of the CEG topics and discussion (n=21).

Results: Nearly one-fifth (17%) of the respondents had a rigid sex-role perception that was linked to more lenient perceptions about domestic violence. One out of three of the participants had experienced physical abuse by an intimate partner. Over one-third had experienced emotional and psychological abuse. Close to one-third (27%) identified as having been physically abuse towards an intimate partner. The majority of the participants had never sought any help from a formal provider for these experiences. The men identified that there is a male code of conduct that often inhibits men from confronting other men about abusive behavior even when they know it is wrong.

Conclusions and Implications: The implications of this research include (1) the need to develop more culturally competent faith-based initiatives, (2) to strengthen the ability of professional social workers to engage the religious community to provide services, (3) the need to better engage men in finding solutions to end partner violence, and (4) to develop community education initiatives that are culturally competent.