Development and Evaluation of a Supplemental Curriculum For Working With Female Domestic Violence Offenders: A Narrative Approach

The present qualitative study was comprised of two parts: 1) the creation of a Narratively-informed supplemental curriculum for treating female domestic violence offenders who have been court-mandated to complete at least 16 weeks of a Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) and 2) an evaluation of the supplemental curriculum by former and current group facilitators of female-exclusive BIPs. The supplemental curriculum was intended to be integrated into current curriculums used by Batterer Intervention Programs within the state of California. The curriculum modules examined three separate factors that may contribute to the domestic violence committed by female offenders: 1) prior domestic violence victimization, 2) attachment style and relationship patterns and 3) the influence of cultural values. Specific models and themes of Narrative Therapy informed the framework of each curriculum module.;Past and current group facilitators of female-exclusive BIPs reviewed the supplemental curriculum and provided feedback. The participants indicated the following: the curriculum modules were easy to understand, the content of the modules mostly applied to their female BIP clients, and the exercises and/or discussions were found helpful. However, some participants expressed: particular Narrative terminology was not familiar and may not be easily understood by BIP clients; portions of Module 1 were not applicable to some female BIP clients; and the group exercises and discussions were not allotted enough time to allow clients to adequately process the information. Regarding the overall quality of the supplemental curriculum, participants found: the supplemental curriculum mostly addressed the needs of the female batterer; the Narratively-informed format of the curriculum modules was mostly useful; the Understanding Attachment Styles and Relationship Patterns Module was the most applicable to female BIP clients; none of the curriculum modules were least applicable to female BIP clients; and, the amount of time allotted to cover each module needed to be increased. Feedback regarding unfamiliarity with Narrative terms and a need to allow more time for each module was incorporated in to the final edition of the curriculum. This study recommends the supplemental curriculum to be tested within BIP programs in an effort to gain more feedback on the usefulness and applicability of the curriculum's content.