Document Type
Portfolio
Publication Date
Fall 2025
Abstract
Goal Statement: The goal of my social change project is to reduce and prevent intimate partner violence in King County, WA, through educational awareness, training, and supportive resources for victims and perpetrators, as well as the communities in which they reside. Significant Findings: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a preventable public health issue that affects millions of Americans and their communities, and it can occur across an entire lifespan. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) suggests that an estimated 8.5 million women and 4 million men in the United States have reported experiencing a level of IPV before they reached the age of 18 (Niolon et al., 2017). Victims of IPV are often left to face mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as an increased risk of homicide (King County, 2023). In this prevention portfolio, I provide an overview of IPV reduction and prevention by recognizing and discussing the risk and protective factors, as well as the barriers that exist at the institutional, community, and public policy levels, and the roles they play in prevention and reduction methods within a community. Objectives/Strategies/Interventions/Next Steps: A vital step in preventing IPV in King County, Washington, will include educating and raising awareness about the prevalence of the issue. This will include strategies and interventions involving educational campaigns in the community, as well as partnerships with various leaders, businesses, and medical and mental health facilities. The screening process within medical facilities will benefit greatly from additional training and resources for how to look for signs of both victims and abusers, and ensure that support resources are accessible. By focusing on this training, the healthcare professionals will be better equipped to recognize these signs and provide the support necessary. Additionally, breaking down the stigma surrounding the topic of IPV will be crucial to working through the barriers that exist in the community. This will include proactively working to provide resources and shelters that are both gender inclusive, as well as ones geared towards the particular needs of male victims. Reaching out and partnering with the Safe at Home program to allow both individuals as well as couples to receive the mental and relationship resources and support they need to reduce the likelihood of IPV occurring will be a vital step within the community in prevention and reduction. Adhereing to ethical guidelines, particularly regarding confidentiality and the exceptions that apply as well as advocating for the marginalized populations and the socioeconomic barriers that prevent marginalized populations from accessing the resources they need to overcome IPV in their lives will be essential to the success of prevention and reduction.
