Making the Case for Domestic Violence Prevention Through the Lens of Cost-Benefit
A Manual for Domestic Violence Prevention Practitioners
(and the State and Local Policy-Makers They Present to)
How This Manual Is Organized
The Manual begins with a discussion of general issues and ways of seeing prevention and cost-benefit on societal levels and then moves into the finer levels of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness approaches. Concepts, definitions, examples, statistics, and worksheets included throughout the Manual are in themselves tools for understanding and expressing the cost-benefit of prevention programs. The final chapter offers a comprehensive worksheet that guides readers through the process of making the case for a domestic violence prevention program from a cost-benefit perspective. Some readers may wish to read through the entire Manual from start to finish, while others will want to skip ahead to relevant sections.
Here is a chapter-by-chapter description of what this Manual offers:
Chapter One: Provides an overview of the manual and explores some of the challenges of funding prevention programs. This chapter also provides some examples of prevention programs taking place in California.
Chapter Two: Explores how cost-benefit thinking can be applied to domestic violence prevention and creating sustainable prevention programs.
Chapter Three: Defines terms related to domestic violence and prevention. This chapter also explores how primary prevention takes place within a system of community institutions and stresses the importance of collaboration.
Chapter Four: Introduces basic cost terms as tools for making your case.
Chapter Five: Provides a more in-depth look at cost estimation terms as tools.
Chapter Six: Explains why understanding the root causes of domestic violence is critical to designing an effective prevention program and introduces the concept of a “theory of change” that describes why a prevention program’s efforts will lead to specific outcomes.
Chapter Seven: Provides an overview of some sources for national and California statistics that may be useful in making the case for domestic violence prevention. This chapter also explores some of the challenges in finding relevant data, and how to adapt data to fit your local context.
Chapter Eight: Provides a “Making the Case” worksheet with questions, examples, and space to fill in your own information for making the case.
Chapter Nine: Offers a conclusion.
Appendices: Provide a glossary, annotated list of resources, references, and other useful information.
Additional Resources
Readers wishing to delve into other aspects of making the case for domestic violence prevention, including media advocacy and prevention program evaluation, may want to read through two companion publications published by Transforming Communities Technical Assistance, Training and Resource Center:
Media Advocacy Planning Guide
The Media Advocacy Planning Guide gives you tools to expand your use of the media in advocating for policies against domestic violence and eliminating the social norms that support it. The guide will give you techniques you can use in your local community to influence public opinion through the media; attract and shape news coverage; and use the media to mobilize your community. You'll also find tips and techniques for using the media overall, whether your purpose is to foster individual behavior change or shifts in the social environment. Throughout, you will find worksheets, exercises, examples, and tips to help you develop a media advocacy campaign.
An Evaluation Handbook for Community Mobilization:
Evaluating Domestic Violence Activism
This handbook offers clear, practical steps for charting the course of a community action campaign from early planning stages through final results reporting. Ideas for linking evaluation with prevention theory, campaign planning exercises, tips for collecting and analyzing data, and sample surveys and assessment tools are laid out in easy-to-read chapters.
Both publications are available at www.transformcommunities.org.