Domestic Violence Enhanced
Home Visitation Intervention (DOVE) Project
Funded by National Institutes of Nursing Research

Children witnessing the intimate partner violence (IPV) of their mothers are known to have serious long term physical health, mental health and behavioral consequences. Half of child witnesses to IPV are less than six years old.

Little is known about appropriate interventions for infants/toddlers and their abused mothers. This study will rigorously test the effectiveness of the structured IPV intervention (DOVE intervention) in 360 mothers and infants, in three different settings, using three different designs.

"This innovative intervention has the potential to improve the health of a significant number of women who experience intimate partner violence during pregnancy and towards helping the 3-10 million children who witness this violence each year," says principal investigator Phyllis Sharps, PhD, RN, FAAN.