Program History and Results

Background

In 2012, Extension faculty based in two rural Nevada counties completed formal needs assessments to identify issues important to community members. The results revealed domestic violence prevention was a high-priority issue for Elko and Churchill Counties residents.

Services in rural Nevada are often limited to victim crisis intervention and few if any, prevention or intervention education programs are available for children and their non-abusive parents. Instead of waiting for youth to exhibit risky behaviors or enter the justice system, Extension faculty developed a family strengths-based intervention program,  Heart & Hope.

Heart & Hope increases the protective factors that create healthy home environments in order to break the cycle of domestic violence such as

• Healthy parent-child relationships
• Positive family dynamics
• Emotionally supportive environments