The WINGS training manual outlines the implementation of a comprehensive intervention program designed to address intimate partner violence (IPV) and substance abuse among women, especially those at risk in community settings.
Program Overview
WINGS (Women Initiating New Goals of Safety) is an evidence-based SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) model guided by social cognitive theory. The manual details the core elements required for successful delivery, including facilitator training, recruitment strategies, intervention design, agency capacity, and ongoing evaluation. It emphasizes adapting the program to local contexts while preserving its essential components.
Key Components and Activities
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Facilitator Training: Staff must understand session content, intervention principles, and possess strong facilitation skills. The manual provides guidance on supervision and practice to ensure high-quality delivery.
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Participant Recruitment: Agencies develop targeted outreach plans to identify women at risk, utilizing both traditional and community-based methods.
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Intervention Delivery: WINGS sessions help women identify different types of IPV, develop self-efficacy, create safety plans, enhance social support, and connect to IPV-related resources. Both in-person and computerized modules are described.
The manual presents a framework for monitoring and evaluation, including formative evaluation (identifying participant needs), process monitoring (tracking delivery and resources), process evaluation (ensuring fidelity to the intervention), and outcome monitoring (measuring client knowledge, behaviors, and safety outcomes). Sample forms and recommended procedures for designing and conducting these evaluations are included to help agencies ensure accountability and program improvement.
Safety, Ethics, and Adaptation
Guidance is provided on legal and ethical considerations, such as confidentiality, reporting requirements for IPV and other abuses, consent procedures, and compliance with regulations like HIPAA. The manual describes protocols for preventing and responding to participant distress or challenging behaviors, emphasizing staff supervision and emergency procedures. Adaptation strategies are detailed for customizing WINGS to local needs while maintaining core fidelity.
Summary of Goals
WINGS aims to:
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Motivate participant engagement in IPV prevention within a safe environment
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Raise awareness and reduce personal risk for IPV
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Support safety planning, social network enhancement, and relapse prevention
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Link participants to appropriate substance abuse and IPV services
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Maintain ongoing program effectiveness through structured evaluation and staff training
The manual is accompanied by appendices offering practical tools, consent forms, evaluation templates, and detailed protocols to support agencies through each step of program implementation