Centering Community Voices: An HBCU Led, Community Engaged Approach to DV/IPV Prevention, Social Work Education, Research & Practice

Background and Purpose

Domestic and intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) among adolescents, college-aged students, emerging adults, and adults remains a significant yet underexamined public health and social justice issue, particularly in marginalized communities impacted by structural inequities. Youth ages 15 to 24 experience some of the highest rates of relationship violence. However, prevention efforts often fail to center lived experiences or address structural barriers such as unequal access to education, culturally responsive mental health services, and community disinvestment. These conditions shape how individuals understand relationships, recognize harm, and seek support during key developmental transitions.

Aligned with the 2027 SSWR conference theme, this study positions community-engaged, HBCU-led research as critical to advancing equity and the common good. The purpose of this study is to examine how participants understand relationship dynamics, identify IPV warning signs, and navigate barriers to help-seeking. The guiding research question is: How do individuals understand and respond to IPV within structural and cultural contexts?

Methods

This exploratory study uses a qualitative, community-engaged design. Data were collected from participants at an HBCU-led DV/IPV research symposium focused on prevention, policy, culture, and survivor-centered pathways to safety. Participants included youth, college-aged students, emerging adults, and adults recruited through symposium registration and community outreach.

Data collection included participatory dialogue in breakout sessions and pre- and post-symposium surveys. Surveys assessed changes in DV/IPV knowledge, ability to identify warning signs, confidence in responding to disclosures, and awareness of referral resources. Open-ended questions captured key takeaways and the intended application of knowledge.

Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, while survey data were summarized using descriptive statistics to assess changes in knowledge and self-efficacy.

Expected Findings

Findings are expected to highlight the importance of culturally responsive, peer-informed dialogue in shaping understanding of DV/IPV. Participants identified HBCUs and community organizations as trusted spaces for education, prevention, and support. Themes are expected to emphasize the role of cultural expression, shared lived experiences, and open dialogue in reducing stigma and promoting help-seeking. Participants also reported increased motivation to engage in prevention and advocacy efforts.

Conclusions and Implications

This study demonstrates the value of community-engaged, culturally centered symposium models in advancing DV/IPV education and prevention. Findings suggest these models can strengthen social work education at the BSW and MSW levels by integrating culturally responsive, practice-informed approaches that connect research, teaching, and community engagement.

The study also highlights policy and programmatic implications at local, state, and national levels, including the need to invest in prevention efforts within educational and community-based settings. By centering racial equity and lived experience, this research advances social work as a discipline and underscores the importance of rigorous, community-engaged scholarship to inform policy, strengthen practice, and promote inclusive approaches to violence prevention and public health.