Protection and assistance in cases of domestic violence - an interdisciplinary online course

E-learning, domestic violence, violence in couple relationships, women’s shelter, child and youth welfare

Prof. Dr. Barbara Kavemann, SoFFi.F, Berlin

Prof. Dr. em. Cornelia Helfferich, SoFFI.F, Berlin

Dr. Thomas Meysen, SOCLES International Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Heidelberg

Prof. Dr. Andreas Jud, Universitätsklinikum Ulm

Dr. Ulrike Hoffmann, Universitätsklinikum Ulm

05/2019-04/2022

Violence in couple relationships is a common problem that has massive individual and social consequences. Women and their children who are particularly severly burdened partially find refuge in women’s shelters, where they experience safety and protection and where they also receive diverse support from the women’s shelter staff. In order to (further) qualify these em-ployees and other professionals who are active in the protection and assistance against do-mestic violence for their demanding work, this project aims to develop an interdisciplinary e-learning curriculum. The online training provides comprehensive knowledge (and know-how) for specialized support and care of women and their children after experiences of violence. Furthermore, the interdisciplinarity of the training can contribute to improve the cooperation of the various players who are involved in protection and help processes by, for example, promoting knowledge about one another, developing a “common language” as well as adopting integrated professional and ethical perspectives.

Project description 

The project is divided into three phases, which include the following elements:

• 1st project year: Conception of a first version of the e-learning program
• 2nd project year: First Run with a first test cohort, including evaluation, contentwise and technical optimization.
• 3rd project year: Second Run with a second test cohort including evaluation, repeated revision and consolidation of the course

The training will be modularly structured in analogy to the other proven e-learning programs from Ulm (https://elearning-kinderschutz.de/). Each module consists of various learning units imparting basic but also in-depth knowledge of specific aspects. Additionally, case studies, self-reflexion areas and exercises are used to practice and consolidate practical competences and socalled soft skills.
Further workshops with relevant professionals accompanying the process should help to integrate their experience and expertise into the curriculum. That way, a curriculum can be developed which is both relevant and practical for daily life as well as tested by addressees.