Interventions that Matter: Researcher-Practitioner Partnership in Intimate Partner Prevention in Immigrant Communities: A Brief Report

Purpose: Immigrant survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) encounter significant language and cultural barriers when seeking support, often turning to faith leaders for help who may lack the training to assist survivors or prevent IPV. Community organizations aiming to involve religious institutions in IPV prevention have had limited success reaching out to religious organizations. This brief report describes the collaborative efforts between researchers and community organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate IPV prevention programs tailored to immigrant communities. Methods: We focus on two studies designed to prevent IPV among Korean immigrants in the United States. In both, Korean immigrant faith leaders received training to support IPV survivors better and connect them with culturally relevant services, as well as engage in IPV prevention. The second study expanded upon this by launching a community-wide communication campaign to challenge cultural norms and enhance community support for IPV survivors. Results: Developed through a researcher-practitioner partnership, the interventions were co-designed with agencies supporting Asian IPV survivors, ensuring cultural sensitivity and practical application. This collaboration not only contributed to valuable insights into scholarly knowledge shared with the academic communities but also equipped community agencies and faith leaders with resources to foster sustained, real-world change. Conclusions: This brief report highlights a model of partnership that leverages scientific rigor for community impact and sustainable outcomes.