Adapting a men’s behaviour change program to online delivery using a developmental evaluation approach
| Published date | 01 March 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1035719X231204392 |
| Author | Sandra Opoku,Genevieve Heard |
| Date | 01 March 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Practice Article |
Practice Article
Evaluation Journal of Australasia
2024, Vol. 24(1) 40–55
© The Author(s) 2023
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1035719X231204392
journals.sagepub.com/home/evj
Adapting a men’s behaviour
change program to online
delivery using a
developmental evaluation
approach
Sandra Opokuand Genevieve Heard
Relationships Australia Victoria, Camberwell, VIC, Australia
Abstract
Men’s behaviour change programs constitute an important family violence intervention
strategy. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions brought in-
creased risk of family violence and service demand. When face-to-face groups became
impossible under restrictive public health orders, the Men’s Behaviour Change Pro-
gram provided by Relationships Australia Victoria was delivered using videoconfer-
encing technology. We describe a developmental evaluation approach to the
adaptation of the Men’s Behaviour Change Program to online delivery. Developmental
evaluation can inform innovation in complex environments and emphasises learning
and adaptation at program development phase. We demonstrate the application and
utility of this approach to the rapid adaptation of social services for online delivery.
Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from participants, facilitators and
external observers and subjected to regular collaborative review to inform practice
development. The results point to a steep learning curve, during which facilitators and
observers identified practices to support effective online delivery of the Program. The
evaluation indicated that, following adaptations, Program objectives were achievable
using this method of delivery and positive dynamics remained possible in online groups.
This finding is consistent with the current No to Violence position that online men’s
behaviour change programs have an important and ongoing role in the specialist family
violence services sector.
Corresponding author:
Sandra Opoku, Relationships Australia Victoria, PO Box 180, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia.
Email: sopoku@rav.org.au
Keywords
COVID-19, developmental evaluation, online delivery, men’s behaviour change
program, innovation
What we already know
·Men’s behaviour change programs are an important family violence
intervention informed by a variety of state and national guidelines.
·Developmental evaluation is an appropriate evaluation technique in
complex and adaptive environments.
The original contribution the article makes to theory and/
or practice
·Effective practices for delivering online men’s behaviour change
programs are identified.
·The utility of developmental evaluation in adapting community services
to online delivery is demonstrated.
Introduction
Family violence is a widespread problem in Australia, and a major risk factor affecting
the health and wellbeing of women (Australia’s National Research Organisation for
Women’s Safety 2018). COVID-19 and associated restrictions created strong potential
for an increase in family violence, with millions of Australians required at various
stages of the pandemic to stay home except for essential outings. In May 2020, two
thirds of women who had experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner during
the pandemic reported the violence having started or escalated in the three months since
the onset of COVID-19 (Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s
Safety, 2021).
Men’s behaviour change programs are family violence interventions aimed at
holding men accountable for violent and controlling behaviour, challenging the beliefs
underlying this behaviour, and thus improving the safety of women and children
(O’Connor et al., 2020). Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s
Safety has produced several studies relating to evaluation readiness, program quality,
outcomes and effectiveness (Bell & Coates, 2022;Day et al., 2019). These reviews
have found that evidence for men’s behaviour change programs effectiveness in general
is piecemeal but growing, and identify elements of effective practice (Bell & Coates,
2022;Day et al., 2019; see also O’Connor et al., 2020).
Opoku and Heard 41
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