.
Table A2: Early intervention definitions described in research and practice documents
| Author | Definition or description |
|---|---|
| Addis & Snowdon (24) | ‘Secondary prevention focuses on the immediate response to violence.’ |
| Cleaver at al. (34) | ‘Based on [UK] public service approaches to early intervention in domestic abuse (namely support to build social and emotional skills and provision of other support to groups such as young mothers who are particularly at risk), early interventions are those that are school based and/or targeted at children and young people, or those which provide support to victims and their families, including perpetrators. It also includes early interactions between service users and providers (i.e. identification and referral).’ |
| Kirk et al. (30) | ‘Secondary prevention aims to detect the issue early and prevent progression or reoccurrence of the event (i.e. through screening, addressing risk factors, referrals to legal services).’ |
| McCarry et al. (61) | ‘Can be defined as taking action as soon as possible to tackle problems for children and families before they become more difficult to reverse.’ |
| Miele et al. (44) | ‘Refers to the WHO definition of prevention (general) – corresponding to all actions intended to reduce the prevalence and progression of a disease.’ |
| Owens et al. (42) | ‘Early intervention programs designed to detect potential VAWG [violence against women and girls] and targeting population subgroups or individuals who may be either demonstrating early signs of VAWG, or who may be particularly at risk of developing violent behaviours, or who may be at risk of becoming a victim. Examples include screening individuals for risk, adjusting external physical environments to prevent the likelihood of VAWG occurring, working with groups to raise awareness and educate about VAWG.’ |
| Robinson et al. (40) | ‘Early intervention programs aim to identify risks to the safety and wellbeing of parents and children and provide timely responses before risk to families escalates.’ |
| Storer et al. (28) | ‘An intervention is considered primary prevention if it is targeted before onset, secondary prevention once early indicators have emerged, and tertiary prevention is rehabilitation to prevent reoccurrence.’ |
| Wilson et al. (62) | ‘Aims to stop the use of domestic violence shortly after it occurs and/or minimize the short-term consequences of domestic violence (e.g., screening men who have used DV [domestic violence], referral to DV agencies).’ |
| Wynter et al. (31) | ‘IPV [intimate partner violence] secondary prevention programs aim to reduce existing IPV, targeting men who perpetrate violent IPV, and/or women who have experienced IPV.’ |
| Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (27) | ‘Actions targeting individuals and families who are experiencing or perpetrating violence but are not yet known to services, designed to detect violence as early as possible.’ |
| Buckle et al. (32) | ‘“Early intervention programs” are those delivered to either victims or perpetrators after the violence has occurred, and at the earliest opportunity, so as to reduce negative impacts and prevent reoccurrence.’ |
| Cameron (45) | ‘Identification and support for individuals and families experiencing family violence with the aim of stopping early signs of violence escalating, preventing a recurrence of violence or reducing longer-term harm.’ |
| Domestic Violence New South Wales (64) | ‘Early intervention activities target individuals, groups and environments identified as being at a higher risk of perpetrating or experiencing violence.’ |
| Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor (48) | ‘Aims to change the trajectory for individuals at higher-than-average risk of perpetrating or experiencing violence.’ ‘Focuses on individuals and groups with a high risk of perpetrating or being a victim of violence, and the factors contributing to that risk.’ |
| Guy et al. (41) | ‘Early intervention and activity to support social and emotional skills and provide other support to groups such as young mothers who are particularly at risk (secondary prevention).’ |
| Lovatt et al. (53) | Early intervention and identification involve the early detection of risks for victimisation and perpetration; the immediate response after sexual violence to deal with the short-term consequences and responding to those at risk of victimisation; and preventing reoccurrence or progression of sexual assault. |
| Ministry of Women’s Affairs (3) | ‘Secondary prevention focuses on immediate responses to violence, often in a crisis situation. It is often thought of as applying to individual victims and perpetrators, but the concept has wider applicability.
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| Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs (63) | ‘Intervention aims to ‘change the trajectory’ for individuals who are at higher-than-average risk of either perpetrating or experiencing violence.’ |
| Tayton et al. (26) | ‘Focuses on those at risk of perpetration or victimisation.’ |
| UN Women (5) | Focuses on individuals and groups with a high risk of perpetrating/being a victim of VAW [violence against women] and the factors contributing to that risk. |
| Urbis (47) | ‘Aims to change the trajectory for individuals at higher-than-average risk of perpetrating or experiencing violence. Also describe it as stopping early signs of violence from escalating, preventing a recurrence of violence, or reducing longer-term harm.’ |
| World Health Organization (4) | ‘Focus on the more immediate responses to violence, such as pre-hospital care, emergency services or treatment for sexually transmitted infections following a rape.’ |