title: A process evaluation of the Friendships and Dating Program for adults with developmental disabilities: measuring the fidelity of program delivery.
abstract: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are frequently abused in dating and partnered relationships. The Friendships and Dating Program (FDP) was developed to prevent violence in dating and partnered relationships and to teach social skills needed to develop healthy, meaningful relationships among this population. A pilot study indicated the FDP resulted in a statistically significant increase in social network size and a significant decrease in instances of interpersonal violence. This study focused on utilizing a Process Evaluation Model (PEM) to document the level of treatment fidelity in the delivery of the 20 session FDP for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities delivered by community agency personnel. The PEM also documented the amount of content delivered to the participants during each session. Results indicated that direct service personnel delivered the program with a high level of fidelity. Additionally, participants engaged at high rates over the course of the 10-week program. Further, the results indicated the FDP topics and methods of delivery were appropriate for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Programs should use a Process Evaluation Model (PEM) and methods as a routine quality control mechanism to assess provision of salient participant procedures.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Development, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA. afkmw@uaa.alaska.edu
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Windsor
authors.forename: Julie P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology