A friendships and dating program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a formative evaluation.

Meaningful relationships with others are often elusive for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but no less desired for their full inclusion and participation in society. It is well documented that people with disabilities are victims of interpersonal violence at higher rates than peers without disabilities. This article presents a formative evaluation of the Friendships and Dating Program (FDP). The FDP was designed to teach the social skills needed to develop healthy, meaningful relationships and to prevent violence in dating and partnered relationships. Thirty-one adults were recruited by 5 community agencies in Alaska to participate. The results showed the size of the participants' social networks increased and the number of incidents of interpersonal violence was reduced for participants who completed the FDP, and outcomes were maintained 10 weeks later.

A process evaluation of the Friendships and Dating Program for adults with developmental disabilities: measuring the fidelity of program delivery.

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.