ISF PROGRAMS
ISF programs focus on training and education, prevention, and policy activities that will better serve the needs of Philadelphia families and communities that are at risk for or are experiencing interpersonal violence. The majority of ISF's programs serve Philadelphia families who are traditionally underserved and economically less privileged. Since 1993, ISF has developed innovative programming and built coalitions that unite social service and health care providers, policy experts and researchers, academicians, victim/survivors and community residents. One of ISF's unique strengths and accomplishments has been to create forums for cross-systems dialogue and collaboration aimed at building greater capacity for effective prevention and response to interpersonal violence.
Some of ISF's programs include the nationally acclaimed RADAR Training Program. Since 1995, ISF has trained over 25,000 medical, mental health, child welfare, early childhood and other professionals to promote family safety and identify and support victims of family violence. The RADAR program has gained national recognition and acclaim, and has been adapted for use in many settings. ISF works with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services to create family violence prevention and intervention models to support the people they serve. DIVA (Daring Interventions, Voices of Adolescents) is ISF's model teen dating violence prevention program and is implemented in schools and community-based organizations. The ISF Campus Dating Violence Project is assessing and evaluating dating violence prevention and responses at three area colleges, and based on this assessment, will advocate for changes in dating violence prevention services and policies at these insitutions. The ISF Men Can Campaign develops and disseminates appropriate Men Can family violence prevention materials for organizations, individuals and community groups. It also provides leadership on how men can take an active role in ending violence against women and children. ISF has several prevention initiatives (Safe and Bright Futures and CAMP:)) that focus on children's exposure to family violence, including working with Philadelphia's pediatric providers and children's hospitals to establish a coordinated community response to family violence. ISF is also working with the Early Childcare and Education community to enhance protective factors and reduce the possibilities of risk for the children in the families served by those systems. ISF also sponsors community events to raise awareness about the devastating effects violence has on all members of the family and community. ISF has been recognized with numerous awards for its work on family violence prevention, the most recent of which was the 2004 Children's Crusader Award from the Philadelphia Department of Human Services for ISF's work and commitment to prevent child abuse and neglect in Philadelphia.
