Participants Needed for Domestic Violence Research Project

Dear Editor,

My name is Megan Haselschwerdt and I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am conducting my dissertation on violence in affluent, North Shore families.

Given the sensitivity and secrecy that surrounds this particular topic, I am heavily relying on advertisements and word of mouth through neighbors, therapists, attorneys, and local newspapers to reach individuals who have had these experiences. I would really appreciate any help that The Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch can provide in helping me spread the word about my study. So far I have received a lot of feedback from North Shore mothers and professionals who want to share their experiences, but I am getting close to ending recruitment and could greatly use your help!

Earlier: 

I am interested in the experiences of mothers and professionals who answer yes to the following questions:

Questions for moms:

Are you a mom who resides in the North Shore? And, has your current or former husband ever physically hurt you?

Questions for professionals:

Are you a professional (e.g., therapist, GAL, attorney, religious leader) that has worked with mothers from the North Shore who experienced violence by their current or former husband?

So, I answered yes to the questions mom, professionals, and/or young adults, what next?

We're doing a research project about mothers and professionals with these experiences. Participation in this study would entail a one-time meeting that would last approximately 1.5 – 2.5 hours. We could meet wherever is most convenient for you.

All information I collect will be kept private and confidential. I have gone to extensive lengths to ensure confidentiality, including obtaining a National Institutes of Health Certificate of Confidentiality, which prevents any of my records from getting subpoenaed. 

If you might be interested in participating, contact me for more information:

217-333-6924 (leave a confidential voicemail in the FACT study voicemail) or mhasels2@illinois.edu. This research is being supervised by Jennifer Hardesty, Ph.D. at the University of Illinois.

Thank you very much for helping me spread the word about this important study!

Best,

Megan Haselschwerdt, M.S.

Doctoral Candidate

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dept. of Human and Community Development