Domestic Abuse Education Project
The Domestic Abuse Education Project (DAEP) is part of a coordinated community effort to end male violence against women and childern by educating men who batter and young men who use violence. As a batterer intervention program, DAEP works to hold men and young men accountable for their violence, encourages them to explore the effects of their actions, and gives them an opportunity to change their behavior and beliefs. We work in conjunction with victiom's advocate agencies, the Department of Corrections, schools and other youth-service organizations, and the local Domestic Violence Task Force in communites across Vermont.
We facilitate a number of groups throughout the state, either independently, through collaborations with schools and other local organizations, or under contract with the Department of Corrections. Our programs include:Project Safe Choices: Challenging Young Men's Violence (PSC) PSC grew out of our work with adult men and the recognition that dating and other violence is a significant problem among adolescents. The primary objectives of the program are to provide appropriate services for youth with histories of abusive or violent behaviors and to provide training and educational opportunities for schools and community-based organizations that work with youth. To that end, PSC offers the following violence prevention and intervention programming:
Violence Intervention Groups
Safe Choices Basic
For young men aged 13-17 who are at risk of choosing to use violence. This 12-week group meets once each week for an hour. The curriculum focuses on motivating young men to avoid making choices to use violence through discussions about the cultural realities that impact males and females and the choices they make, the effects of violence and alternatives to violence. Group members also discuss experiences and choices they have made about the use of violence.
Safe Choices Intensive
For young men aged 13-17 who have been violent/abusive to another person. This group meets for an hour each week for 25 weeks. While still including the educational components of the Basic curriculum, the focus of this group is on the choices of the young men in the group. They are asked to participate in a self-reflective process aimed at motivating them to end their violence, respect the rights of others and engage in safe relationships. Young men in the group are expected to be accountable for the violent/abusive choices they have made. Discussions are focused on the internal process that leads them to make such choices, the effects of their behavior, and alternative, non-abusive choices they could make instead.
Education and Prevention Support
PSC offers workshops and trainings to middle and high school students, teachers and adminstrators and other service providers who work with young adults. Topic areas include teen dating violence, the cultural context of the choice to use violence, young men who use violence, supportive organizational policy and safety planning. Specific training objectives can be developed to meet the needs of the audience. PSC is also available to consult on specific cases or support agencies in developing policy around responding to violence.
The Intensive Domestic Abuse Program (IDAP) IDAP is an intermediate sanction program for multiple misdemeanor and felony level domestic violence offenders. Participants attend programming three times per week and must comply with strict furlough conditions. DAEP staff are contracted by the Department of Corrections to facilitate and supervise IDAP groups. Cognitive Self Change (CSC) CSC is a Correctional program for violent offenders serving time in jail. Participants begin programming in jail and then continue for a minimum of one year upon returning to the community. Participants attend programming twice per week and must comply with strict furlough conditions. DAEP staff are contracted by the Department of Corrections to facilitate CSC groups. Domestic Abuse Education Project (DAEP) This is a 27-session program for men who are abusive to or controlling of their female partners. Most men in DAEP are court-mandated to attend, although some men are volunteers in the program. Men attend one group per week and there are up to ten men in each group. We currently provide six weekly groups in Burlington, four in St. Albans, and one in Middlebury. Dad'Safe The Dad'Safe Project is a parenting education program for men who have histories of domestic violence or controlling behaviors. Dad'Safe is an eight week program that meets once a week for an hour and a half. The cost is five dollars per session. The program aims to create an awareness about the effects of domestic violence on children and their development and to examine the underlying values and beliefs that support the use of partner/child abuse. Dad'Safe is a collaborative effort between DAEP and the Visiting Nurse Association.
For more information about DAEP services, contact 864-7423 ext. 207 or ext. 217. |
