Because men and boys must be a part of the solution, and not the problem.

Men’s violence towards women is an unfortunate, tragic issue that affects victims, children, families, and our communities. When men choose to engage in violence and coercive control towards women, their behavior has significant negative affects on the victim, and their actions can be potentially lethal. But the effects of their choices don’t just stop with the direct victim; children who are exposed to this abuse are also affected, and they may be victims of violence themselves.

Spectrum’s Violence Intervention & Prevention Programs have worked for over 25 years to end men’s violence towards women by supporting victim safety, holding offenders accountable and supporting men who wish to engage in a process of change. Spectrum works with men across the state who have a history of violence and coercive control towards women. Our staff seek to support them to address their behavior, understand how it has harmed to victim, children and others, and to support them in making safe, respectful choices in the future.

Spectrum believes that providing support and services to survivors of domestic violence is critical, and VIPP staff prioritize victim safety in all our efforts. This includes raising an awareness of the ways that children are affected by being exposed to the abuse of their mother. Some young men need particular support and attention in learning about safe and respectful behavior. Whether or not they were exposed to violence as children, some boys and young men in our communities show signs of being abusive themselves or have already begun to act violently toward others.

DV Solutions
 

DV Solutions (formerly Domestic Abuse Education Program) is part of a coordinated community effort to end male violence against women and children by educating men who batter and young men who use violence. As a batterer intervention program, DV Solutions works to hold men accountable for their violence and to look at the effects of their actions, giving them an opportunity to change their behavior and beliefs. Spectrum works in conjunction with victim’s advocate agencies, the Vermont Department of Corrections, schools and other youth service organizations, and the local Domestic Violence Task Force in communities across Vermont.

Project Safe Choices

Project Safe Choices (PSC) grew out of Spectrum’s work with adult men and the recognition that dating and other violence is a significant problem among adolescents. The primary objective of the program is to provide young men with an opportunity to examine the beliefs and attitudes that support their use of violence. By engaging in this process of self examination, PSC participants are taught new skills to help them change their behavior and gain self awareness. Project Safe Choices also seeks to collaborate with others who work with young men to address violence including schools, parents and community-based service providers.

Intensive Domestic Abuse Program

The Intensive Domestic Abuse Program (IDAP) is managed and delivered by Spectrum for the Vermont Department of Corrections. IDAP is a batterer’s intervention program provided in community probation & parole offices and in a correctional facility. Participants are male offenders with felony or multiple misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence-related offenses. Groups meet twice per week, and the community program can be completed in a year. Spectrum facilitators and supervisors work closely with the Vermont Department of Corrections through co-facilitation of groups and collaboration at regular team meetings.

Cognitive Self Change

Cognitive Self Change (CSC) is a Vermont Department of Corrections program for a broad range of violent offenders. Spectrum provides facilitation in CSC groups in Burlington, St. Albans and Springfield, VT. CSC teaches offenders convicted of violent offenses how to identify thoughts and attitudes that lead them to do violent acts, and teaches them how to find and use new thoughts and attitudes that don’t.

To learn more about VIPP, call 864.7423 x217