Spectrum Youth and Family Services
The Spectrum shelter helped me out so much. It led to so many other things. Spectrum worked with me to get a stable place to live. They helped me find a job. I got my GED. Spectrum staff threw a graduation party for me. They supported me when I had some hard times - And they helped me find healthy and positive hobbies. Without Spectrum, I don't know where I would be today. They saved my life and helped me open my eyes and realize how much was out there for me.
Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (VIPP)
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 and Prevention Programs have worked for over 20 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, and 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.
Domestic Abuse Education Program
The Domestic Abuse Education Program (DAEP) 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, DAEP 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 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.
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 three times a week in the community and twice a week in the facility, 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 soon in 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 x 217
Spectrum Youth and Family Services | 31 Elmwood Ave, Burlington, VT
Phone 802.864.7423 | Email info@spectrumvt.org