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The Fathering after Violence Project: Abusive Men and Their Children (Workshop 63)

To improve men's abilities to parent, the Fathering after Violence Project developed curriculum materials based on focus groups with survivors of domestic violence, men who have been violent, and professionals, as well as meetings with a national advisory group. These materials have been piloted in three Boston Batterer Intervention Programs over 2003-2004.

Many men who have been violent continue to have contact with their children on a daily, regular, or sporadic basis - supervised or not. In general, relationships with children tend to be enduring, even when the intimate relationships which produced the children end.

Evidence exists that some violent men do renounce violence and that relationships damaged by violence are not always irreparable. Some men can be helped to achieve constructive and healing relationships with their children.

Presenters discuss findings relating to the focus groups, curriculum materials, and a formative evaluation of the project, which documents responses of participating men and their partners and group facilitators. The workshop also identifies potential risks and benefits of this effort - the conceptual, organizational, and clinical issues.

Ann Fleck-Henderson
School of Social Work
Simmons College
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115

Juan Carlos Arean
Family Violence Prevention Fund
685 Centre Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Updated on February 2, 2010