Antiviolence Re-education For Men

S.H.A.R.P. (Structured Help Antiviolence Re-education Program) is a group setting, domestic violence program for men who are abusive towards their partners.  Abuse/battering is a pattern of forceful or threatening behaviors designed to control the behavior of a partner.  The shift in power can happen slowly, over a period of time, which the other person may not even realize when it happened.  Or it may happen quickly, sometimes after there is some sort of commitment or some change in the level of intimacy.  Many victims wonder if what is happening to them is domestic violence because their partner may never hit them.  Physical abuse is probably what most people think of when they think about domestic violence, but it is just one of the many ways that a partner may try to gain power and control in a relationship.  Other forms of abuse/battering are verbal, emotional, financial and/or sexual.   

Abuse/battering is thought to be a learned behavior, therefore can be unlearned.  S.H.A.R.P. helps men take full responsibility/accountability for their abusive behavior while they actively learn new strategies to deal with relationship issues.  They learn that abuse/battering is a choice and that they are fully responsible for their own actions/behaviors.  The 32 week program actively confronts and helps change the patterns of abuse/battering while encouraging men to maintain nonviolence.

How to enroll in S.H.A.R.P.?

• By mandate from Criminal, Family or Supreme Court, Probation/Parole, CPS, substance abuse treatment facility, etc.
• Voluntary request

Requirements:

• Be 18 years and older
• Intake/screening to see if you are group/program appropriate
• Attend a minimum of 32 weeks/sessions (52 weeks if ordered by Probation)
• Abstain from all forms of abusive/violent behaviors
• Abstain from drug and alcohol use
• Pay a weekly fee for the program (based on a sliding scale)

Once clients complete S.H.A.R.P. they are encouraged to continue with our Maintenance/Healthy Relationships program.  In this program men will attend the bi-monthly program that will continue to encourage nonviolence while building empathy and work on communication skills, thus striving towards healthier relationships.

---

Other pages related to this one...

---