Engaging Men Project – Funded by the Retreat’s first federal grant, The “Engaging Men” project encompasses a groundbreaking approach to violence prevention which seeks to mobilize men in the campaign against domestic violence. In order to reverse the spiking incidences of domestic violence, The Retreat invites men and boys to band together to become part of the solution.
Suffolk County Fatherhood Initiative – The Suffolk County Fatherhood Initiative is a community-level program funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Family Assistance (OFA). The major emphasis of the program is to address economic stability, responsible parenting, and healthy marriage/long term relationships that will provide positive outcomes for fathers and youth.
Self Sufficiency Training – LEVERS (Leaving/Escaping Violence through Enhanced Readiness and Skills) is a training program that provides guidance and direction in job readiness, personal organization and life enrichment for individuals who are survivors of domestic abuse. LEVERS mission is to end the cycle of violence by providing continued support and the tools necessary for economic and emotional self-reliance. LEVERS provides critically important training to our clients so they can gain the basic financial, vocational and educational skills needed to live independently.
Anti-Violence 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 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. Participants are either mandated by the court to attend or they enroll voluntarily.