How To Set Up a Counseling Program for Self-Referred Batterers The AWAIC (Abused Women's Aid In Crisis) Model (From Abusive Partner - An Analysis of Domestic Battering, P 267-276, Maria Roy, ed. - See NCJ-91082)

• NCJ Number: 91094
• Author(s): S E Garnet; D Moss
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Van Nostrand Reinhold
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using the model established by Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, Inc. (AWAIC) of New York City, agencies can provide services to men who batter their wives by using a three-stage process: determining the agency readiness for the program, planning an outreach campaign, and anticipating the response.

Abstract

AWAIC's program arose from the awareness that no counseling services existed for men who battered their mates and who referred themselves to the agency. In January 1980, AWAIC started its outreach program through public service announcements on the radio, contacts with city newspapers to generate articles about AWAIC's services for batterers, and appearances by AWAIC staff on television talk shows. Nine months later, over 100 calls had come in on the AWAIC hotline from men seeking counseling services for their battering. One-third of the callers came to the agency for counseling. Of these, over two-thirds remained in treatment for more than 3 months. Treatment begins with a look at the violence and reconstructing a healthier sense of self. The main form of treatment is intensive, reconstructive psychotherapy, although short-term focused treatment is also offered. The program has accomplished the short-term goals of cessation of violence and has received favorable responses from staff and women clients. The counseling will expand to include groups. Other agencies starting such a program should begin by assessing the attitudinal reactions of the professional community, the staff, and the agency's women clients. The agency's facilities should be ready and in place before the outreach campaign begins.