Program Goals

The goals of the NY Model for Batterer Programs are:

For Civil and criminal courts or agents of the court that see or monitor domestic violence cases:

• Increase sanctions for domestic violence offenders
• Increase ability to hold domestic violence offenders accountable for their acts
• Extend monitoring capacity
• Ensure an additional sanction is levied for ordered men who are dismissed from the program for not being in compliance with program requirements

For men who caused domestic violence:

• Choose to transform abusive interactions toward intimate partners to respectful interactions
• Understand the core program belief that every man is capable of interacting respectfully with his partner, spouse, and/or ex-spouse
• Understand the meaning of demonstrable accountability
• Understand that one's partner, spouse, and/or ex-spouse has the right to define her experience as to whether he is treating her respectfully

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for NY Model for Batterer Programs.

Essential Components

The essential components of the NY Model for Batterer Programs include:

• The program holds participants accountable only for what the group facilitators can actually hold them accountable for (e.g., arriving on time, carrying and showing a fee card, paying exact amount [no change made], behaving respectfully in sessions). The participant cannot be held accountable for anything such as behavior outside of the sessions. It is imperative that participants are told the policies and then be held to them in a dependable, fair, and just manner.
• The primary client of NY Model Batterer Programs is the court, not the individual participant.
• Material presented in the sessions is important; however, it is less critical than:
• Meticulous reporting to the court about participant compliance with policies
• Meticulous and fair process of holding participants accountable for complying with policies
• Only court-ordered men are registered in NY Model Batterer Programs.
• There must be a court-imposed consequence for non-compliance.
• An order to attend is not appropriate as a diversion from a more serious consequence.
• NY Model Batterer Programs only operate in relationship to the battered women's movement and in support of their local domestic violence coalition.
• NY Model Batterer Programs do not make contact with partners of men who are ordered to attend.
• NY Model Batterer Programs evolve and change as new information and experience becomes apparent.
• Program participants are treated respectfully throughout every aspect of their participation. A goal is to make it possible for each participant to comply with program policies.
• A core program belief is that every man is capable of treating women, especially his intimate partner, respectfully.
• Parenting and the impact of men's abuse of women (fathers' abuse of mothers) is a topic covered in sessions.

Program Delivery

Adult Services

NY Model for Batterer Programs directly provides services to adults (regardless of whether they are parents or caregivers) and addresses the following:

• Men who have abused partner, spouse, and/or ex-spouse; they could have abused their children as well

Recommended Intensity:

One 90-minute session per week; there is constant contact between the program and the court to report participant's adherence to program and attendance policies

Recommended Duration:

Minimum orders are for 26 weekly sessions. Maximum orders are for 52 weekly sessions. The number of sessions is the decision of the court.

Delivery Setting

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Languages

NY Model for Batterer Programs has materials available in a language other than English:

Spanish

For information on which materials are available in this language, please check on the program's website or contact the program representative (contact information is listed at the bottom of this page).

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Recommended two instructors for each session
• Room size may dictate number of participants
• White board or flip chart

Sessions most safely held in active building where other people are present — not isolated.

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

There are no specific educational credentials. Extensive experience in the movement to end intimate partner violence (men's violence against women) and commitment to adhere to the program guidelines is required. Individual instructors should have an initial training requirement of approximately 40 hours, followed by on-going weekly or bi-weekly supervision.

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Phyllis B. Frank
  pbfrank@vcs-inc.org
  phone: (845) 842-9118

Training Type/Location:

Two-day national training institutes are conducted three times a year in New York State and are available on-site of the requesting organization.

Number of days/hours:

Training is tailored to the needs of the requesting communities, organizations and/or individuals. Half-day to three-day training is available.

Additional Resources:

There currently are additional qualified resources for training:

• Catholic Charities of Buffalo, NY
  http://www.ccwny.org
  Contact: Gregory White
  Email: gregory.white@ccwny.org
  Phone: 716-896-6390
• A New Hope Center
  http://www.anewhopecenter.org
  Contact: Fran Bialy
  Email: franb@anewhopecenter.org
  Phone: 607-687-6866

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for NY Model for Batterer Programs.

Additional References