PROJECTS & PARTNER PROGRAMS
INTIMATE PARTNER & FAMILY VIOLENCE
Intimate partner and family violence includes physical, emotional, or psychological abuse between intimately involved or related people. This includes partners, parents, children, siblings, or other family members. This violence is not always clear-cut; abuse can be bi-directional, and there is not always a clear victim and perpetrator. Intimate violence often extends beyond a couple and affects children and other family members.
Below are links to organizations and projects that have partnered with the Center on Violence and Recovery to use holistic responses and restorative justice to address intimate violence.
Circles of Peace/Circulos de Paz
Nogales, Arizona
Circles of Peace, co-founded by Dr. Linda Mills and Nogales Justice Court Judge, Mary Helen Maley, was the first domestic violence treatment program in the country to utilize a restorative justice approach to reduce violent behavior in families.
The Circles of Peace program was a part of a National Science Foundation-funded study of treatment programs for domestic violence offenders. Although the study is currently in the peer review process, the results indicate that this study provides evidence that a restorative justice treatment approach can be a viable and safe option for domestic violence offenders. Furthermore, the findings suggest that victim participation in restorative justice is not dangerous per se and falsify the claim that it is dangerous to use restorative justice for domestic violence. Several earlier studies, however, indicate that Circle-based programs can reduce domestic-violence recidivism, change family dynamics for the better, and involve the community in responding to domestic violence.
In 2008, Circles of Peace was named one of the Top 50 Innovations in Government by the Ash Institute at Harvard Kennedy School.
Read the Peacemaking Circles (Circles of Peace) fact sheet.
Watch the full, 30-minute-long Peacemaking Circles documentary. (Must download Real Player to view.)
Order a complimentary copy of the Peacemaking Circles documentary.
For more information on Circles of Peace, please visit www.circlesofpeace.us, call 520-281-0579 or email info@circlesofpeace.us.
The Family Transformation Model: Capacity to Change and Grow
Ramsey County Public Health and The Jewish Domestic Abuse Collaborative (a program of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) and Jewish Family Service of St. Paul), have teamed up to look at new ways of intervening and preventing family abuse and violence.
Bringing together a diverse group of professionals and integrating the public health approach of community prevention and individual and family intervention services, a community partnership was created and the Family Transformation Model was developed. In addition to St Paul, Ramsey County Public Health, JFCS, and JFS, partners include the Barbara Schneider Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Neighborhood House, NYU Center for Violence and Recovery, Peace Making Circles and Vertin Youth and Family Service.
The Family Transformation Model provides fresh insight into what we all need to live in peaceful relationships with others. It offers a new perspective that can help people affected by family violence find or rediscover core elements of health within themselves and their relationships. This model acknowledges the humanity within all people and the capacity of everyone to change and grow, even those who harm the ones they love.
If you would like more information on the model and/or the community partnership please contact Donald Gault at donald.gault@co.ramsey.mn.us or Betsy Sitkoff at bsitkoff@jfcsmpls.org.
TIKVAH AT OHEL
NEW YORK, NY
Tikvah at OHEL is a multilingual service that uses Healing Circles principles to help members of the Jewish community who have emotional, family, or educational problems. Ohel’s medical and education professionals have extensive experience working with Jewish communities, and rabbinical consultation is available. Counseling and resources are available for many issues, from disputes within the family to genocide recovery.
With the assistance of CVR, Tikvah is currently undertaking a Healing Circle Pilot Program for eligible families.
SAKHI FOR SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN
New York, NY
Sakhi for South Asian Women combats domestic violence in the South Asian community by employing Healing Circles and other programs to bring together survivors, communities, and institutions. Sakhi, a word which means “woman friend,” provides multilingual and culturally sensitive resources in a variety of ways: service delivery, community engagement, media advocacy, and policy initiatives.
With the assistance of CVR, Sakhi is currently engaging in a Healing Circle pilot program.
Trauma and Violence Transdisciplinary Studies (TVTS)
New York, NY
New York University's Trauma and Violence Transdisciplinary Studies program offers faculty and scholars “a space for critical inquiry into all of the theoretical, critical, and clinical aspects of the analysis and treatment of trauma, violence, and their aftermath.”
TVTS is rooted in many of the same theoretical frameworks and research interests as the Center on Violence and Recovery, and the two organizations often co-sponsor events and projects to further our mutual understanding of violence and trauma.
