Family of Men Support Society Website

FAMILY OF MEN SUPPORT SOCIETY

MASH*4077

Men's Alternative Safe House

Background:

There is no single cause of domestic violence; therefore, there can be no singular cure. Prevention begins with changes in attitudes towards domestic violence and its effect on everybody; men, women and children. Nobody deserves to be putdown, yelled at, hit, controlled, beaten or physically or financially threatened - there is NO excuse for violence.

Tolerance of family violence as a way of life often encourages family violence in the next generation. Abusive people have usually learned inappropriate ways of dealing with their frustrations, disappointments and anger from their parents.It is possible to modify behaviours through emotional validation, education and counseling. A better understanding of emotions and acceptable behaviours can help an abuser gain respect for themselves, for their partners, their children and others.

Male victims of domestic violence and their advocates often find it difficult to support campaigns to "stop violence against women and children" because they are not acknowledged as a large subset of the victims of domestic violence. These campaigns deserve credit for bringing the necessary focus to the issue of domestic violence; however, it behooves us all to consider all victims when developing social policy and programs to address domestic violence and victimization. Statistics Canada (2000) reports that during a five-year period (8%) wives and (7%) husbands, additionally Statistics Canada (2005) reports that during a five-year period(7%) wives (6%) husbands are equally prone to hitting each other yet there are virtually no support systems in place for victimized males. Statistics Canada; Juristat 85-002-XIE, Vol. 27, no. 4 provides the following information on the differences of services for male and female victims of partner abuse;

·        "About 7% of women and 6% of men across the country are the victims of violence at the hands of a current or former spouse or common-law partner according to results from the 2004 GSS on Victimization" Page 2.

·        "In 2006 there were 553 shelters providing residential services to women and children..." Page 2.

·        "Annual operating costs for shelters totalled approximately $317 millions 2005/2006." Page 1.

·        "Canada's shelters for abused women reported annual revenues of approximately $333 million for the 12 month period ending March 31. Page 8.

An all-inclusive model must be, of necessity, dynamic and evolutionary since male victims are only just beginning to speak out about their experiences. Their stories continue to challenge many of society's long held beliefs about abuse victims and perpetrators.

We believe male victimization occurs routinely as a result of gender-biased social policies that put little to no value on the relationship a father has with his children following the breakdown of a marriage. These policies have contributed to a disturbing trend where the vast majority of society's problematic children and youths are from single-parent households. Statistically, nearly every other marriage ends in divorce and women initiate about 70% of the divorces. And across Canada each year nearly 50,000 children are the subject of custody orders that typically provide mothers with sole custody. It stands to reason that literally thousands of fathers each year are asked, or forced, to leave their homes and be weekend visitors in their children's lives. Males suffer depression and commit suicide six times more often than women following a divorce.

It is difficult to imagine how any parent would not be heartbroken from being involuntarily separated from one's children. Often the sense of loss and profound disappointment these men experience is compounded by an adversarial legal system. It stands to reason that providing support services to these men would help reduce incidents of family violence and the alarmingly high levels of depression and suicides among this population.

During the year, 2005, Alberta, through the Children's Services office, budgeted $36 million for family violence and allocated $28 million to fund 48 safe houses for women. There are no government-funded safe houses for men in Alberta; there is not a single bed reserved for a man or a father and his child fleeing family violence. We believe a positive male-centered support system is required to provide services to men to reduce domestic violence, as well to those men who are victims of domestic violence. The MASH*4077, concept is designed to provide professional services and peer support to address these service gaps and other missing services. The project will be designed to augment and support the services provided by women's shelters and an expectation to work collaboratively.

Project Goal:

The MASH*4077 House will provide a refuge for men or fathers with children leaving a relationship where the potential for confrontation or family violence exists.By providing compassionate services to estranged men we can preempt incidents of family violence and suicide following marital breakdowns. We seek to restore dignity and respectability to men and fatherhood by providing positive male-oriented, child-centric alternatives to confrontation following separation. The Project will assist men, or fathers and children into re-establishing themselves into the community and feeling productive.

A main goal is to make the project self-sufficient; not reliant on government funding,albeit initial funding may require an infusion of government funding.

Project Concept:

MASH*4077 Houses will cater to the needs of men who are experiencing difficulties coping with the upheaval in their lives as a result of domestic violence or a marital breakdown. The MASH Project will provide peer support personnel as well as professional staff for personal counseling, group counseling, stress and anger release programs, mediation and conflict resolution. The MASH Project will maintain a directory of community and government resources for men and parents,as well as a reference library of materials on men's health and parenting after separation. The MASH Project will provide a meeting place for other men's, parents' groups, community organizations and programs on a cost recovery basis.

This is an original, creative and innovative, proactive and preventative project to evaluate the need for a permanent men's/fathers safe-house/family support centre community option. Utilizing Calgary's first and oldest men's crisis/help-line peer support service.

The goal is to reduce family violence against women and families by increasing support services for family unity through offering solutions and options to men; from a male-positive family focused point-of-view, or for men who find themselves in potentially violent domestic situations.

Through developing new proactive strategies to subdue domestic situation before they escalate into confrontation; thus reducing community costs down stream. Acts of violence leads to degree of violence; if the acts are contained then the degree is naturally reduced.

A first step is public education, awareness and a place for men/fathers to go to and feel safe. The MASH-4077 project will be the first safe house option and resource centre for men in Alberta.

Project Objectives

1.   Reduce incidents of family violence in the community

2.   Reduce fear of violence in women and children during marital breakdown

3.   Provide men with a safe option when confronted with a potentially violent situation

4.   Provide men with positive male-oriented, child-centric information and services

5.   Provide program sponsors with a measure of effectiveness

6.   Provide men with safe and supportive transition housing

7.   To provide men and fathers with valuable support information and services

8.   Increase the knowledge of the dynamics and understanding of family violence.

Controversial Issues or Concerns the Project Addresses;

There is virtually no support system for male victims of female perpetrated of family violence.

The important issue is to discern the difference between "treatment services for men", which is reactive and addresses the issues after the violence. Verses "support services for men" which is a proactive preventative approach addressing the issues before violence occurs. A major social service gap found in our community is the virtual total lack of male-to-male direct support, and understanding. It is this service gap the project wishes to address and report back to the community with the results.

-With regard to societal issues facing Calgarians, overall concern expressed is highest for domestic violence

Action Committee Against Violence Survey on Calgarians' Attitudes Towards Violence. Angus Reid Group Inc., May1999.

-"Domestic violence against men is a serious problem in Alberta."

Charlach Mackintosh, Chief Commissioner, Alberta Human Rights & Citizen Commission, June 29, 1999.

Enhancement of Quality of life in Calgary;

-Community; less domestic violence builds a safer community.

-Children; will experience a positive male role model choosing an alternate attitude to violence.

-Women; will experience proactive positive men in their lives.

-Men; will have more positive choices, options, resources and alternatives. Positive coping skills to handle conflict at home, at work and in the community.

-Women shelters; more readily available beds and extra funds for other projects.

-Families; encourage families to have a loving relationship between children and parents.

-Police services; less domestic violence calls relates to less community costs.

-Medical services; less medical intervention for physical injuries due to family violence.

-Business; less absenteeism and higher production.

Project Milestones:

Upon confirmation of funding, a Board of Directors will be established to oversee the following operational objectives:

1.   Start-up (90 days) - Recruit staff, develop and circulate pamphlets/posters, issue media releases, set-up crisis intervention hotline training, initial implementation of web site, initial set up of resource library, schedule programs and enroll clients, provide counseling, mediation and conflict resolution services as necessary, design program evaluation criteria and feedback mechanisms.Establish governing policies and equip the house with furniture and residential needs.

2.   Networking with community agencies. Establish relationship with funding organizations and make funding applications. Schedule programs and support services and advise community agencies.

3.   Establish Benchmark (180 days) - Report on agency operations and the leading indicators of service effectiveness. Adjust business plan and agency operations as necessary.

4.   ProgramEvaluation (1 year) - Report on agency operations, indicators of serviceeffectiveness, outcomes and budget forecast for on-going

Anticipated Outcomes:

1. Incidents of domestic violence will be avoided lessening injury to women and children and the associated demands on medical, police, victims, court and corrections services, as well as women's shelters.

2. More children will experience a positive male role model resulting in fewer developmental problems later in life, thus lessening the burden on the health care, welfare, legal and correctional systems.

3. Fewer estranged fathers will chose violence, commit suicide, suffer depression or lose their jobs, thereby reducing the burden on the health care, welfare and legal systems. Businesses will experience less absenteeism and insurers will pay fewer disability claims.

4. Fewer parents will choose an adversarial approach after receiving child-centric education and counseling, there by lessening demands on legal aid, family court and maintenance enforcement services.

5. Fewer mothers and children will experience fears of violence as fathers receive the support they need.

6. Important data will be gathered and provided for use by policy makers in the areas of crime prevention, health care planning and family law reform.
Proposed MASH Project Budget:

Estimated monthly expenses

Mortgage                                                       $3,500.00 per month

House utilities                                                         1,000.00

Food                                                                          1,000.00

Office supplies; stationary and provisions                      200.00

Phone system; telephone lines                                     200.00

Taxes (possibly exempt)                                                 291.00

Insurance                                                                          200.00

MASH basic monthly residential total                      $6,391.00            $6,391.00

Fulltime coordinator/manager/facilitator                   $3,000.00 per month

Office support staff                                                       1,000.00

Professional and consultant fees                                    500.00

MASH staffing total                                             $4,500.00               $4,500.00

Total monthly expenses                                                                      $10,891.00

Total annual expenses                                                                    $130,692.00

An expectation of donations for beds, bedding, toiletries, house furniture and extras as it is necessary to maintain the lowest possible expenses while maintaining a highest quality of service.

Annual Statistical Report August 2001;

Statistical summary of telephone calls received and complied from the crisis/help line as recorded in the "telephone log" book;

Number of client calls received                              1436

Referrals from other agencies                                 172

Returnable calls                                                     822

Female callers                                                      331

Children involved                                                 42

Calls referred to other agencies                           302

Telephone counseling                                          879

Telephone counseling (more than once)            432

Individual counseling (one to one)                         108

Group counseling                                                    54

Priorities for Expenditures:

1.    Advertise in the local media to raise community education and awareness.

2.    Provide a refuge and professional services to people who contact the agency looking for safety, support and/or information.

3.    Implement a management system to ensure accountability, report on agency operations and secure long-term funding

Impact of Proposed Services to Project Objectives D=Direct I=Indirect	Reduce incidents of family violence	Reduce fear of violence	Provide men with a safe option	Provide men with info and services	Report on program effectiveness
Crisis intervention hotline	D	D	D	D	D
Safe house and meeting place	D	D	D	D	D
Web site, directories, library	I	I	I	D	D
Fathers Advocacy Program	D	I	D	D	D
Men Helping Men	D	I	D	D	D
Group/Individual counseling	D	D	D	D	D
Stress management programs	D	D	D	D	D
Self-worth programs	D	I	I	D	D
Mediation / Conflict resolution	D	D	D	D	D
Transitional Housing	I	I	I	I	D

Indicators of Success:

1.    Number of active interventions

2.    Stakeholder support (e.g. endorsements from police, victims' services, women's shelters)

3.    Client satisfaction

4.    Referrals to the facility or services

5.    Facility and services utilization / clients served / clients unable to be served

6.    Adherence to budget

7.    Others as defined by steering committee

Project's Fit with Existing Programs:

The Men's Alternative Safe House (MASH*4077) proposal is consistent with current social policies that strive to provide a safe alternative to victims of domestic violence and homeless. The MASH concept is intended to supplement existing domestic violence prevention and community support programs and agencies by addressing the service gaps that exists in the system for both men and fathers.We anticipate that all other agencies involved in the prevention of domestic violence will provide support and cooperation additionally to this project to ensure a successful return on the financial investments in the MASH. Likewise we anticipate those agencies that provide support to the homeless will refer individuals who wish to have more independence but still desire the support of a community environment.

Presently,we are networking with a local women's shelter to establish a working relationship and assistance in developing policies and procedures. Some American women's shelters are interested in supporting the project and willing to provide feedback.

Community Impact:

The MASH-4077 Project will endeavour to remain a great community neighbour by providing a safe environment to the visitors and the people in the location.

The Project's door will always be open to neighbours concerns and issues. The ideal situation is the opportunity to work together for a better community in a meditative and cooperative attitude. It is imperative to the success of the Project that only positive community impact is created. The Project will be completely inclusiveof all persons.

The project will maintain the appearance a residential facility.

The Project will add to the local existing community support services.

Car traffic will be kept to a minimum amount.

The project will meet, and accede where possible, Public Health Act and Regulations; Safety Codes Acts; Fire Regulations; Municipal bylaws; and Social Care Facilities Licensing Act.

Nature of Accommodations;

The Facility will serve a varied target group; this group including male victims of domestic violence, men choosing to leave a potentially violent domestic situation with his dignity intact, fathers and children, either fleeing from domestic violence or in the need of temporary shelter (Referrals from Inn From the Cold). These guests will be provided sleeping accommodations, showers, washer/dryers and food. These will be short-term stays of three days and the opportunity to negotiate an additional three days (this time period will be re-evaluated and more conclusive data on the needs and abilities of the guests). Guests will be charged $20.00 per night for the service; those without money will be required to apply for Social Services emergency funding.

As there is no model to follow for this type of facility; we will use the policy and procedure of existing women shelters (Awo Taan Native Women's Shelter) and will vary the description to specifically fit the needs of men and fathers with children.

No smoking and no alcohol rules will be strictly enforced. As this will be a limited facility until greater understanding of individual issues and concerns can be addressed the limited available space and limited resources; the facility will be forced not to include physically or mentally disabled, drug or alcohol addictions or single homeless men. If space permits and a mother and child require accommodations they will be welcomed as long as the understanding of the specialty of the facility is understood.

Community Support;

Letters of support are available upon request.

We believe there are four basic components to the concept of "male inclusion";

Ø the need to articulate a male centred point-of-view which reflects the diversity of men,

Ø the need for male victims to search for balance as they struggle to heal the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual aspects of their lives,

Ø the need to honour and protect female victim's gains and acknowledge the contributions women have made in breaking the silence about violence and abuse,

Ø the need to evolve a vision of combining both males' and females'; stories into a coherent and inclusive perspective that all of us will able to win and use in the struggle to reduce and eliminate violence and abuse in our community.

MASH Volunteer Workforce

Offers from volunteers often arise because part of the healing process is becoming a healer. The agency strives to maintain a volunteer workforce to assist with the non-professional duties of the agency and reduce operating costs while providing valuable self worth and training to the volunteer.

Contact information: Family of Men Support Society

                                Earl Silverman



                                      www.familyofmen.ca