Seminar to be held in Buffalo May 7-8
The Catholic Charities of Buffalo Domestic Violence Program for Men, in collaboration with VCS, Inc. Domestic Violence Program for Men of New York City, will offer the National Training Institute on the New York\Model for Batterer Programs May 7 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Family Justice Center of Erie County, 438 Main St.
The two-day training will focus on the essential elements and requirements to achieve offender accountability, as well as how and why New York Model program support the work of local, state and national battered women’s advocates.
Advocates, judiciary, domestic violence court personnel, batterer program staff, social workers and counselors are encouraged to attend the event which will also feature a 30-plus year history of batterer programs in the United States.
“It is our goal to hold offenders accountable,” said Gregory R. White, director of Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Program for Men, “And to train those in our field about accountability programming to the best of our ability.”
The New York Model is based on social justice and anti-oppression analysis and works in conjunction with the criminal and civil justice systems, to create an environment of accountability for the men who come before the court for acts of domestic violence against an intimate female partner.
White and Phyllis B. Frank, director of VCS, Inc. Domestic Violence Program for Men, are co-directors of the National Training Institute and will serve as training facilitators. They will be joined by Colleen Gibbons, resource coordinator for the Erie County Integrated Domestic Violence Court.
Carolyn Fish, executive director emeriti of the Center for Safety and Change in Rockland County, NY, will be the guest presenter on Monday, May 7. Fish developed and presided over Rockland County’s domestic violence and sexual assault programs.
The training is approved for continuing education credits by the NYS Education Department for Licensed Social Workers and Mental Health Practitioners.
For more information or to register for the training, please call White at (716) 896-6390 or email gregory.white@ccwny.org.
Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Program for Men works for systemic social change as part of the Coordinated Community Response to ending domestic violence. In collaboration with police agencies, family and criminal justice courts, district attorney’s office, probation and victim services, the program is one of four batterer programs in New York State and the only local New York Model for Batterers Program in Western New York endorsed by the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the National Organization for Men Against Sexism.
As the most comprehensive human service provider in Western New York, Catholic Charities makes a difference for people of every faith and ethnicity. Catholic Charities empowers children, families and seniors to achieve meaningful, health and productive lives. In all situations, Catholic Charities delivers support to meet immediate needs then assesses its clients for other needs to ensure long-term success.
For further information about the organization and its programs and services, contact Catholic Charities at (716) 218-1400 or got to ccwny.org. You can also find Catholic Charities on Facebook at facebook.com/ccbuffalo, on Twitter at twitter.com/ccbuffalo and on Instagram at Instagram.com/catholiccharitiesbuffalo.
