Fatherhood after violence

Adults who experience Childhood Exposure to Violence (CEV) have an increased likelihood of harsher parenting styles and perpetrating child abuse. CEV also increases the likelihood of being either a perpetrator or a victim of domestic violence during adulthood. In response to these issues, the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) has launched several initiatives, including Fathering After Violence (FAV), a project to engage men in preventing family violence by using fatherhood as a leading strategy.

For the last four years, the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) has been developing a framework, strategies and products to help further the work of keeping abusive fathers accountable, while supporting them to change their behavior. Partnering with batterers intervention programs (BIPs) and supervised visitation centers (SVCs) and public health professionals across the country, FVPF has developed guidelines and tools for programs to work responsibly with abusive fathers, including a series of multi-cultural posters and the documentary Something My Father Would Do. Fatherhood has proven to be a powerful tool to reach men in understanding the effects of family violence. By working with fathers in breaking the cycle of abuse, we will enhance the safety and wellbeing of their partners, children, grandchildren and future generations yet to come.