Family Safety and Services

Family Safety and Services

About CFFPP and Domestic Violence

While CFFPP’s work focuses on the unique barriers affecting no- and low-income fathers, the Center is equally committed to promoting the well-being and safety of women and children.

Since its founding, the Center has reached out to and developed working relationships with a variety of women’s organizations and domestic violence advocates. The aim has been to openly discuss the potential impact that providing social welfare services to men could have on women and children in general, and on victims and survivors of domestic violence in particular. The Center entered this discussion to provide information and education about the need for comprehensive social services – for both women and men – that address the complex issues families living in poverty face.

Safety and Services Event

Watch “Safety and Services: Perspectives from Women of Color on Domestic Violence, Economic (In)stability, and Community.” CFFPP, the Center for American Progress, and the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence co-sponsored this event in October 2011. After introductory comments by Anne Menard (NRCDV) and a brief presentation of the report “Safety and Services: Women of color speak about their communities” by Jill Groblewski (CFFPP), Joy Moses (CAP) moderates a panel discussion on the implications the paper holds for policy and practice. Panelists include Shelia Hankins (IDVAAC), Lisa Nitsch (House of Ruth Maryland), and Lynn Rosenthal (White House Advisor on Violence Against Women).

In the Spotlight: Working Together

The Maryland Department of Human Resources partnered with the House of Ruth Maryland (a domestic violence agency in Baltimore) to create the short video, Nobody Ever Earned It. The message is that “Fathers have a uniquely powerful role in ending violence against women.”

This remarkable video showcases five graduates of the House of Ruth Maryland’s abuser intervention program, the Gateway Project, all of whom have domestic violence charges against them. In the video, they reflect upon the impact of domestic violence – particularly on children – and share their vision of living violence-free futures.

The video was created to be shown in waiting areas of Department of Social Service agencies throughout the state of Maryland and will be used by the Gateway Project in groups with men. It was funded through the first round of federal Responsible Fatherhood grants (2006-2011), and exemplifies the kind of work that Pathways to Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage grantees can do in partnership with local domestic violence advocates.