
The Women’s Resource Center, a member of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, that strives to advocate for victims in Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren, recently received a $10,000 Verizon Foundation grant to support a campaign to engage men in domestic violence awareness.
Lori DiPersio is executive director of the center, which has offices in Newport and Warren, and which also provides statewide assistance to victims through the Family Violence Advocacy program.
That program last year served 327 clients and helped 10 families obtain long-term housing.
PBN: The Verizon Foundation grant will be used to support your Engaging Men in Domestic Violence Prevention program. What does this program aim to do?
DIPERSIO: The program has been running since 2011 and the goal is to engage and train men who currently work with young men and boys in schools and community programs, and men from the community at large, to become intentional mentors and positive role models of healthy non-violent manhood. Research confirms that an effective community approach to domestic violence prevention is engaging men to work with young men and boys to address the roots of male violence, challenge traditional beliefs about masculinity, and help young men break the cycle of violence passed from generation to generation.
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PBN: How do you know your organization is making a difference is lessening domestic violence against women in Rhode Island?
DIPERSIO: The WRC has contributed to a trend of decreasing domestic violence in Newport and Bristol counties over the years and has ensured that far more resources are available for this population locally. Each year we help women, children, families, and men and the elderly obtain the education, advocacy, counseling, and shelter services they need to secure their physical, mental, emotional, and financial safety from domestic abuse.
In 2012, the WRC provided services to 1,342 individuals and responded to 595 hotline calls. We provide intensive case management and mentor our clients to see if they are transitioning to independence.
PBN: The center was founded in 1977. Do you feel that now, 36 years later, there are in general more available resources for and fewer stigmas attached to victims of domestic violence?
DIPERSIO: There are significantly more resources available in the community than there were when we started and significantly fewer stigmas attached to victims. The need is still critical, but we are extremely proud of the progress we have made in collaboration with other domestic violence agencies across the state and across the country. To ensure that root causes of domestic violence are addressed, the WRC has focused in recent years on prevention efforts in area schools and communities to create a safer community for the future. These efforts include the Engaging Men program, Domestic Violence Prevention Program, our Character Development Initiative in Gaudet Middle School, The Prevention Institute in partnership with youth serving organizations in Newport County and South County, and various other programs in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control.
PBN: In which of your service areas is there the greatest funding need?
DIPERSIO: The Engaging Men in Domestic Violence Prevention because it is a newer area in domestic violence prevention and we are still raising awareness about the important role that men can play. Our on-going need as well is for our court program. Our funds continue to be cut at both the state and federal levels and yet we are mandated by the state to provide court advocacy for victims whenever the judge is available.
PBN: Do you have any partnerships within the Rhode Island school system? Are these beneficial in early prevention?
DIPERSIO: We have a very strong partnership with Gaudet Middle School in Middletown. Our Character Development Initiative focused on addressing the root causes of interpersonal violence/bullying, reaches more than 700 middle school students each year and has become relatively self sustaining as it has been incorporated in the culture of the school. We also have a close partnership with the Met School in Middletown and run a number of initiatives [there]. We also run a [Students Against Domestic Abuse] program with local high school students to engage youth themselves as partners in addressing the issue of dating violence among young people.