Brother for is an innovative program of the Department of Correctional Services which started at the St. Ann’s Bay Probation Office in June 1999. The programme is aimed at reducing domestic violence against women and children.
As the name suggests, it focuses on the male perpetrator with a view to help him to change his violent behaviour.
Brother for change is a Domestic Violence programme in response to family violence and abuse against women and children.
The goal of Brother for Change is to help men with their violent and abusive behaviour towards their spouses, children or any other family member. This is done in an Educational group setting.
The aims are to help each man to:
A partner Alliance has been established with Family Planning (Fam Plan) and the courts in ST. Ann in implementing and ensuring its continuity.
Male offender may be ordered to attend the programme by the court.
A male offender can voluntarily enter the programme.
Others can be referred by a partner, friend, pastor or counsellor.
It is a group therapy programme. This group experience is the core of the programme.
There is ongoing support to the programme by the Probation After-Care Officers who are the main stakeholders. Sessions are held twice fortnightly for one and half hours.
For both the intake and advanced group, forty (40) session are implemented.
The programme operates in two stages
Intake Procedure
During orientation the following forms are completed and signed by the client and facilitator.
After this initiation, treatment begins which leads to the advanced Stage.
CHILDREN:
SOCIETY:
