Men Ending Domestic Violence &

Women Working Against Angry Violent Environments

Battering is NOT an event, it is a life-style. Battering not only involves physical abuse (shoving, slapping and hitting), but also includes systematic verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual and economic abuse.

Provident’s domestic violence prevention groups, Men Ending Domestic Violence (MEDV) and Women Working Against Angry Environments (WAAVE), utilize group education and counseling sessions to help batterers end their use of violence and abuse.

Domestic violence prevention services are available at three Provident locations: St. Louis City, Fairview Heights, Illinois, and Alton, Illinois. Day and evening options are available.

 

Program Philosophy:

• Violence is NEVER justified.
• Anger does not cause battering.
• Batterers use abuse in order to control others.
• The safety of partners and children is our highest priority.
• Alcohol and drug problems do not cause aggression but can contribute to abusive behavior and must be treated.
• Unless addressed, aggressive behavior increases in severity and frequency.
• Couples therapy prior to MEDV/WAAVE completion is ineffective, is inappropriate and places the victim at an increased risk of abuse.
• The use of abusive and violent behavior is a choice.  It is a learned behavior that can be unlearned.
• Batterers can change.

Bringing an end to domestic violence will demand an increase in community awareness, improved allocation of resources and a coordinated community response to hold batterers responsible for their actions.

 

For more information call:

314-533-8200 or 1-800-782-1008