The Outreach to Men program invites Family Justice Centers to create a Men’s Leadership Forum that encourages strong, positive male role models to come together, take action, and commit to ending violence against women and girls.
To learn more about creating an Outreach to Men program in your community, click here to access the Recruiting and Engaging Men to Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Toolkit. This toolkit specifically focuses on developing, implementing, and maintaining the Forum at the Family Justice Center and turning into an Action Team to benefit the Center in the long-run. The toolkit offers a quick step-by-step process on how to identify existing organizations working on recruiting and engaging men; how to host a kick-off event; how to create a Men’s Leadership Committee; how to develop outreach materials and social networking strategies, and much more. Additional information related to this topic can also be accessed in the online Resource Library under "Outreach to Men."
Additional Resources and Information
A Call to Men Presentation
The following clip, featuring Ted Bunch, the Co-Founder of a Call to Men, presenting at the Nampa Family Justice Center, is an example of how Family Justice Centers can partner with existing organizations to recruit and engage non-violent men in the family violence prevention movement.
1 is 2 Many (White House PSA)
Family Justice Centers are encouraged to use PSAs and other public awareness tools to support the Outreach to Men Program. The White House produced a PSA, "1 is 2 Many" to focus on relationship violence. The PSA features popular sports figures, celebrities, and leaders.
Recommended Organizations and Programs for Adaptation and Use in a Family Justice Center
There are many successful and dynamic agencies doing great work around this issue. The Family Justice Center Alliance (Alliance) recommends the following agencies and resources to help you get started in creating your Men’s Leadership Forum.
The Outreach to Men program will produce positive feedback from men in your community. The Nampa Family Justice Center piloted this project and the response from men was overwhelming.
Men Will Take Action
In a survey conducted at the Nampa Family Justice Center after a Men's Leadership Forum, participants were asked if they have personally been challenged to "take action" against violence against women. Before the presentation, 70% of the participants agreed with the latter statement. After the presentation, 95% agreed.
“Men speaking out against violence is a necessary and key ingredient in making a social change to ending violence against women.” - Men’s Leadership Forum Participant
Domestic Violence is an Issue for Men
In a survey conducted at the Nampa Family Justice Center after a Men's Leadership Forum, participants were asked if they viewed domestic violence as an issue for men to be involved in and take action to prevent. Before the presentation, 60% of the participants agreed with the latter statement; after the presentation, almost 100% agreed.
