Kristen Fiester, Program Director at Mountain Crisis Services | Register for Shifting the Lens Today

“I believe that the only way we can stop the cycle of violence is by assisting the whole family when it is safe to do so.  By assisting only the survivor, we are missing a key person- the one that has done the harm; the one that needs education and support.  In many cases, the person that has done harm has been harmed themselves. Our organization tries to do this through our Batterer’s Intervention program. 

Several years ago we assisted a DV survivor that wanted to keep her family together; she wanted to get help for her husband . She stayed in our transitional housing Program while he was receiving substance use and Mental Health counseling. He was also active in our Batterer’s Program and other services in the community. They are now living together and have their child back from CWS. 

I feel like supporting the whole family can work if the community is on board. The key point here is if the family wants the help and is willing to change then it could happen and there is hope.”