This Father’s Day let’s take some time to send love to our own fathers and/or protective caregivers as well as to honor and support those missing their fathers.

Many of us haven’t seen our parents since the pandemic started. Some of our fathers have passed, and we miss them. Some have had their fathers taken away too soon, like the children of George Floyd; his daughter Gianna finding some solace that her “daddy changed the world.”

With gratitude to fathers everywhere, those with us and those with us in spirit, END ABUSE recognizes the incredible work of fathers and takes pride in our member programs who work tirelessly with families and others to prevent and end domestic abuse. Below we highlight a few victim service agencies in WI that have specific programming dedicated to supporting fathers. 

The Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth offers a 10-week fatherhood program, Upon My Shoulders. The curriculum addresses the importance of fathers in the lives of their children and promotes the values of understanding and accepting oneself. Fathers explore the power of being in healthy relationships, which includes respectful communication with their children. 

FRIENDS, Inc. has been w orking with men for many years. Most recently, Friends started providing housing to all those who identify as male, including transgendered men. This has resulted in an increase in fathers feeling safe seeking shelter with their children. Additionally fathers who are not in shelter can take advantage of Friends’ are therapy with their children. 

The Beloit Domestic Violence Survivor Center currently facilitates a male support group and parenting classes for fathers. They also have regularly presented about the impacts of domestic violence at a local Fatherhood Initiative Program and are currently working to expand that single presentation to a weekly group within the Fatherhood Initiative and a domestic violence screening for referrals to DV services
during this program’s intake.  

The Asha Project, of END ABUSE, was founded as one of the nations’ first culturally-specific domestic violence programs for African Americans. Asha’s longstanding prevention work is crafted to fit cultural and gendered needs with consideration of historical trauma, race discrimination and underfunded essential services. Asha has incorporated education and support programs specific to men for the last 30 years. 

This Father’s Day, we ask that you spread the word about these services available to fathers in Wisconsin. And, if you are able, we ask that you consider donating to any or all of them, to ensure we continue the good work of ending and preventing violence and oppression in all of its forms.