While HELP of Door County works extensively with victims of domestic abuse, the organization also assists abusers in finding new ways to channel their emotions. One of the services HELP of Door County provides is its Alternatives to Violence program, a 26-week educational course for men designed to be open-ended so participants can start and stop at any time.

According to PublicHealthPost.org, domestic violence offenders have higher recidivism rates than many other convicted felons. Researchers note that the more prior felonies a person has, the more likely they are to end up back in prison. The probability of recidivism increases from 24% for those with no prior felonies to 61% for those with seven prior felonies.

The Alternatives to Violence program aims to reduce those numbers by encouraging men who commit the crimes to talk about their emotions and underlying issues, something that is often easier said than done. Executive Director Moriah Benzow said last week during “Pay to Play with the United Way” that men have responded well to the program, holding newer participants to higher levels of accountability and requesting additional support groups in the future.

The Alternatives to Violence program and the Women Ending Abuse and Violence course both require an assessment before participants are admitted. HELP of Door County is one of many programs supported by the United Way of Door County’s annual campaign.