Our Issues
1in6 Thursday: Boys Become Men
May 30th
I spoke recently with a group of college men whose fraternity had been sanctioned for sexually offensive attitudes and behavior. Our discussion was part of a mandated remedy. Not surprisingly, mandated conversations often don’t lead immediately to open dialogue.
Efforts to educate men about sexual violence generally cast them in one of two roles: bystanders, either preventing or supporting sexually aggressive behavior, speech or attitudes; or as perpetrators of violence.
This time, we experimented with introducing a third role to our conversation: the reality that men are also frequently the victims of violence, including the one in six men, who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood.
Make no mistake. Trauma can never be an excuse for hurting others. But I’ve found that acknowledging men’s experiences of trauma can lead to startling insights about violence. And by the end of the session, these men were readily identifying ways that men’s socialized behaviors can cause real harm.
Instead of focusing directly on their offensive actions, we first discussed childhood trauma, its impact on men and boys and how to support other men’s efforts to cope with those impacts in healthy ways.
We started by looking at a study of 17,000 patients of the Kaiser Permanente Health plan in San Diego, the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study. Researchers found that childhood trauma is actually a norm for men—almost two-thirds (62%) of the men in the study had had at least one of ten pre-identified traumatic experiences in their childhood.
Half of those had experienced more than one of the ten.
In a culture where boys grow up thinking that “real men” are never victimized, this is big news!
These traumas—what they refer to as “ACEs” (Adverse Childhood Experiences)—include physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or substance abuse in their household, parental separation or divorce, and a parent with a history of mental illness or incarceration. (Obviously, someone might have had other kinds of childhood trauma as well, but these were the ones considered in the study.)
Even more importantly, the researchers discovered that the more of these childhood traumas a person has, the higher their risk for a host of negative physical, mental health and behavioral outcomes—things like heart and liver disease, substance abuse, smoking, sexually transmitted diseases and depression.
For instance, people with 5 or more ACEs were 7 to 10 times more likely to be addicted to drugs, than people with no ACEs. Having ACEs in any category increased the risk of attempted suicide by 2 to 5 times.
Both men and women who were sexually abused in childhood, were:
- more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide
- 40% more likely to marry an alcoholic
- 40% to 50% more likely to have current problems with their marriage.
Once we’d normalized the idea that most men (including those fraternity members in the room) have some kind of childhood trauma history, we brainstormed various situations and social interactions that might trigger a man’s traumatic memories and the reactive feelings that might be stirred up. They mentioned triggers like uninvited physical touch, even done in jest; the emotional risks inherent in the dynamics of dating; parties where alcohol was present; feelings of losing control; situations where they felt humiliation or shame.
Then we explored some common coping strategies that men have been raised to use to numb or defend against those feelings and to avoid feeling vulnerable—things like drug and alcohol abuse; sexual compulsivity; developing a tough, domineering or controlling image; expressing disdain for another’s vulnerability; violence against others or themselves. Ironically, they found themselves discussing, without defensiveness, the very behaviors that had resulted in their sanction.
We finished by discussing the idea that, we men, all have a responsibility to encourage one another to be our best selves—supportively challenging other men when their behaviors undermine their integrity or well-being. We discovered that focusing on healthier ways of dealing with childhood trauma can also change the way men view masculine norms and the often self-destructive coping strategies we learn as boys.
“This is different,” one man noted. “We’re talking about ourselves.”
- By Peter Pollard
Peter Pollard is the Training and Outreach Director for 1in6, Inc. Peter previously worked for 15 years as a state, child-protection social worker and was the Public Education director at Stop It Now! Since 2003, he has served as the Western Massachusetts coordinator for SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) and also does work for a Certified Batterers Intervention Program.
The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives.
1in6′s mission also includes serving family members, friends and partners by providing information and support resources on the web and in the community.
Joyful Heart and 1in6 invite you to visit 1in6.org for info, options and hope, and to learn more about our partnership and Engaging Men initiative at men.joyfulheartfoundation.
The views expressed above are not necessarily those of the Joyful Heart Foundation or 1in6.
The 6th Annual Joyful Revolution Gala: YES RISK JOY
May 24th
Two weeks ago, Joyful Heart staff, board members and supporters gathered to celebrate the Joyful Revolution at our 2013 annual gala. This year’s theme was YES RISK JOY.
These words were borrowed from a poem by Louise Glück called snowdrops, and this theme echoed throughout Cipriani 42nd Street that night—from the beautiful installation at the entrance of the space that brought written word to life, to the moving story of our work, told by the evening’s host, Peter Hermann.
We were joined by members of our Board of Directors, the many individuals and corporations who made the evening—and our work—possible, and the many celebrities and public figures who shared their voices and generous spirits with us including: Mario Batali, Richard Belzer, Mary J. Blige, Andre Braugher, Will Chase, Glenn Close, Harry Connick Jr., Raul, Esparza, Joely Fisher, Dann Florek, Kelli Giddish, Megan Hilty, Julianne Hough, Chris Meloni, Debra Messing, Hugh Jackman, Jemima Kirke, Ingrid Michaelson, Mary-Louise Parker, Danny Pino, Samantha Ronson, George Stephanopolus, Uma Thurman, and Ali Wentworth.
Peter Hermann, the evening's host, stands in front of the Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band. Photography by: Michael Webber
The program began as the Spirit of Stony Brook marching band called us to attention. As their horns blasted, guests found their way to their seats and Peter began the evening’s program, introducing Joyful Heart, our work and why we were gathered together.
As you likely know, the mission of the Joyful Heart Foundation is to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues. For years now, we’ve called our annual New York City gala our Joyful Revolution, and it’s made possible by a community that comes together to say NO MORE to these crimes, that believes in the experiences of survivors and more than that—in their courage, their wholeness, their perseverance, grit and determination.
More than the theme of our gala, the words YES RISK JOY sum up the spirit of why and how Joyful Heart came to be and the journey that survivors are brave enough to persevere through. Something in them says YES, allows them the take the RISK of stepping out of a kind of darkness and urges them to lay claim, once again of perhaps for the first time, to JOY.
After Peter kicked things off, he introduced Maile Zambuto, Chief Executive Officer. As Maile said of a survivor’s journey:
“YES is the beginning.
JOY is the hard-won, precious prize at the end.
And everything in between is RISK. The risk of feeling again, beginning again, letting go, entertaining the possibility of maybe attempting to trust again.”
Mariska Hargitay, Joyful Heart’s Founder & President, then joined her on stage to introduce this year’s Heart of Gold Award recipient, Joyful Heart board member, Sukey Novogratz:
“I had started on SVU and I was getting all these letters from people who were disclosing to me, and then I learned the statistics, and I thought, ‘My God, I have to do something.’ And Joyful Heart was my answer. I just felt people needed a place to heal, a place that would connect them to that fighter within them that said, ‘I want to live.’
“I feel like we’ve sort of been divinely guided since then, like the right people came at the right time to help us grow into who we are today. Among those people divinely orchestrated to cross our path is one person in particular, Sukey Novogratz.”
Few people could embody the spirit of YES RISK JOY—and of Joyful Heart—more than Sukey. Through her incredible generosity, Sukey has made many of our signature programs possible. Because of her, we have not only been able to do what is necessary, but we’ve been able to ask what’s possible, to imagine, to broaden our vision and expand our horizon.
Sukey stands in front of the art installation featuring the words of our night—YES RISK JOY—inspired by her. Photography by Michael Webber
1in6 Thursday: Behold the Turtle
May 16th
Researcher Brené Brown became an overnight celebrity after she gave a TED Talk about vulnerability and shame that has been viewed over nine million times.
Everything she says about vulnerability and shame can be directly applied to survivors of child sex abuse. As a researcher, she states that it is a scientific fact that connection is the basis for human life and shame unravels connection. That spells problems for us survivors, because our most powerful emotion is shame. She goes on to say that shame makes us feel as though we are not worthy of connection.
Welcome to my world and that of many survivors who are working through a healing process. At times, we can feel unworthy—unworthy of love; unworthy of joy; unworthy of the good things in life. My life looked more like a battlefield than a playground or a park. My perceived strength was really coming from fear, because there was no way I was going to let anyone ever get the upper hand on me again. Show no vulnerability and give no quarter.
Ms. Brown tells us that vulnerability is not weakness, but is in fact strength. It is through the strength to risk vulnerability that we find connection, growth and joy. What that says to me is that I have watched life from behind my protective walls and lived closed off from the beauty that is all around, yet never touched it. That is no doubt why people commented on how serious I always seemed to be. By cutting off my pain I also cut off the good feelings in life.
I began my healing by telling my story to a therapist. In hindsight I realize that took real courage. I began shedding my shame a piece at a time. Once the walls built by my shame started coming down, I began feeling lots of emotions. In letting go of my fear, I found courage to tell my story and risk being imperfect (vulnerable) in the world. I have lived a linear life, only deviating from the line to go around obstacles. My life now is circular. I find amazing connections that come around when they are needed. Life can be so much more than a race downfield. When we are strong enough to be vulnerable we find that everything is connected and in living those connections is a life of truth, worth and joy. And yes, it includes tears and pain as well, but it is good just to feel after living numb for so long.
My wife and I got a wedding present a million years ago and it was a ceramic turtle with a small tag on it that said “Behold the turtle, he makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.” May you find the strength to risk being vulnerable, tell your story, and in doing so find yourself, and all life has to offer.
Speaker, author and advocate for victims of child sexual abuse Randy Ellison, himself a victim as a teen, says he works on the issue because “we can’t stop the cycle of abuse unless it is not just acknowledged, but talked about, understood and prevented.” Author of the book Boys Don’t Tell: Ending the Silence of Abuse, Ellison is a child sexual abuse victim’s advocate and an activist promoting cultural change on this issue working with local, state and national organizations addressing abuse prevention and awareness.
Ellison is a founding member and former board president of Oregon Abuse Advocates and Survivors in Service, OAASIS. Working with OAASIS he has helped pass groundbreaking legislation in Oregon on child sex abuse. He is also a member of the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force.
1in6′s mission also includes serving family members, friends, and partners by providing information and support resources on the web and in the community.
Joyful Heart and 1in6 invite you to visit 1in6.org for info, options and hope, and to learn more about our partnership and Engaging Men initiative at men.joyfulheartfoundation.
The views expressed above are not necessarily those of the Joyful Heart Foundation or 1in6.
1in6 Thursday: An Open Letter to Our Readers
May 9th
Dear 1in6 Thursday Blog Readers,
The Joyful Heart Foundation and 1in6 graciously provided me with a venue this past year in which I was able to share my voice on behalf of the voiceless – the male survivors of childhood sexual abuse whose voices are silenced with threats of violence, the survivors whose screams are muted by the “man box” and the victims who are too afraid to speak. As one of this blog’s voices, I want to leave you in my final blog post with a message of both hope and challenge.
Looking at the 1in6 website traffic in 2012, there was a 57% increase in visitors from the previous year. This increase gives us hope that healing is possible. Unfortunately, it also highlights the fact that our efforts to support male survivors of childhood sexual abuse must continue as there are still a large number of men who continue to suffer in silence.
We must no longer allow the plight of male survivors of childhood sexual abuse to fall on deaf ears. We must hear their cries, however faint they may be, and raise them up to full volume in order to improve our communities. We can no longer remain silent while our partners, brothers, uncles, neighbors, co-workers and classmates endure the pain of childhood sexual abuse. By remaining silent, we hinder their journey towards healing.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.” We must all take some sort of action, big or small, because we all have a stake in the outcome, and as a fellow reader of this blog, it is the perfect time to forge ahead with a plan of action.
Institutions, like city governments, universities and local churches must lead their constituents, students and followers down a path of non-violence by focusing on prevention rather than merely responding to sexual abuse after the fact, and individuals must hold them accountable by speaking out, demonstrating, calling or writing letters to the editor about the issue of male childhood sexual abuse.
Each of us is a piece of the puzzle. How we come together determines what the picture will look like. I urge you to rise to the challenge and to do your part. As insignificant as you think it might be, it is still more than what was being done yesterday and combined with the efforts of others, it can power the change we seek in order to create a picture of a community that we can all be proud of – a community of healing for male survivors of sexual abuse.
- By Emiliano Diaz de Leon
Emiliano C. Diaz de Leon is a Cultural Capacity Specialist for 1in6. Besides his work with 1in6, Emiliano has more than a decade of experience working for multiple domestic and sexual violence centers in Texas. Since 2008, Emiliano has worked as a Primary Prevention Specialist for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) and since October 2011 providing technical assistance to the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Engaging Men Program grantees around the country as a Men’s Engagement Specialist. The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives.
1in6′s mission also includes serving family members, friends, and partners by providing information and support resources on the web and in the community.
Joyful Heart and 1in6 invite you to visit 1in6.org for info, options and hope, and to learn more about our partnership and Engaging Men initiative at men.joyfulheartfoundation.
The views expressed above are not necessarily those of the Joyful Heart Foundation or 1in6.
1in6 Thursday: Understanding My Abuser
May 2nd
When we think upon the abuse we suffered as children we are often consumed by feelings of pain and how they may continue to negatively affect us even into our present. It may be years before we consider, let alone care why our abuser may have done this to us. What made him/her the way that they are? If we allow our pain to answer this question, the immediate reply is likely, “Because he/she is a twisted pervert and a disgusting human being and they deserve to suffer.” These feelings are completely understandable and can even be a healthy first step in the healing process, however at some point we must move on to the next question: why would they have done something like this to me?
Statistics show that 95% of abusers were they themselves abused as children. When we are ready and when we are strong enough we may allow ourselves to move into the emotional realm of empathy. The odds are that your abuser suffered the exact same pain that they inflicted on you. If you can, think about that person as a little boy or girl and how scared they were when it happened to them. Imagine the shame that they lived with all of their lives not knowing how to deal with what happened to them and too ashamed to tell anyone. Then, after many years of that unrevealed secret festering inside of them like an infected appendix they exploded and they acted out inflicting that same pain on someone else, forever putting their life on a terrible course.
This reality by no means justifies our abusers and is not supposed to. By realizing that they suffered the same things we did it helps us to be able to forgive them. Forgiveness, contrary to common belief has much more to do with your healing than with the other person.
- By Aaron Kesseler
Aaron Kesseler was born in 1986, married the love of his life in 2010 and is currently working for his step-father’s commercial heating business in Seattle, WA. After high school he attended Northwest University in Kirkland for two years. Aaron has volunteered as a camp counselor for five years with the Muscular Dystrophy Association Summer Camp as well as three years with Royal Family Kids Camp, a summer camp for the most abused and neglected children in the area.
The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives.
1in6′s mission also includes serving family members, friends and partners by providing information and support resources on the web and in the community.
Joyful Heart and 1in6 invite you to visit 1in6.org for info, options and hope, and to learn more about our partnership and Engaging Men initiative at men.joyfulheartfoundation.
The views expressed above are not necessarily those of the Joyful Heart Foundation or 1in6.
Denim Day USA 2013 and the Need for NO MORE Excuses
Apr 25th
“I didn’t know it was a rape. I don’t know what rape looks like.”
This is the comment from a 16-year-old high school boy who witnessed the sexual assault of a female student in Steubenville, Ohio when asked why he didn’t do something to stop it. This comment has not left my mind. It’s very discouraging. After all the “progress” that has been made in working to change the social norms that support violence and the attitudes that allow rape and other sexual violence to persist, clearly we are not there yet! What is wrong with this picture that in a suburban high school in Ohio, not only was a young girl repeatedly raped and assaulted, then videotaped but many students participated and/or witnessed the assault, did nothing, laughed and sent the images virally around the world.
Boys being boys? Bystanders in denial? Witnesses caught like deer in the headlights? Unconscious accomplices? Immaturity combined with entitlement? Of course it reminds me of the Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State where the assistant coach saw “something” in the locker room between Sandusky and a youth and although disturbed by what he saw, he wasn’t sure and he didn’t know what to do and so did nothing to intervene.
So here we are in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and also Child Abuse Prevention Month. Yesterday, Wednesday, April 24th was the 14th annual Denim Day USA, is a sexual violence prevention education campaign dedicated to supporting survivors of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities and nationalities, and preventing rape. Each year we promote wearing jeans with a purpose and invite youth to participate in educational opportunities to debunk the myths that continue to persist. Clearly, there is so much more education to do. We need more bystander education that aims to engage everyone to become aware and alert and to care about this issue for their own well-being and for the well-being of others. There is something to say for “doing the right thing” kind of education. Are there enough courses in schools teaching how important it is to do the right thing and if you are not sure — to find out?
Organizations like Peace Over Violence and 1in6 work on the issue of sexual abuse everyday, not just on Denim Day. Every month is sexual abuse awareness and prevention month for the network of an agencies that provides intervention services, prevention and policy toward the vision of a culture that doesn’t ignore, allow, excuse or condone sexual violence in any form.
Our efforts must persist but we also have to rethink, reframe and perhaps reinvent how we do what we do to have greater impact. We have to find more ways to engage individuals—especially young people, communities, families and all of our institutions in this effort. We have a long way to go. I personally refuse to give up or to abandon this vision. It’s time to organize and engage with one another so that our very culture says NO MORE to sexual violence, domestic abuse and child abuse.
I believe we can get there. Will you believe too?
- By Patti Giggans
Patti Giggans is the Executive Director of Peace Over Violence. Peace Over Violence is dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. She is also the Vice-President of the Board of Directors for 1in6.
The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives.
1in6′s mission also includes serving family members, friends and partners by providing information and support resources on the web and in the community.
Joyful Heart and 1in6 invite you to visit 1in6.org for info, options and hope, and to learn more about our partnership and Engaging Men initiative at men.joyfulheartfoundation.
The views expressed above are not necessarily those of the Joyful Heart Foundation or 1in6.
Bringing Awareness to Child Abuse and Neglect during April
Apr 12th
This month, we have the unique privilege of acknowledging and raising awareness around child abuse and neglect. April, National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, is dedicated to encouraging parents and caregivers to recognize the importance of promoting the social and emotional well being of children and families in communities.
First enacted by the U.S. government in 1983, this month brings attention to this issue and helps support the 676,596 children who are being abused and the 15.5 million children who are exposed to violence in the United States each year.
But we know that child abuse and neglect is preventable. So this April, let us turn towards this issue and stand with millions of others across the country to raise awareness during National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month.
In Hawai’i, Joyful Heart partnered with the Hawai’i Children’s Trust Fund to launch One Strong ‘Ohana, the largest state-wide child abuse and neglect prevention campaign in the state of Hawai‘i. It is based on the research that shows that child abuse and neglect is preventable and that individuals—parents, caregivers and adult community members—can play a part in creating a positive and healthy environment.
As board member Valli Kalei Kanuha, Ph.D said:
“Our premise is simple: rather than wait for something to go wrong, do something right, something as basic as running an errand for an overstressed caretaker or offering to watch your neighbors’ kids so they can have a little break.”
We can each help create a nurturing environment for our children by reaching out to parents in the smallest of ways, like offering to pick up the groceries for a neighbor or friend, getting the kids together for a play date or offer to watch their kids for a while and simply asking how things are going. Check out the PSA below:
While One Strong ‘Ohana is local to Hawai‘i, the premise is universal. The campaign is based in protective factors, which are positive attributes that are shown to strengthen all families. They can include parental resilience, showing and feeling nurturing and attachment towards one’s child, knowledge of child and youth development, concrete support and social connections to others. When present, these factors are shown to reduce harm and strengthen families. To learn more about the research and methodology behind protecting children preventing child abuse, click here.
For some more ideas and resources on how you can engage your community, protect children and get tips for parents and caregivers, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To watch PSAs in English and Spanish and learn more what state and national organizations are doing to promote community-based child abuse prevention programs, click here.
If you’re interested in getting involved in local initiatives in your community, The Innocence Revolution is a global effort to end child abuse that several Joyful Heart supporters began, with a global Day of Action taking place this Sunday, April 14. Like the One Strong ‘Ohana campaign, the initiative focuses on what adults can—and need to—do to prevent child abuse. For ideas on how to spread the word, visit theinnocencerevolution.net and for a list of Innocence Revolution events near you, click here.
On behalf of Joyful Heart and children everywhere, thank you for lending your voice to this important month and for taking the time to learn more and shed light on child abuse.
April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To get involved and find resources, visit our previous post by clicking here.
1in6 Thursday: Widening the Lens on Gender and Violence
Apr 11th
Even a few years ago, who would have imagined that the opening plenary panel at the 2013 End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) conference (last week in Baltimore) would focus on supporting men who have experienced unwanted or abusive childhood sexual interactions. It’s difficult to overstate the value of a shift in thinking that exposed nearly 1,200 conference participants—including advocates, investigators, prosecutors and clinicians—to the notion of engaging men as direct beneficiaries of efforts to end sexual violence. What a long way we’ve come!
The speakers on the panel, facilitated by 1in6 Founding Board member Dr. David Lisak, included 1in6 Founder, Steve LePore, and 1in6 collaborative partners, Rick Goodwin of The Men’s Project of Ottawa and 1in6 Canada, and Gary Foster of Living Well in Australia. Dr. Howard Fradkin of MaleSurvivor also spoke. All have devoted their lives to finding ways to help men who experience childhood abuse to live healthier, happier lives.
Former San Diego police detective, Joanne Archambault, founded End Violence Against Women International in 2003, to provide “affordable training for all disciplines with an emphasis on the law enforcement investigation and proper criminal justice responses to sexual assault and domestic violence.” In the intervening years, EVAWI has become a leading voice in the international effort to create safer, violence-free communities. EVAWI’s mission and stature made the inclusion of male survivors on the panel all the more powerful.
Historically, programs to end gender-based violence have understandably focused on ending violence against women and children. Women and girls have been—and continue to be—the most likely victims of sexual abuse or assault. Men, usually seen through the lens of being participants in masculine culture, have most often been viewed by the movement principally as bystanders, with a duty and potential to intervene to end violence against women by other men; or as perpetrators of violence against women and children.
What’s always been lost in that model (and was highlighted by the panel) is the reality that 1 in 6 men were among those children sexually abused in childhood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that “more than 1 in 4 (28.5 percent) men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime” and the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study suggests that nearly two-thirds of men (62 percent) may have experienced some kind of emotional, physical or sexual childhood trauma.
Let me be clear. Having a trauma history never excuses abusive or harmful behavior.
But how might our violence-prevention conversations shift if we were to operate on the assumption that a given man is at least as likely to have experienced trauma himself as he is likely to become a perpetrator of sexual violence? What an opportunity for eliciting empathy for other victims of violence!
And how might that notion expand our view of the benefits of reaching out to male survivors of childhood sexual abuse? Or even to men who have behaved offensively?
At the conference, hundreds of participants stopped by the 1in6 exhibit booth after the panel to express support for expanding services to men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood and as adults. Many said the panel presentation had opened their eyes to a new way of looking at their work and the people who are affected.
The question of how best to reach those men, how to get them to engage in services, remains one of our biggest challenges. But EVAWI’s cracking open the dialogue to include men as legitimate recipients of services for sexual trauma represents an enormous step toward healing and change for all of us—men, women and children.
Thank you EVAWI, for your remarkable vision.
- By Peter Pollard
Peter Pollard is the Training and Outreach Director for 1in6, Inc. Peter previously worked for 15 years as a state, child-protection social worker and was the Public Education director at Stop It Now! Since 2003, he has served as the Western Massachusetts coordinator for SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) and also does work for a Certified Batterers Intervention Program.
The mission of 1in6 is to help men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood live healthier, happier lives.
1in6′s mission also includes serving family members, friends, and partners by providing information and support resources on the web and in the community.
Joyful Heart and 1in6 invite you to visit 1in6.org for info, options and hope, and to learn more about our partnership and Engaging Men initiative at men.joyfulheartfoundation.
The views expressed above are not necessarily those of the Joyful Heart Foundation or 1in6.