AS we enter October and mark Domestic Violence Month, I remember my introduction to Dove’s program. In the summer of 1980, I was the at-home parent for our two young daughters. I responded to a knock on the door to find Larry Troy, a sociology professor from Millikin University, asking if I had an interest in working on a project investigating services for abusive men as part of the Dove Domestic Violence Program. He knew I had a background on teaching communication skills and thought it might be helpful. A small group of us met through that summer and decided to develop a curriculum to be presented to abusers to help them change their abusive behavior. There was not a lot of research material available. Active groups throughout the country did not begin to meet together until the mid-1980s in St. Louis to share their programs and results. In the early 1980s we decided to push forward with what we had. We announced we had a program for men and were in business. The
Dove is an organization that engages religious institutions, volunteers, and advocates seeking to coordinate efforts to address unmet needs and social injustices. These needs are met through coordinated programs focusing on domestic violence, homelessness, education, volunteer and community empowerment, and individual emergency need fulfillment. Dove works for justice, equality, and understanding among all people.