Engaging fathers in intimate partner violence interventions

This chapter will examine the role of fathers as perpetrators and victims of intimate partner violence. The chapter will begin with a vignette based on the experiences of the first author that illustrates some of the challenges of working with fathers in the contexts of interpersonal violence services. The chapter will also describe the broader research on fathers and interpersonal violence, including rates of perpetration and victimization, and the impacts of these experiences. The chapter uses a family systems and critical feminist perspective to frame the intersection of fathering and interpersonal violence. Interventions including batterer intervention programs, Responsible Fatherhood programs, and the Caring Dads and Fathers for Change programs are highlighted. The chapter concludes with a set of recommendations for practitioners and programs to improve the engagement of fathers in their services, including the development of more programs aimed at serving fathers.