Vera House offers two domestic violence education programs: Alternatives and STEPS.
These programs are designed to support accountability and promote change for people who have perpetrated abuse in their intimate relationships. They are not counseling, but structured, educational spaces that challenge harmful beliefs and behaviors. Alternatives is designed for men, and STEPS is designed for women. Both programs work closely with the criminal justice system and provide space to examine choices, take responsibility and begin learning what it means to build respectful, non-violent relationships.
The Vera House Alternatives Program is a domestic violence education program that invites men who have perpetrated abuse to take a closer look at their beliefs and behaviors. The program works in partnership with the criminal justice system and supports accountability for abusive actions.
Alternatives is a 15-class program with weekly classes (1.5 hours) where participants examine beliefs about control, explore the impact of abuse, and learn what it means to take responsibility for their actions. Review our Alternatives Program flyer for more information. Orientation is held the first and third Wednesday of each month at 5:15 PM, and classes meet weekly at various times.
All sessions take place at 449 E. Washington Street (corner of Townsend). Fees are on a sliding scale based on income and employment status, ranging from $0 to $30 per session. View the sliding breakdown:
Participation in Alternatives does not guarantee that someone will stop their abusive behavior, but it offers a space to begin that work.
Click HERE to register for Alternatives Orientation online. Please click HERE to email the Alternatives Program Coordinator or call (315) 425-0818.
The Vera House STEPS Program is a domestic violence education program that invites women who have perpetrated abuse to take a closer look at their beliefs and behaviors. The program works in partnership with the criminal justice system and supports accountability for abusive actions.
STEPS is a 15-class program with weekly classes (1.5 hours) where participants challenge the attitudes and beliefs that support abusive behavior and learn non-violent ways of relating. Review our STEPS Program flyer for more information. Orientation is held the first and third Monday of each month from 4:30 to 5:30 PM (arrive by 4:15 PM), and classes meet on Mondays from 5:30 to 7:00 PM.
All sessions take place at 449 E. Washington Street (corner of Townsend). Fees are on a sliding scale based on income and employment status, ranging from $0 to $30 per session. View the sliding breakdown:
Click HERE to register for STEPS Orientation online. Please click HERE to email the STEPS Program Coordinator or call (315) 425-0818.
To learn more about Vera House’s Alternatives and STEPS Programs, please see our 2020 Annual Report.
Vera House is committed to ensuring our programs and services are welcoming to everyone. If you need assistance to ensure our services meet your needs, please call us at 315-425-0818 or click HERE to send an e-mail.