Partner Assault Response Service (PARS)

Overview

The Partner Assault Response Program is a specialized education / counselling program for individuals who have been physically violent, emotionally abusive or controlling towards a spouse or intimate partner.

PAR Program:

• Provides group sessions to individuals who have been violent or abusive towards a spouse/partner.
• Is not an anger management program.  Most PAR clients have only been violent toward a partner.
• Provides support and outreach to the victim and present partner of a group participant.
• Is audited by Ministry staff to ensure they comply with Provincial Standards.

Not all clients will stop their abusive behaviour.  Attending a program is not a guarantee of safety.

Information for participants

We believe that most PAR clients would like to be respectful, caring partners.  However, we realize that sometimes you don’t act this way.  What stops you from being an equal, non-abusive partner?

• Do you put your needs ahead of those of your partner and make excuses for the abuse by blaming your partner.
• Do you blame jealousy, anger, alcohol or stress for the abuse?

PAR Program staff are professionals who will treat you with respect.  At the same time, they will also encourage you to take responsibility for your behavior.  You can expect to learn:

• What abuse is and how it affects your partner and children.
• That you chose to be abusive.
• How your beliefs and attitudes have been used to justify abusive behavior.
• Why you sometimes don’t treat your partner with respect.
• Different ways to handle a conflict.

 

Information for partners

You are not to blame for the abuse.  You may feel that if you had acted differently your partner would not have been abusive.  This statement is not true.  An important message of the PAR Program is that your partner is the only one responsible for the abuse.

If your current or former partner is attending a PAR Program, you will get:

• A minimum of four (4) contacts with PAR staff during the twelve (12) weeks of the program, if you wish.  (You are not required to have contact with the PAR Program if you don’t want to).
• Help with safety planning.
• Information about how the PAR Program works and the subjects that are presented to the participants within the group sessions.
• A phone call if program staff ever have any concerns about your safety.  
• Information about community services that may help you and your children.

Testimony

“ I would recommend the PAR Program.  It has opened my eyes.  I don’t know how much he has gotten out of it, but I know how much I have gotten out of it.  I has really helped me make some decisions ”.

“At first I blamed my partner for having to go to classes for abusing someone.  Now I will be known as someone that never abused anyone after this program”.