AMEND's Services

History of AMEND

In 1977, with the creation of the AMEND program, Denver became one of two communities nationwide to begin striking at the roots of domestic violence by addressing abusive men. AMEND began as a nonprofit pilot program to meet the community's needs for intervention with abusive men whose partners had sought shelter. In 1987, AMEND added its victim's services component to provide advocacy and support to - and better ensure the safety of - the partners and children of the men in counseling.

Counseling Services

AMEND provides treatment for men voluntarily seeking or court-ordered into domestic violence counseling. Following an intake assessment, AMEND's counselors design a treatment plan to help the client eliminate physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. The treatment plan focuses on identification and awareness of the problem; taking responsibility for the abuse; enhancing self esteem; building anger management, conflict resolution, communication, stress-management skills; and remaining chemically free. Specific group sessions discuss family of origin, addictions, sexuality, irrational beliefs, gender stereotypes, parenting, and more. Clients are seen weekly for individual or group sessions. Each session begins with a check on any current use of violence/abuse and alternative coping skills successfully utilized.

AMEND offers specialized counseling for those seeking anger management, parenting classes, Christian-based counseling, counseling in Spanish, culturally-diverse group counseling, and counseling and advocacy services for gay perpetrators and victims of domestic violence. We currently have offices located in Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties. All counseling services are offered on a sliding-fee scale.

Advocacy Services

AMEND employs four victim advocates who remain in contact with the partners of our clients and with our counseling staff, thus providing a vital link. Advocates may confidentially inform counselors of unreported drug and alcohol abuse and threats to the victims and children. With this information counselors are assisted in focusing on specific problematic behaviors during counseling. Similarly, our advocates may relate critical information to the victims, alerting them to clients' successes and failures in the program and alerting them to signs of imminent danger. Each of our advocates is available for 24-hour crisis assistance. All victim advocacy services are offered free of charge.

AMEND offers victim support and education groups in our Adams County offices.

Community Education

The third core aspect of the AMEND program is community education. We at AMEND believe the key to our continued effectiveness and future success lies in the fact that our services are an effective intervention as well as an effective prevention program. Indeed, by helping fathers become violence-free, we help them keep from passing the violence on to yet another generation. By helping victims, we help reinforce a lifestyle of nonviolence. And by educating the community, we can collectively begin to address and change those societal forces which allow the roots of domestic violence to continue to grow.

AMEND gladly provides speakers to churches, civic groups, school groups, and others. For information on AMEND's community education efforts, or to request a speaker from AMEND, contact us at 303-832-6363.

To Request Information About AMEND Programs, you may contact us here.