A Spark of Light in a Growing Constellation

The Spark, Violence Prevention Warmline, is a small bright star in the large constellation of resources created to reduce domestic violence (DV) in Vermont. This is a comment made recently by Heather Holter, who Co-Directs the Vermont Council on Domestic Violence with Selene Colburn. The DV Resource constellation includes advocacy and support for survivors as well as Domestic Violence Accountability Programs (DVAPs) for people who cause harm in their intimate relationships. Many DVAPS in Vermont are embracing trauma informed approaches to balance accountability with laying the foundation for transformation and hope.

For those new to the concept of domestic violence accountability programming, it can seem unfair to shift attention from survivors to perpetrators and offer support to people who have caused harm to others. However, Umbrella has been working with survivors since 1976 and survivors have been asking for this approach to working with people who cause harm for decades. An approach of compassionate accountability does not offer someone who has caused harm a free ride or a way to avoid responsibility. It is a way of engaging in programming that offers safe spaces where men can talk openly about the pressures and pain they are experiencing and the difficult emotions society demands they keep under tight control. It is a space where trained facilitators or responders can help the individuals learn to identify abusive values, process painful emotions, and build skills for safe relationships. The ideal outcome is healing and greater self-responsibility, which reduces the person’s capacity to harm others and increases self-respect and respect for others.

The Vermont Council on Domestic Violence

Aside from The Spark, the current constellation of resources for people who cause harm includes programs that address actions and behaviors that have occurred in the past. These programs, which are certified by the Vermont Council on Domestic Violence, are located in counties around Vermont and offer different accountability pathways for people who have caused harm. The operative words are “have caused.” As Heather and Selene pointed out, most programming is mandated and all of it is for actions that occurred in the past, which means many of the current programs miss the opportunity to prevent the harmful actions from ever happening. The Spark is different!

Voluntary and preventative

According to Heather, the Council is shifting its approach to providing more expansive programming so that it’s available to anyone who needs it, not only to people who are required to participate. “We recognize the more options there are for people, and sooner in their lives and relationships, the more useful the intervention can be. That’s The Spark in a nutshell,” she said.

“The Spark fills a void in the current systems,” says Selene. “It’s preventative, while so much of what we provide is mandated after an act of violence has occurred. I’m not aware of many preventative resources that are available to people who are using abusive values and behaviors. The Spark can intervene at a moment when someone needs to be redirected, so that is very unique.”

Decoupled from the criminal legal system

The Council hopes to offer more options and pathways for people who are not court-ordered to attend DV accountability programming. While DVAP programs are often mandated and connected to the criminal legal system, Heather noted that “The Spark is so beautiful because it is decoupled from the criminal legal system and offers anonymity to callers that they don’t have in any other space. People who call don’t have to deal with the system to access the resource, and the level of violence doesn't have to reach a certain threshold for them to get the help they need.”

Destigmatizing and humanizing support

Heather, who has worked as a responder for The Spark, recalls a caller who was seeking help with a family member who had caused harm. The person had few other people to talk to because the other people in her support network had demonized the person causing harm. When it comes to destigmatizing support for people who cause harm, Selene admits they have their work cut out for them. “We’ve come a long way in reducing stigma for survivors. We have much further to go with regard to how we see people who cause harm.” The Spark is part of the solution, though, she says, “offering people an opportunity to shift behaviors in a way that recognizes their humanity.”

“It’s a really valuable supplement to existing accountability programming,” Selene adds. “Unless you’re in an incarcerative setting, under 24-hour supervision, the amount of prevention programming you’re getting is at most four hours a week. There’s another 164 hours that they’re on their own, trying to change behaviors that are hardwired.” She adds that “it’s better to get someone engaged in a process of change before they’ve caused harm, than for them to be mandated or ‘voluntold’ to be in an accountability program.”

Expanding the constellation

Heather and Selene envision more education and opportunities for people of all ages to deepen discussions about safe relationships in schools and community settings. Restorative Justice is part of that constellation, offering compassionate support for people to restore safety to their relationships and communities. The Spark takes it a step further by offering help throughout the day, when other services may not be available. The Spark can be accessed by people who cause harm and family members. 

The Spark couldn’t exist without the other stars in Vermont’s constellation, and with the addition of The Spark, the constellation has become much brighter. People who access The Spark when they’ve realized they need help, choose healing over harming another. For those who have already caused harm, The Spark suggests safer ways to behave in the world without judgment or legal involvement.

The Spark, Violence Prevention Warmline, is a confidential and anonymous helpline, accessible at 1-802-613-0375 between 10 am and 10 pm daily. Responders provide compassionate, nonjudgmental support to callers as they explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and find safer ways to show up in intimate relationships. Learn more at www.thesparkvt.org.