Sections

Reflectively Embracing Nonviolence through Education for Women (RENEW) is an advocacy, intervention, and support group program for women who have used force in their intimate relationships. The program's framework is grounded in the philosophy that a social systems approach to contextualized assessment, multi-institutional advocacy, group member education and support is critical to effectively serving the complex needs of this population.

The RENEW Program's philosophy and mission are driven by the belief and context-based research that women — whether they are domestic violence survivors or not — who use force against a partner escalate the level of violence again themselves and, potentially, put others in their lives at risk of harm.

RENEW's programmatic goal is for participants to receive contextualized assessment, advocacy, education and peer support as they navigate complex circumstances and work toward violence-free lives.

It has been the RENEW Program staff's experience that women who use force do so in response to the abuse they have suffered and/or because the women believe their behavioral and institutional options to be limited. The group process is an eclectic mix of compassionate confrontation and group member interaction, grounded in curriculum-based sessions, where women are empowered to explore viable nonforceful behaviors. Group members have referred to this dynamic exploratory process, and opportunity for female peer support, as a time for personal renewal that sustains them after their time in the group has come to an end.

For more information contact:  Lisa Young Larance, MSW, LCSW, LMSW, RENEW Program Coordinator,  Telephone:  734-971-9781 x468  Email: llarance@csswashtenaw.org