The center piece of the Shephard Institute will be the transitional living program. Residents will be allowed to stay as long as necessary to break the cycle of violence in their lives and to gain the necessary skills to move on with their lives.

The shelter will accommodate fifteen families in private living quarters, approximately fifty beds. Referrals will come from social services and police agencies.

The Shephard Institute intends to offer workshops on stopping the violence and preventing the reoccurrence of future violence. The information will identify abusive behavior and teach alternatives to violence. Our program will explore the impact of violent and abusive behavior on intimate partners, children and others. We will assist individuals in examining the beliefs they hold about violence and further assist in developing cognitive restructuring, behavioral change, anger management, assertiveness training, relaxation techniques, problem solving skills, relapse prevention and parenting skills.

The Team Members will work in coordination with Dr. Thomas Gordon's Gordon Training International as certified and licensed Instructors in the Parent Effectiveness Training programs both for the clients of the Shephard Institute and for the outside community.

For children, the support system will be far reaching. Access to group and individual counseling, on-site education and play therapy services, along with referral case management will be available. The comfortable setting, with play areas and accommodations for pets on-site will be part of the daily lives for children.

To be accepted into our program, potential residents are interviewed and must demonstrate need. We expect that certain agencies will contribute to the cost. There is usually a waiting list for transitional living apartments because it is a much needed service. We intend to shorten that list.