In the first six months of 2015 alone, police officers in Sudbury responded to a staggering 1,091 domestic disputes.

A new program unveiled in Sudbury on Monday aims to reduce that violence.

"Domestic violence can be stopped and we can live in a community free of violence of any kind towards women and intimate partners," said John Rimore, executive director of the John Howard Society in Sudbury. "We have to work with all parties involved in this terrible social situation including the perpetrators and the victims including all family members."

Rimore was speaking at a press conference to introduce Caring Dads, which starts Wednesday of next week.

Caring Dads, set up by local agencies including the John Howard Society and Sudbury Counselling Centre, will look to change the mindset of fathers who have been involved in domestic violence incidents with their families.

Rimore said that in the first six months of 2015 in Greater Sudbury, there were 1,091 domestic disputes reported to police.

"This can only be reduced when the perpetrators of this violence change their behaviours and actions and stop the violence," he said. "This is why the Caring Dads program is so important. Men must remember that it is up to them to stop the abuse."

According to Greater Sudbury Police statistics, officers laid charges in 214 domestic disputes cases during the first half of 2015. When charges were laid, men were charged 81 per cent of the time.

The first of two 17-week sessions will involve 12 men who have been referred to the John Howard Society chapter by five local agencies and organizations, including the Sudbury Counselling Centre, Sudbury and Area Victim Services, and Greater Sudbury Police.

A second session will follow in the new year.

The Caring Dads program is being offered thanks to $10,000 in funding from the United Way of Sudbury and Nipissing Districts.

Rimore said it has taken some time to get the program in place.

"This isn’t the first time we have applied to try and make the Caring Dads program a reality in Sudbury," he said. "It is our fourth or fifth attempt. We think this will be good for our community."

The program will aim to keep families together by giving fathers the skills they need, while providing a safer home for family members.

Carole Lamoureux, executive director of the Sudbury Counselling Centre, said the Caring Dads program will assist men by giving them "the opportunity to learn how to be good dads and better dads. The program shows how to discipline. The program takes you step-by-step on how to become a better dad without being judgmental."

There is no cost to men who take the Caring Dads program. There are still a few spots to fill with the first session.

"This is not a ‘feel good’ program," added Rimore. "This is a program where people learn skills and learn how to make the family unit strong without violence."

The Caring Dads program is the first program of its kind in Northern Ontario. One counsellor from both the John Howard Society and the Sudbury Counselling Centre will give training.

"We all bring something to the table to offer this program for the community," said Lamoureux.

HCarmichael@postmedia.com