What is BIPP (Battering Intervention and Prevention Program)?

Battering Intervention and Prevention Program (BIPP)

The FCCET is TDCJ-CJAD accredited as a Battering Intervention and Prevention Program (BIPP) that provides educational services to men who have been violent, abusive, and/or controlling in their intimate family relationships. The Family Crisis Center BIP Program teaches batterers how to recognize abuse, accountability, and change their violent behaviors. The Family Crisis Center BIP Program is probationary accredited by the State of Texas Department of Criminal Justice Assistance Division. Recognize, accept responsibility for, and end your domestic abuse behaviors BIPP accreditation guidelines.

Referral sources (such as probation officers) and partners and/or victims are notified about participant enrollment in and exit from BIPP.
Progress reports on court-mandated participants are mailed to the referral source on a monthly basis.
The FCCET advises against couples counseling until the abusive party has completed an appropriate intervention program and the other partner feels safe to participate. Couples counseling requires that both parties feel safe to divulge information, talk about feelings and their perceptions, and seek help with identified problems. In a domestic violence situation, the need for safety is compromised, making couples' work ineffective and, in many cases, even dangerous.

The FCCET BIP Program is a program of help and change based on accountability. There are many individuals who have battered those who love them the most, but there are only a few that have the courage to admit they have a problem and take responsibility for choosing non-violence in the future.

BIPP meets the Texas State Guidelines for BIP Programs and has been approved by​ TDCJ-CJAD within the following framework: Entering our BIPP program:
1. Register - Participants are required to call the office between 8 am-5 pm Monday-Friday to register themselves and schedule evaluation and orientation sessions.
2. Evaluation/Orientation - Receive a psycho-social evaluation, which includes a detailed, intimate relationship history and abusive behavior history, as well as a detailed report of the offending incident when relevant..
3. Ongoing Groups - Sessions of between 5-20 people conducted as per State of Texas BIPP Accreditation Guidelines.

In order to complete, the participant must: • Complete a minimum of 24 weekly 1.5-hour educational group sessions • Participate appropriately in educational group sessions • Pay fees
Service Location: The FCCET BIPP is located in Lufkin, Texas, 75902 (936) 645-4602

Group sessions are held one (1) day a week:

Angelina County (Lufkin): Wednesday 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Houston County (Crockett): Tuesday 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Cost of service: The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Community Justice Assistance Division (TDCJ-CJAD) requires accredited BIP Programs to charge participants for services as a way of reinforcing that abusive behavior has consequences.

Fees are as follows:

Evaluation Standard fee of $45 (Includes Assessment and Student Material)
Group Sessions Fees for group services are assessed on a sliding scale based on the client's gross income, with a maximum of $25 per session.


Credentials: The FCCET's group BIPP facilitators are recruited from mental health/wellness backgrounds. All are degreed professionals, and some have completed master's programs and have professional licensures. Each facilitator participates in an intensive initial training program and shadowing process before beginning to facilitate groups solo. In addition, each facilitator receives at least 20 hours of continuing education each year through staff in-service training, conferences, and other activities.

Requirements:

Each participant MUST sign a release of information that allows BIPP to have contact with his victim as well as his referral source.
Victims are notified about the participant's enrollment in and exit from BIPP.
Progress reports on court-mandated participants are mailed to the referral source on a monthly basis.
Each participant must read, sign, and adhere to FCC Rules; please review BIPP Group Rules and Program Regulations.


What to expect: BIPP is not an anger management program. The program curricula address some anger management issues and teach some anger management skills, but it is much more comprehensive in its approach. The curriculum addresses socio-cultural issues, particularly regarding gender and violence, teaches and develops critical thinking skills, and includes therapeutic topic elements, such as empathy, accountability, and communication.

TX Identification #101-0090 The FCC BATTERING INTERVENTION and PREVENTION PROGRAM (BIPP) classes have been approved for Probationary Accreditation by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Community Justice Assistance Division (TDCJ-CJAD).