Men of Code

THE LANDSCAPE

1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner each year.

Researchers at the CDC explain that teaching youth healthy relationship skills protects against the risk factors of domestic violence and promotes expectations for healthy non-violent relationships. Becky’s Fund believes that building healthy relationships is the best way to end domestic violence. Through our program, Men of CODE, we confront domestic violence by addressing the issues affecting our youth such as toxic masculinity, mental health, leadership, consent, personal responsibility, and dealing with trauma. Men of CODE stands for Men of Character and Ownership, Dedicated to Leading by Example.

 

Download the Men of Code Brochure to Learn More (PDF)

MEN OF CODE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Young men have an important role to play in curbing and preventing domestic violence.

Working in middle and high schools, in partnership with male athletes, coaches, and mentors, we have a unique opportunity to create long-term change.

MEN OF CODE IS AN INITIATIVE designed to transform young men and coaches involved with athletics into allies and leaders in the movement to end intimate partner violence against women and girls. Men of Code stands for Men of Character and Ownership Dedicated to Leading by Example (CODE).

MOC has been recognized as an exemplary violence prevention program working with men and boys by the Office of Violence Against Women, Department of Justice, and President Joe Biden. MOC is unique in its efforts to cultivate positive self-esteem and self-efficacy among young men by facilitating introspection and personal growth, building key competencies, and teaching important leadership and life skills to use beyond the playing field. Program participants explore oppression, bystander intervention, consent, how to help someone who is in an abusive relationship as well as skills for coping with trauma and learning how to manage stress. Curriculum topics include leadership, healthy masculinity, healthy relationships, domestic violence, consent and sexual assault, bystander intervention, prevention, trauma, stress, mental health, and financial literacy.

Men of CODE works to empower young men to see a life for themselves beyond the playing field, develop the skills necessary to thrive regardless of negative external factors, and lead by example. The ultimate goal of Men of CODE is to create male leaders who are allies to women and girls, create change in behavior and thinking around healthy relationships, and show a decrease in violence in the school and community over time.

THE IMPACT

Since its inception in 2013, MEN of CODE has helped male high school student athletes understand what it means to be a leader, and share the importance of healthy relationships with their peers.

As a result of the success of these programs, we will be working with 400 young men in four high schools in calendar year  2023-2024.

After participating in MEN OF CODE:

  • 96% knew there was never an excuse to be physically violent in a relationship.
  • 86% were confident in their ability to intervene and de-escalate an abusive situation.
  • 96% believed it was important to hold themselves accountable for their actions.
  • 96% could identify the signs of an unhealthy relationship.
  • 94% felt comfortable talking about their emotions and mental health.
  • 92% agree consent must be present and can be revoked at any time in all sexual encounters.