Lisa Nitsch is a lifelong resident of Baltimore City and has worked at that House of Ruth Maryland for over ten years. She is currently the Gateway Project Program Manager. The Gateway Project is the men’s abuser intervention service of the domestic violence prevention agency. Lisa oversees the day-to-day operation of the program and coordinates new program initiatives to improve the quality and scope of services. She was a principle driving force in the philosophical shift and functional redesign of the program from ‘The Batterers’ Program’ to ‘The Gateway Project’ in 2003. This adaptation of the program focused on supporting men in a change process by encouraging them to set their own personal goals without shame while still holding them accountable for their abusive behavior.
Mrs. Nitsch currently serves as the Vice President of Women In Fatherhood, Inc. She is also an active member of the Maryland Regional Practitioner’s Network for Fathers & Families Board of Directors. She serves as a member of Baltimore City’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team and the city’s Coordinating Council, and is Co-Chair of the Maryland Abuser Intervention Collaborative.
Lisa’s focus in the domestic violence field is on evaluating “success” for abuser intervention programs, engaging men in work to end violence against women, and coordinating public systems to best ensure victim safety. Lisa demonstrates strength in creating community partnerships among programs that have historically had conflicting agendas and provides technical assistance in this area to programs across the country.