The program is funded by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It's a first of its kind program in which men can call anonymously and confidentially and talk to clinical workers from the U.W. School of Social Work.

Although the workers will offer confidentially, they are still bound by state laws requiring them to report child abuse.

The co-director of the program Joan Zegree says police respond to 51,000 domestic violence calls every year in Washington State, and five times a month, someone dies as a result of domestic abuse.

One of those supporting the program is Mark Huston, who himself had completed treatment for abusive behavior.

"Three years ago I pushed my wife onto a couch," he said. "She called 911. I spent the weekend in jail, thinking about what I had done. And then I decided to do something about it."

Mark said before the 911 call, he had worried about his behavior but didn't know whom to contact. He says such a program could have helped him and will help others he knows.

The ads appearing in local newspapers will target men by using powerful images of victims of abuse and carrying messages such as "Abusing your family? Abusing alcohol or drugs? Not sure?" They conclude with the message: "Let's talk about your options. 1.800.MEN.1089.

"We thought that it would be important to find a way to reach out to men who don't know where to turn," Zegree says, "who can do it confidentially, they can do it all by phone and it's free. What could be easier?"

There is probably no more notorious case of domestic violence locally than what happened the afternoon of April 26, 2003, when then Tacoma Police chief David Brame murdered his wife Crystal and killed himself.

Crystal's father, Lane Judson, endorses the program.

"I'm here to say that if you have a son, a brother, a father, a friend, a co-worker, someone that you know who you think is hurting someone or their partner," he said. "Please help them make this call."

Judson says he doesn't know if David Brame would have called, or if this program would have saved Crystal. But he said: "Maybe, maybe with such a program they would be still be alive."

No one knows if this program will work. But Seattle police say if it stops one brawl, if it saves one life, it's worth it.

The telephone number is 1-800-MEN-1089 will be in operation Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The program will last at least one year.

For More Information:

www.menscheckup.org