People experiencing abuse often leave and return to their partner a number of times.  Some go to shelter or a hotel, some find a more permanent-feeling place to live, and some stay with friends/family or make other arrangements.  And not everyone who is being mistreated by their partner will make the decision to leave the relationship.  Deciding whether to stay or go is a very personal decision, and individuals weigh many different factors when thinking about what feels like the right – and safest – thing to do at any given time.

We encourage anyone who is being disrespected, mistreated and/or abused by their spouse or partner to consider reaching out to a local domestic abuse program for help and support. Friends, family members, co-workers, healthcare professionals, clergy and other community professionals are also welcome to consult with a local domestic abuse program as they support someone they are concerned about.

Staff and volunteers at domestic abuse programs…

• Listen
• Ask people what they want to happen (and reassure them that it’s fine if they don’t know yet)
• Help people consider the different options they might have
• Provide information about available legal, housing, financial, medical and other resources that the person experiencing harm might not know about or might not know how to access
• Assist people in thinking about how to best plan for their and their children’s safety even while navigating a controlling and/or abusive current or former partner

Staff and volunteers from local programs understand that people experiencing harm are the experts in their own safety.  They will not tell callers (or people they are chatting with online) what they should do and they are not there to judge anyone’s past, current or future decisions.  They are available to help callers figure out how they want to proceed and then provide support to the person moving forward.

Note that changes in technology have made it easier for abusive individuals to track their partner’s messages and even live phone calls.  When possible, it might be a good idea to try and contact a domestic abuse program using a phone or computer that the person causing harm does not have any way to access. 

The National Network to End Domestic Violence’s has an excellent list of tech-related resources and toolkits designed to help people who are being harmed by a current or ex-partner think about their safety.

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Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN)

DVSN provides survivors of domestic abuse with crisis intervention, advocacy, safety planning, risk assessment, court accompaniment, support groups, and a multitude of other services.  Through a Dept. of Justice Grant to provide services to survivors of domestic violence, DVSN was founded in 1998 by the Concord and Acton Police Departments.  Currently, DVSN partners with 12 police departments, Hanscom Air Force Base (HAFB), Concord District Court, Eliot Center, Emerson Hospital, the Middlesex D.A.’s Office, and an extensive network of community agencies.  

DVSN serves 1) any survivor of domestic violence who lives, works, or visits and is assaulted in any one of our 12 collaborating towns or HAFB resulting in a police report; 2) individuals who call our Help Line from any jurisdiction; 3) survivors who seek relief through a restraining order from the Concord District Court, and 4) survivors referred by Emerson Hospital or Eliot Center staff.  Annually, DVSN serves an average of 1,100 clients from 13 partner communities and 200 other New England towns and beyond.  

Confidentiality and safety for clients are DVSN’s highest priorities.  Services are free to all clients regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, disability, or veteran’s status and are provided in ways that respect their dignity and choices and at a pace that empowers their own decision-making while maximizing their safety. 

Primary DVSN programs include:  Help Line, Court Support, Emerson Hospital Program, Lawyer for a Day (LFAD), CMAST (Central Middlesex Assessment for Safety Team) High Risk Team, Support Groups, Volunteer Advocate Training, and Outreach & Education events and presentations.

Journey to Safety (JTS)

(the domestic and dating abuse program of Jewish Family & Children’s Service)

JF&CS Journey to Safety (JTS) specializes in providing culturally responsive and religiously sensitive services for Jewish and Russian-speaking survivors while also offering free and confidential assistance to all who reach out for support, regardless of their religion, culture, or country of origin.  All JTS services are free, confidential and available in English and Russian.

JTS offers domestic abuse counseling; legal advocacy and court accompaniment (including civil, criminal, and rabbinic courts); help with safety planning; periodic support groups and parent workshops; information and referrals; and assistance with finding legal help, housing, appropriate public benefits, and other services. 

JTS also consults with and supports friends, family members, community members, clergy and other community professionals who are concerned about someone they know.  In addition, JTS has a robust education, training, and awareness-raising program designed to help interrupt and prevent domestic and dating abuse in the Jewish community and beyond. 

 

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence

REACH is a multi-service domestic violence agency providing prevention, intervention and advocacy services to individuals and families. REACH stands for Refuge, Education, Advocacy and CHange. Their community programs are focused in 27 cities and towns in Greater Boston. Their hotline and shelter serve people from across the Commonwealth. All REACH services are free and confidential. Current programs include 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, support groups, legal advocacy, specialized children’s services, community-based victim advocacy programs, outreach, education and training.

 

Saheli (Focus South Asian and Arabic speaking women and children)

Saheli is a nonprofit based in Woburn, MA, dedicated to preventing and intervening in domestic and sexual violence. We provide personalized, culturally-sensitive support to survivors from South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African backgrounds. Committed to offering non-judgmental support, Saheli has multilingual helpline, support groups, economic empowerment initiatives, housing and legal advocacy programs. Saheli empowers individuals and children toward safety and well-being through financial independence, legal awareness, and education on healthy relationships. Our vision is a violence-free environment where immigrant families can thrive. All services offered by Saheli are free and confidential.

The Second Step (TSS)

The Second Step (TSS) provides comprehensive and holistic services to adult survivors of domestic violence both to residents in TSS’s transitional congregate housing, where families may live for up to two years; and to people living throughout Greater Boston and MetroWest. TSS focuses on helping survivors to overcome trauma, attain skills and emotional strength to nurture themselves and their families, and to achieve financial and emotional self-sufficiency. Services include safety planning; case management; advocacy (including legal assistance); referrals to community resources; and psycho-educational training in job, life, and parenting skills. Programs include “DV 101” to help survivors recognize signs of abuse and how to heal from trauma. They also offer a parenting workshop series to help survivors learn how to have age-appropriate conversations about domestic violence.

Voices Against Violence

Voices Against Violence, a program of South Middlesex Opportunity Council, provides free and confidential services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in a 14-town area of the Greater Framingham/Marlborough region. Services include a 24-hour hotline, counseling and support groups, medical, legal, and police advocacy, shelter, supervised visitation, and community outreach and education. All services are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

  

Additional 24/7 Hotlines & Services