Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence & Sexual Assault Services

Published July 14, 2022 | Social Worker | Updated August 2, 2022

Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence & Sexual Assault Services

Hotlines and Emotional Support

  • Love is Respect – Highly-trained advocates offer support, information and advocacy to young people who have questions or concerns about their dating relationships. They also provide information and support to concerned friends and family members, teachers, counselors, service providers and members of law enforcement. Call (866) 331-9474, chat live, or text LOVEIS to 22522.
  • Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) – Provides free, confidential support and services to survivors of sexual violence ages 12 and up and their families and friends. They work with survivors of all genders, and their goal is to empower survivors to heal and seek justice in ways that are meaningful to them. They meet the needs of survivors in crisis and long after, and also assist them as they navigate the health-care, criminal legal, social service, and school systems. Call (800) 841-8371 or web chat.
  • Center for Hope and Healing – Offers free and confidential support to survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse. They also offer support to friends and family members ages 5+ for counseling and 0+ for medical, and professionals who come in contact with survivors through their work. 24-hour hotline at (800) 542-5212 and web chat Monday through Friday 12pm-5pm.
  • Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence – The Asian Shelter and Advocacy Program (ASAP) serves Asian immigrant communities facing challenges in adjusting to life in a new country. 24-hour multilingual helpline at (617) 338-2355.
  • SafeLink – A Massachusetts’ statewide 24/7 toll-free domestic violence hotline and a resource for anyone affected by domestic or dating violence. Call (877) 785-2020.
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline – Provides services such as crisis intervention, educational information, and referrals to victims, perpetrators, friends and families. The National Hotline also has connections to over 4,000 shelters and domestic violence programs within the U.S. Call (800) 799-7233.

 

Comprehensive Service Agencies

  • REACH beyond Domestic Violence – Provides a variety of free and confidential supportive direct services for anyone experiencing domestic violence. You do not need to leave a relationship in order to receive help from REACH. Call (800) 899-4000.
  • Voices Against Violence – Voices provides free and confidential services to victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence in the MetroWest area. Services include a 24-hour hotline, crisis intervention, confidential short-term emergency shelter, counseling and support groups, information and referrals, and medical, legal and criminal justice advocacy. Call (800) 593-1125 or (508) 626-8686 (TTY-friendly).
  • Domestic Violence Services Network – Many services for survivors of domestic violence including:
    • Helpline – For resources, referrals, information and safety planning call (888) 399-6111.
    • Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program Help Line (DVVAP) – Advocates follow up with referred clients to help them tell their story, assess their risk, develop a safety plan for themselves and their families, and connect with appropriate community resources. Confidentiality and safety are top priorities.
    • Court Support Program – Volunteer court advocates answer clients’ questions about court procedures and personnel, decipher unfamiliar and intimidating activities and protocols, and offer confidential, non‐judgmental, support, validation, and encouragement.
    • Support Groups – For women who are in relationships with controlling and abusive partners. Free to participants, meets weekly for 10 weeks.
    • Central Middlesex Alliance for Resilience Training (CMART) – Professional skill‐building consultations that help DVSN clients learn to regain their power by learning to trust their own ability to make decisions that positively affect their lives and the lives of their children.
    • Lawyer for A Day Program (LFAD) – One ­hour pro bono legal consultation to help DVSN clients assess risks and responsibilities in making difficult, complex, and dangerous legal decisions.
    • Trainings and Workshops– Intermittent educational presentations aimed at educating the public, survivors, and those who work with survivors. 
  • Journey to Safety: Jewish Family & Children Services Response to Abuse – Services include domestic abuse counseling, court accompaniment, support groups, assistance with finding housing, job training, employment, legal services; also offers financial assistance, as well as consultation and support for family, friends, etc.
  • Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) – Crisis intervention, safety planning, information, guided referrals, medical and legal advocacy, supportive listening and related services around domestic violence and sexual assault. MAPS also conducts outreach and education in the community.
  • The Second Step – Helps survivors assess critical needs and identify planning, case management, access to legal services, and support groups such as IMAGINE and Pet Safety.
  • Domestic Violence Services at Newton-Wellesley Hospital – Provides free and confidential domestic and sexual violence services for both survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and health care providers. Call (617) 243-6521.
  • The Network/la Red – Offering such services as the Housing Pathways Program which provides safe and stable housing options for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and/or transgender (LGBQ/T) survivors of partner abuse. 24/hour hotline at (800) 832-1901.
  • Hagar’s Sisters – Faith Based Support for DV – Organization that emphasizes finding help and healing from DV through religious means.

Education

  • Intervention and Education for Those Who Engaged in Abusive Behaviors– Emerge – Seeks to educate individual abusers, prevent young people from learning to accept violence in their relationships, improve institutional responses to domestic violence, and increase public awareness about the causes and solutions to partner violence. Helps men to become more responsible partners.
  • Brochure: Domestic Violence Safety Planning – Emphasizes creating a Safe Plan includes a checklist of things you need to take with you, who your advocates are, places you might go, etc.
  • Understanding Restraining Orders – A guide to restraining orders, known as Abuse Prevention Orders, how to apply and what to expect.
  • Domestic Violence Roundtable (Sudbury/Wayland/Lincoln) – The Roundtable’s services focus on public education, on providing assistance to agencies, health professionals, educators, the clergy and others engaged in efforts to reduce domestic violence in our communities, and on facilitating exchanges of information about effective strategies for combating abusive behavior.

Financial and Basic Needs

Gifts of Hope Unlimited

  • Financial Access Program: Those impacted by relationship violence often have limited financial resources with which to establish a new home and care for their children. This program provides the necessary monetary funds to help victims with rent, transportation, and legal costs. Email giftsofhopeunlimited@gmail.com for an application.
  • Product Access Program: Local social workers or domestic violence service provider agencies work with survivors to make a list of the household goods, furniture, and clothing they need. GOHU then searches for or buys the items so that clients don’t have to call around to multiple agencies. Please contact socialworker@sudbury.ma.us if you are interested in this program.

Legal Services

Other

  • Address Confidentiality Program – Allows survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking to utilize a confidential address for the purpose of staying safe from perpetrated or threatened violence. The ACP permits participants to use a substitute mailing address while communicating with government agencies; this address will not be made public. Application information here.
  • Domestic Violence Housing Relocation Request Form – If you live in HUD (Federal) housing, are a survivor of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and you are seeking an emergency transfer, you may use this form to request an emergency transfer. Bring this application to your landlord.

 

 

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