Relationship Violence
Relationship violence is the physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological abuse of one partner by the other. 
This includes any behavior in a relationship that intentionally frightens, intimidates, manipulates, humiliates, or injures someone. Relationship violence affects millions of Americans each year and is not exclusive to any one group. It occurs across all sectors of society, within all ethnic groups, and in both opposite- and same-sex relationships.
Resource Organizations » Relationship Violence
36 listing(s), including 13 with hotlines and 3 offering support groups
In Massachusetts
Organizations with hotlines
Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
Since 1987 the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence has
worked with area social service organizations, institutions, and
community leaders to end family violence and strengthen Asian
families and communities. Our confidential 24 hour hotline is
available for those who have questions, are confused, or are in
emergency situations looking for a safe place to stay.
Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition
berkshirestonewall.org/
P.O. Box 4921
Pittsfield, MA 01202Main Line: 413-822-7268
MH Hotline: (800) 252-0227
LGBT Hotline: (888) 340-4528
The aim of the Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition is to
promote the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered
people from the Berkshire County area through communication,
networking, support, education, political action, and fun. BSCC
activities include discussion panels, speakers, infosocials,
support groups, community action, social events and the publication
of a bi-monthly calendar.
D.O.V.E. Youth Hotline
www.doveinc.info/
Offers support group(s)
P.O. Box 690267
Quincy, MA 02269Youth Hotline: 617-773-4878
Crisis Hotline: 617-471-1234
D.O.V.E. addresses domestic abuse and dating violence. The services
provided are: battered women and children services, including
Crisis Hotline (counseling and crisis intervention); temporary
shelter (in a protected, confidential environment); individual
counseling; advocacy; and support groups.
Department of Children and Families
www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dcf/
Hotline: 800-792-5200
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the Massachusetts
state agency responsible for protecting children from child abuse
and neglect. To report abuse or neglect, call the Child-at-Risk
Hotline anytime of the day or night at 800-792-5200. DCF relies on
reports from professionals and other concerned individuals to learn
about children who may need protection. DCF receives reports on
more than 100,000 children each year. Certain professionals are
mandated to report child abuse and neglect; however, anyone can
report child abuse and neglect.
Elizabeth Freeman Center
www.elizabethfreemancenter.org/
Offers support group(s)
40 Railroad St
Great Barrington, MA 01230413-429-8190
fax: 413-429-8193
24h Hotline: 866-401-2425
We serve the survivor, significant other, and family members who
are experiencing, escaping or suffering the long-term affects of
violence as well as children who have witnessed such violence. Our
services include:
A 24 hour a day, seven day a week emergency response hotline with counselors available to accompany victims to hospitals, police stations and safety;
A confidential and secure residential shelter with in-house support services;
Individual counseling, and safety planning at EFC sites and off site;
Support groups;
Economic, housing and general advocacy and assistance;
Legal advocacy on-site in the county courts who assist victims to obtain 209A restraining orders and other necessary services;
A 24 hour a day, seven day a week emergency response hotline with counselors available to accompany victims to hospitals, police stations and safety;
A confidential and secure residential shelter with in-house support services;
Individual counseling, and safety planning at EFC sites and off site;
Support groups;
Economic, housing and general advocacy and assistance;
Legal advocacy on-site in the county courts who assist victims to obtain 209A restraining orders and other necessary services;
Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project
www.gmdvp.org/
955 Massachusetts Avenue
PMB 131
Cambridge, MA 02139Hotline: 800-832-1901
Office: 617-354-6056
The Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project is a grassroots, non-profit
organization founded by a gay male survivor of domestic violence
and developed through the strength, contributions and participation
of the community.
The Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project supports victims and survivors through education, advocacy and direct services. Understanding that the serious public health issue of domestic violence is not gender specific, we serve men in relationships with men, regardless of how they identify, and stand ready to assist them in navigating through abusive relationships.
The Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project supports victims and survivors through education, advocacy and direct services. Understanding that the serious public health issue of domestic violence is not gender specific, we serve men in relationships with men, regardless of how they identify, and stand ready to assist them in navigating through abusive relationships.
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence
www.reachma.org
Offers support group(s)
P.O. Box 540024
Waltham, MA 02454Hotline: 800-899-4000
Main Phone: 781-891-0724
Fax: 781-891-3861
REACH is committed to advancing the safety, healing, and
empowerment of those who experience domestic or relationship
violence, through direct services and education while promoting
social justice for individuals and families of all backgrounds.
Teens P.A.V.E. the Way is a statewide summit to train teens as peer
educators, helping to break the cycle of relationship abuse.
Safelink
SafeLink, Casa Myrna's statewide, toll-free, domestic violence
hotline, was created in October of 2000 by Casa Myrna Vazquez, with
support from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
(DCF). SafeLink is a critical resource to those affected by
domestic violence - women, men, adults, youth, victims of abuse and
their family members, friends, and colleagues.
Callers to SafeLink receive confidential "help at the end of the line" 24 hours a day, every day of the year. SafeLink's specially trained advocates provide support in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and have access to TTY (877-521-2601) and translation services through on-call specialists at the ATT Language Line. That resource can provide simultaneous interpretation in over 140 languages, giving SafeLink the capacity to respond to most callers in their native language.
Callers to SafeLink receive confidential "help at the end of the line" 24 hours a day, every day of the year. SafeLink's specially trained advocates provide support in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and have access to TTY (877-521-2601) and translation services through on-call specialists at the ATT Language Line. That resource can provide simultaneous interpretation in over 140 languages, giving SafeLink the capacity to respond to most callers in their native language.
The Network / La Red
www.thenetworklared.org
PO Box 6011
Boston, MA 02114Hotline: 617-742-4911
TTY: 617-227-4911
Office: 617-695-0877
In 1992, The Network/La Red began to offer free services for abused
lesbians, bisexual women, and transgender (LBT) folks. Today these
services have expanded and include a Hotline, Safe Home (emergency
shelter) program, Advocacy program, and Organizing/Outreach
program. All services are bilingual and wheelchair- &
TTY-accessible. ASL interpreters, air filters, and reimbursement
for child-care are available as needed. All services are free of
charge.
Transition House
www.transitionhouse.org/housing-programs
1035 Cambridge Street, B10
Cambridge, MA 02140Hotline: 617-661-7203
Office: 617-868-1650
Transition House began as shelter for battered women and their
children, and we are proud to continue that tradition with our
emergency shelter. In addition, Transition House offers two
long-term housing programs for individuals and families who have
experienced domestic violence.
Our commitment to the individuals and families that we serve is to provide safety and stability while encouraging self-exploration, professional skill-building and personal growth, leading to emotional well-being, self-reliance and full membership in the larger community.
Our commitment to the individuals and families that we serve is to provide safety and stability while encouraging self-exploration, professional skill-building and personal growth, leading to emotional well-being, self-reliance and full membership in the larger community.
Organizations without hotlines
Berkshire County Kids' Place & Violence Prevention Center, Inc.
Berkshire County Kids' Place is a fully accredited Children's
Advocacy Center CACs provide a safe homelike atmosphere where child
abuse victims and their non- offending family members can receive
the services necessary to heal from the trauma of abuse.
Kids' Place gives children who have experienced violence in their lives, either as victims of abuse or witnesses to domestic violence, a safe place to tell their stories and get help.
Kids' Place gives children who have experienced violence in their lives, either as victims of abuse or witnesses to domestic violence, a safe place to tell their stories and get help.
Break the Cycle
www.breakthecycle.org
888-988-TEEN
Break the Cycle offers programs providing help, tools and
information to prevent and end domestic and dating violence.
www.loveisrespect.org is the most comprehensive resource on the web
to provide education about domestic violence.
Child Witness to Violence Program
The Child Witness to Violence Project (CWVP) is a counseling,
advocacy, and outreach project that focuses on the growing number
of young children who are hidden victims of violence: children who
are bystanders to community and domestic violence.
CWVP is staffed by a multi-cultural, multi-lingual staff of social workers, psychologists, early childhood specialists, and a consulting pediatrician and consulting attorney. It is run under the auspices of the Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center.
CWVP is staffed by a multi-cultural, multi-lingual staff of social workers, psychologists, early childhood specialists, and a consulting pediatrician and consulting attorney. It is run under the auspices of the Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center.
Close to Home- Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative
Close to Home's mission is to foster community-wide responsibility
to prevent and reduce the impact of domestic violence. Close to
Home builds and supports networks of community residents and
organizations in local neighborhoods that want to take action and
address the problem of domestic violence together. Close to Home
believes that domestic violence is a critical community issue and
that all community members - youth, residents, families, friends,
neighbors, civic leaders, and organizational partners - are
essential to designing and implementing the solutions to the
problem. Close to Home seeks to create opportunities for people and
organizations to learn about domestic violence in their community,
discuss and reflect on domestic violence in their lives and
communities, develop skills to respond to and prevent domestic
violence, develop and implement solutions to domestic violence, and
build strong meaningful connections with each other.
Dating Violence Intervention Project and Shelter
www.transitionhouse.org/youth-family-services
1035 Cambridge Street, B10
Cambridge, MA 02141Hotline: 617-661-7203
Office: 617-868-1650
The Dating Violence Intervention Program is a school-based
curriculum for the prevention of relationship violence among
adolescents.
In January 1999 DVIP created the RESPECT Line, the first hotline for teens operated by teens in Massachusetts. Since its inception thirteen years ago, the Dating Violence Intervention Project has reached over 50,000 students in approximately 45 schools and has been used as a model on a national basis.
In January 1999 DVIP created the RESPECT Line, the first hotline for teens operated by teens in Massachusetts. Since its inception thirteen years ago, the Dating Violence Intervention Project has reached over 50,000 students in approximately 45 schools and has been used as a model on a national basis.
EMERGE
Emerge's mission is to eliminate violence in all interpersonal
relationships. In working toward this goal, 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 relational violence.
Family Justice Center of Boston
www.bphc.org/PROGRAMS/CAFH/VIOLENCEPREVENTION/FJC/Pages/Home.aspx
989 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215617-779-2100
The Family Justice Center (FJC) of Boston provides a safe and
welcoming environment where you can talk about your experiences and
explore your options. You may need help finding your way through
the legal system and understanding your rights as a victim. You may
want to know if and how your child has been harmed, and by whom.
You may be looking for the support that you need to stay safe and
start over. At the FJC, individuals and families have access to a
wide range of free services offered by a diverse group of partner
organizations. FJC Partners are here to serve all victims and
survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse -
including non-English speakers, immigrants (regardless of your
status) and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.
Childcare is provided during your visit. All services are offered
free of charge.
Fenway Community Health Center, Violence Recovery Program
The Violence Recovery Program (VRP) at Fenway Community Health was
founded in 1986. The VRP provides counseling, support groups,
advocacy, and referral services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) victims of bias crime, domestic violence, sexual
assault and police misconduct. Other services include a support
group for LGBT domestic violence survivors, the region's only
support group for male survivors of rape and sexual assault,
advocacy with the courts and police, and assistance with victim
compensation.
Click for a direct link to the Violence Recovery Program.
Click for a direct link to the Violence Recovery Program.
Futures Without Violence
Everyone has the right to live free of violence. Futures Without
Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund, works to
prevent and end violence against women and children around the
world. From domestic and dating violence, to child abuse and sexual
assault, Futures Without Violence works to end some of the most
pressing global issues of our time.
We advance the health, stability, education, and security of women and girls, men and boys worldwide. Striving to reach new audiences and transform social norms, we train professionals such as doctors, nurses, athletic coaches, and judges on improving responses to violence and abuse. As well, we work with advocates, policy makers and others to build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships - the relationships that all individuals, families, and communities need and deserve.
We advance the health, stability, education, and security of women and girls, men and boys worldwide. Striving to reach new audiences and transform social norms, we train professionals such as doctors, nurses, athletic coaches, and judges on improving responses to violence and abuse. As well, we work with advocates, policy makers and others to build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships - the relationships that all individuals, families, and communities need and deserve.
Girls’ LEAP Self-Defense, Inc.
girlsleap.org/wordpress/
971 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 22
Boston, MA 02215617-787-2112
Fax: 617-787-2111
Girls' LEAP (Lifetime Empowerment & Awareness Program) trains
at-risk girls aged 8-18 in verbal and physical safety skills and
self-awareness. LEAP helps girls develop a diverse set of responses
to violence, beyond the extremes of passivity and escalation.
LEAP's physical skills techniques maximize girls' options and help
girls to make safe decisions in spite of fear. The self-reflective
skills strengthen girls' ability to say "no" in difficult
situations, to create safe and constructive boundaries, and to
identify and trust their own feelings.
Jane Doe Inc.
Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault
and Domestic Violence brings together organizations and people
committed to ending domestic violence and sexual assault. JDI
creates social change by addressing the root causes of this
violence, and promotes justice, safety and healing for survivors.
JDI advocates for responsive public policy, promotes collaboration,
raises public awareness, and supports its member organizations to
provide comprehensive prevention and intervention services. The
website includes listings of sexual assault crisis centers in
Massachusetts as well as information on sexual violence and guides
for safety planning, getting help, and finding resources for
specific populations (e.g. LGBTQ).
Journey to Safety, Jewish Family & Children's Services (JF&CS)
www.jfcsboston.org/OurPrograms/BasicNeeds/JourneytoSafetyDomesticAbuse/tabid/212/Default.aspx
1430 Main Street
Waltham, MA 02451781-647-5327
Journey to Safety (formerly Kol Isha) provides culturally competent
and religiously sensitive services to all victims of domestic
violence, sexual assault and human trafficking no matter what their
background, with specialized services for the Jewish community and
the Russian-speaking community. Services are available to adults,
seniors, teens and the GLBT community, and are designed to provide
the support and resources needed to help victims remain safe. All
services are free and confidential.
Love Is Respect
www.loveisrespect.org
Helpline: 866-331-9474
Website designed for teenagers to provide information and
assistance for dealing with domestic and dating violence such as
tips on calling the police and safety planning.
Maria Talks
www.mariatalks.com
877-627-3933
Maria Talks is a statewide sexual health hotline and website
designed specifically for Massachusetts teens covering topics such
as pregnancy, sexual violence and GLBTQ. AIDS Action Committee
(AAC) developed this website with funding from the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health (MDPH).
Needham Health Department
The Needham Health Department offers a range of mental health
services for citizens of the town. Public Health Nurses provide
confidential counseling and referrals to all ages. Short-term
home-based services for at-risk teenagers and their families are
provided through Riverside Community Care's Alternative Youth
Services program. The program includes family counseling, advocacy,
information, and referral. Call the Health Department for more
information on these free services. The town's Substance Abuse
Prevention and Education program provides informational programs,
educational resources, and confidential substance abuse support
services for Needham youth, adults, and seniors. Contact Carol Read
at the Health Department to find out more about inpatient and
outpatient treatment, individual and group counseling, and peer
support resources regarding substance abuse, addiction and chemical
dependency.
Needham Youth Services
This is a town-funded department which provides professional and
confidential mental health services to youth and their families in
Needham. It offers support, information, and direction on issues
such as peer relationships, stress, grief and loss, substance use,
suicide, and other concerns. Most services are free of charge. The
department collaborates regularly with civic and community
organizations on a variety of projects.
New England Learning Center for Women in Transition
Since 1976, NELCWIT has been working to build safety, justice, and
dignity for all. Serving Franklin County and the North Quabbin
region of western Massachusetts, we offer safety planning,
advocacy, and support to anyone who has survived domestic or sexual
abuse, and prevention education for our community, especially area
youth.
Second Step
The Second Step provides resources and stabilization services to
women in the Greater Boston area who are in abusive situations and
have left their abusers and need continued services or support. The
Second Step provides transitional services to survivors of domestic
abuse and their children, including: transitional housing,
assistance with finding employment or training, and children's
services.
Outside Massachusetts
Organizations with hotlines
National Domestic Violence Hotline
At the National Domestic Violence Hotline we believe that every
caller deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, that every
family deserves to live in a world free from violence, and that
safe homes and safe families are the foundation of a safe
society.
Until the violence stops, the hotline will continue to answer--One Call at a Time. Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 140 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Until the violence stops, the hotline will continue to answer--One Call at a Time. Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Hotline advocates are available for victims and anyone calling on their behalf to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 140 languages through interpreter services. If you or someone you know is frightened about something in your relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline is a national resource that can
be accessed by phone or the internet. The Helpline and
loveisrespect.org offer real-time one-on-one support from trained
Peer Advocates. The National Domestic Violence Hotline operates
loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline from their call
center in Austin, TX.
Nineline
Covenant House Nineline is for kids who need to talk. Crisis
counselors are available 24/7 to discuss issues around family,
relationships, feelings, suicide, basic needs, abuse, health, sex,
drugs and alcohol, and running away. The hotline is free and
confidential. The Nineline website has information for young people
on a wide range of physical and mental health topics.
Organizations without hotlines
Date Safe Project
www.thedatesafeproject.org
7353 West Forest Home Avenue
Suite 20906
Greenfield, WI 53220Toll Free: 800-329-9390
Through interactive presentations, educational resources, and
unique national initiatives, The Date Safe Project is committed to
being the nation's leading organization for teaching how "asking
first" makes all the difference in creating safer intimacy and in
decreasing occurrences of sexual assault. Changing the old message
of "No Means No" to now saying, "Do You Ask?" insures that consent
is requested and obtained before any act of intimacy begins. The
focus moves to the person responsible for requesting consent -- the
individual committing the intimate touching or kissing. A better
understanding of consent leads to healthier dating environments and
to a greater awareness toward the many issues surrounding sexual
assault. The Date Safe Project provides students, educators,
schools, and communities with interactive keynote presentations,
workshops, books, and educational resources that are filled with
fun exercises, thought-provoking lessons, emotionally touching
stories, and easy to implement concepts. Parents are given simple
solutions to talk with their kids about tough questions regarding
dating and sexual assault awareness.
National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence
www.ncdsv.org
4612 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78756
512-407-9020
Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
TTY: 1-800-787-3224
The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence provides
training and consultation, influences policy, and promotes
collaboration with the goal of ending domestic and sexual violence.
The website provides links to extensive resources related to
relationship violence within specific communities. There is a
special section on the organization's efforts to stop relationship
violence in military families: www.ncdsv.org/ncd_militaryresponse.html.
Supervised Visitation Network
The Supervised Visitation Network (SVN) is a multi-national
non-profit membership organization that is a network of agencies
and individuals who are interested in assuring that children can
have safe, conflict-free access to parents with whom they do not
reside. Some of the children who need these services live in foster
homes or with relatives. Some live with one parent who is estranged
from the other. SVN helps families find services that are
convenient to them and will meet their needs by maintaining a
directory of services nationwide. SVN receives many calls from
parents, attorneys, social workers, judges, and others looking for
services in their area. The goal is to have a comprehensive
directory so services can easily be found by the families that need
them. SVN collects and disseminates research information relevant
to safe child access and provides public education regarding the
importance of children having access to their parents.
That's Not Cool
www.thatsnotcool.com
Helpline: 866-331-9474
Website that provides information to raise awareness about digital
dating abuse and address new and complicated problems between teens
who are dating or hooking-up such as problems like constant and
controlling texting, pressuring for nude pictures and breaking into
someone's email or social networking page. Sponsored and co-created
by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Office on Violence
Against Women and the Ad Council.
Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Violence is a serious public health problem in the United States.
From infants to the elderly, it affects people in all stages of
life. In 2005, more than 18,000 people were victims of homicide and
more than 32,000 took their own life. The number of violent deaths
tells only part of the story. Many more survive violence and are
left with permanent physical and emotional scars. Violence also
erodes communities by reducing productivity, decreasing property
values, and disrupting social services. This CDC website includes
information on a variety of topics related to violence prevention,
including youth violence, relationship violence, and suicide.
Additional Sources of Information
Additional information is available at the Boston Public Health Commission’s “Domestic Violence Program,” which also offers a monthly newsletter (call (617) 534-2687 or e-mail domesticviolence@bphc.org).
Forensic Nursing. “Forensic nursing combines science and medicine, law and criminology. At its root, forensic nurses are advocates for patients and resource people, managing the care and efforts of all disciplines involved in the response to incidences of assault or abuse.”
Disclaimer: Material on the MSPP INTERFACE Referral Service website is intended as general information. It is not a recommendation for treatment, nor should it be considered medical or mental health advice. The MSPP INTERFACE Referral Service urges families to discuss all information and questions related to medical or mental health care with a health care professional.
