Violence Support Community-Based Programs

Community Programs for Victims of Violence

A variety of community-based programs exist for victims of violence.

Domestic Violence Programs and Rape Crisis Centers

Community-Based Programs for all victims Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
1-617-338-2355
The mission of the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Inc. is to eliminate family violence and to strengthen Asian families and communities.

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
1-800-841-8371
BARCC's mission is to end sexual violence through healing and social change. Services are free and include a 24-hour hotline, 24-hour medical advocacy, individual and group counseling, and legal advocacy.

Casa Myrna Vasquez
1-617-521-0100
Casa Myrna is a Boston-based and multicultural organization dedicated to ending domestic violence through intervention, prevention, and education. Casa Myrna offers shelter for women and their children, legal advocacy, and counseling services.

LGBTQ Domestic Violence Project
1-800-832-1901
The Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project is a grassroots, non-profit organization providing community education and direct services for clients. GMDVP offers shelter, guidance, and resources to allow gay, bisexual, and transgender men in crisis to remove themselves from violent situations and relationships.

La Red Network
1-617-742-4911 (TTY 617-227-4911)
Offers free services for battered lesbians, bisexual women, and transgender folks. Today these services have expanded and include a Hotline, Safe Home program, Advocacy program, and Organizing/Outreach program.

For more information on Massachusetts domestic violence programs and rape crisis centers visit Jane Doe Inc. and the MA Department of Public Health. For other community resources including counseling and advocacy for victims of community violence see list below:

Counseling and Advocacy

Boston and Surrounding Areas

Boston Ten Point Coalition
1-617-524-4331
Hours: Crisis advocacy available 24 hours a day
Serve: Specialize in youth; however, will help individuals of all ages and families
Services: Counseling and coordination of supports through Crisis Response Team
Cost: Free

Child Witness to Violence Project
Senior Administrative & Intake Coordinator: Ashley Schiffmiller
1-617-414-7425
ashley.schiffmiller@bmc.org
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serve: Children who are bystanders to community and domestic violence. Referral criteria: The child must be 8 years old or younger and must have witnessed an act of significant violence.
Services: Counseling and advocacy, developmentally sensitive therapy with the child, parental guidance, family therapy or parent-child psychotherapy, advocacy/intervention to stabilize the environment of the child, case-related consultation to schools, and early care and development centers. Serve all areas of Boston and surrounding areas.
Cost: Free

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
1-617-825-1917
Hours: Crisis advocacy available 24 hours a day
Serve: Adults, children/youth, families, school, and community homicide victims.
Services: The Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) reaches out to families 24-48 hours after the murder has taken place, connects survivors of violence to appropriate social services, assists them in dealing with the criminal justice system, provides support during criminal trials, trains them to become advocates for and mentors to other families impacted by violence, and helps with burials. The Teen Survivor To Survivor Services (TSTS), a component of SOS, is a teen group that specifically works youth homicide survivors, ages 13-17, and connects them to each other in a peer support network that helps them explore their grief and confront their anger. Massachusetts' Mothers On the Move (M'MOM): M'MOM is a mothers group that provides support to mothers who have suffered loss of children through violence, incarceration, and an ineffective legal system.
Cost: Free

The Survivor Leadership Collective (SLC)
Services: The Survivor Leadership Collective (SLC) is a group of survivors working individually and collectively to bring healing into the community around issues of sexual and domestic violence. The SLC promotes transformation through education, advocacy, skill development, and leadership opportunities.

The Trauma Center
1-617-232-1303
Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, closed weekends and major holidays
Serve: Adults, children, and families including victims of child abuse, physical violence, sexual abuse, homicide, and hate crimes.
Services: Screening and referral, therapy (brief, long term, individual, couples, family), psychopharmacology service (ongoing clients only).
Cost: Accepts Mass Health and self pay

Victim Assistance Service
1-617-695-9990, ask to speak with a social worker on call
Serve: Adults (immigrant and refugee populations with or without status)
Services: Placement services, legal aid services, bereavement services, crisis intervention, mental health counseling, and human trafficking prevention
Cost: Free

Victims of Violence Program
1-617-591-6033
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Serve: Adults 18+ who have suffered an acute or chronic trauma
Services: Evaluation and treatment, outreach, consultation. Provides advocacy and treatment to victims of crime through its Mass Victims of Crime Agency. The VOV also provides specialized support and outreach to communities and community groups through the Community Crisis Response Team. Culturally sensitive services
Cost: Insurance, self pay, grants may be available if legal system is involved (contact Benadette, administrative coordinator for grant info)

Victim Witness Assistance Program
1-617-619-4192, Kara Hayes, program director
Serve: Crime victims, witnesses, and family members. Victim Witness Advocates are located in each of the district courts in the County and the Boston Municipal Court, in the superior court, and in specialized units.
Services: Arranging for victims to confer and provide input to prosecutors before trial, about a sentencing recommendation, before a case is dismissed, and before hearings about a victim's confidential records; Assistance in offering Victim Impact Statements to the court; Assistance with applying for notification of an inmate's status; Assistance with arrangements for transportation to court and child care, if necessary; Explanation of the court process and ongoing information regarding the status of criminal cases; Orientation to court facilities; provision of a separate and safe waiting area in the courthouse; and accompaniment and support during court proceedings

Violence Recovery Program
1-617-927-6250
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serve: Adults 18+
Services: Counseling, support groups, advocacy, referral services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) victims of bias crime, domestic violence, sexual assault and police misconduct.
Cost: Free

Outside Boston

Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence
1-415-568-3315
Domestic Violence in Muslim Communities: The Asian and Pacific Islander Institute has compiled some informative resources about domestic violence in Southeast, and West Asia (i.e. the Middle East).

Family and Community Resources, Inc.
24 hour crisis line 1-508-583-6498; toll free 1-888-583-2045
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serve: Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands
Services: Individual & family counseling, crisis intervention, victim's rights information, community education, and outreach to survivors of victims of homicide & terrorism
Payment: Free

Family and Community Resources (FCR), Inc. serves individuals and families whose lives are impacted by trauma at home, school, or in their community. FCR is committed to providing the highest quality of community-based services including advocacy, support, individual and group treatment, case management and community education through its Domestic Violence, Victim Advocacy and Trauma Services for Children, Adolescents, and Adults.

Violence Intervention Project for Children
24 hour crisis line 1-508-583-6498; toll free 1-888-583-2045
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serve: Children ages 3-17 in Southeastern MA, Cape Cod, and the Islands who have witnessed violence at home, school or in their community
Services: Assessments, evaluations, individual therapy, group treatment, psychiatric evaluations
Cost: Accept private and Mass Health insurance 

Financial Services

Victims Compensation
Phone: Application for Massachusetts program: 1-617-727-2200,
For eligibility info: 1-617-748-3140, U.S. Attorney's Office Victim-Witness Specialist
Services: Provides financial assistance to eligible victims of violent crime and their families. Through this program reimbursement may be made for certain expenses to the extent that private insurance, public assistance, or other funds do not cover the cost. The crime must have been reported to the police within five days unless there is good cause for delay. Applications must be filed within three years of the date of the crime.
Assistance covers: Medical expenses, including hospital, ambulance, rehabilitation services, equipment, supplies and medications; Dental expenses; Mental health counseling for victims, for family members of homicide victims, and for children who witness violence against a family member; Funeral and burial expenses up to $4,000; Lost wages (for victims only); Loss of income for dependents of homicide victims; and Homemaker expenses. Property losses, compensation for pain and suffering and all other losses are not covered by the Victim Compensation Program. Under the Massachusetts Victim Compensation Program, the maximum award allowed is $25,000 per crime.

Batterer Intervention Program Services

Massachusetts Department of Public Health
1-617-624-5497
Services: Certifies and monitors batterer intervention programs; conducts trainings for certified batterer intervention service providers, criminal justice professionals, domestic violence advocates, social service agencies, educators, and public. Maintains list of certified batterer intervention programs in Massachusetts.

Other Services

Father Friendly Initiative
1-617-534-9525
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Serve: FFI serves all fathers, but is committed to providing low-income-earning-potential fathers, specifically targeting men who have child support, custody/visitation, or court involved issues opportunities necessary to change their economic situation and achieve their goal of Responsible Fatherhood. Help finding housing, jobs, pubic transportation, child support (in state and out of state)
Services: 50/50 Co-Parenting Project Services, Case Intensive Monitoring System, Case Management Team, Clinical Team, Curriculum & Support Groups, Men of Color Fatherhood Education Violence Prevention Project, Outpatient Substance Abuse and Anger Management Treatment Services, Outreach Services for Incarcerated Fathers
Cost: Free of charge, referral accepted from anyone, by appt. only.