As some of you know, sentencing was handed down today in a domestic violence case that hit especially close to home. Last summer the Waltham Police Chief was arrested on charges that he assaulted his wife and a friend to whom she reached out for help. The trial took place last month, and Chief LaCroix was found guilty on two counts of assault and battery against…
Have you ever seen a story about a domestic violence homicide on the news and felt that it sounds all too familiar? Felt a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach like, didn’t anyone see this coming? You’re not alone, and the research bears this out. The fact of the matter is that domestic violence homicide is actually startlingly predictable. The good news is that…
School’s out for summer! As that last bell rings and everyone heads for the doors, we wanted to take a minute and look back on the great school year that we’ve had with the Peers Against ViolencE (PAVE) Program, which works in partnership with local schools to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence. First, some facts: Between September 2012 and May 2013 we saw…
If you’ve been a friend of REACH for awhile now, you may have heard us list Support Groups among the list of the many services we provide. If you’ve ever wondered what happens inside these mysterious groups, we’re here to give you a glimpse behind closed doors. What, exactly, IS a support group? A support group consists of 6-8 survivors of domestic violence that get together…
The REACH Annual Meeting: It happens every year, and every year we walk away inspired and rejuvenated to continue this important work. Here’s a recap if you weren’t able to join us: The evening started with a reception, full of wonderful food (as promised!) and a chance for folks to mill around, chat, and check out some of our photo displays. We chose to highlight three…
With Pride Week festivities in Boston in full swing, we wanted to take the opportunity to recognize the unique challenges faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer (LGBTQ) survivors of domestic violence. Research about LGBTQ partner abuse shows that domestic violence occurs at similar rates as it does in the general population. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey released in January by the…
We know, it’s a busy time of year and there are lots of demands on your time. So we thought we’d give you a few good reasons why you should come to the REACH Annual Meeting next week. 1. Good food: the venue and the snacks are provided by our good friends at the Massachusetts Medical Society, and they’re always a hit. 2. Susan Fargo –…
Preventing domestic violence is something that has to start young. From an early age we learn social norms and patterns that shape our relationships well into adulthood. For this reason, REACH’s Education and Prevention Program focuses heavily on work with teens, to start building a foundation of healthy relationships. Peers Against ViolencE (PAVE), our teen dating violence prevention initiative, uses classroom lessons and interactive discussions to…
The following piece was written by a member of our Survivor Speakers Bureau. Here, in her own words, is what she wants you to know about domestic violence. OK, Here goes…Are you ready? Let’s talk about something super important that not enough people realize…Domestic violence is NOT discriminatory. It’s shocking, I know – but it is true. I mean, have you ever heard someone say: …I…
Have you ever wondered what it’s like for a domestic violence survivor arriving at a shelter? The following is a reflection from one of our shelter advocates, describing the experience of bringing a new person into the shelter for the first time. It starts with the ‘pick-up’ as we call it, a time when advocates and the person agree to meet at a safe, public place…
