You are not alone

No one deserves to be abused or assaulted. No matter what you have been told, what happened to you is not your fault.

Whether this experience happened recently or in the past, you can call a rape crisis center or a domestic violence program to get the support you need.

Each individual program offers a range of services which may include: support groups, counseling, hospital/medical advocacy, assistance in navigating courts, child welfare, immigration, and other systems, and more. Trained advocates are there to provide support, help connect you with resources, and respect your decisions without judgement.

COVID-19/ CORONAVIRUS RELATED ANNOUNCEMENT

Sexual and domestic violence organizations continue to offer the full range of services and are working diligently to respond to all inquiries and requests either in-person or remotely.

Please continue to reach out to an advocate to talk about your situation and discuss your options.

Do you need to find services near you?

Click on the Search Box below to search for service providers in your area.

You can search by city/town, zip code, by selecting more specific criteria such as Program Type, specific services, and organization name. Use this link to connect with JDI’s list of programs in Massachusetts: https://jdi.coalitionmanager.org/contactmanager/contact/publicdirectory

All sexual and domestic violence providers in Massachusetts programs must not discriminate based on ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or partner status, age, disability including substance abuse, economic or educational status, religion, HIV/AIDS or other physical health status, mental health status, immigration status or residency, including county, state or country of origin.

Here are three other ways to find a sexual assault or domestic violence program in Massachusetts:

1. Download JDI’s MASSACHUSETTS MAP for hotline and office numbers for sexual and domestic violence services located throughout Massachusetts.

Image of JDI Map of services in Massachusetts

Download the Map

2. Call or chat SafeLink: 1-877-785-2020.

Use Mass Relay to connect if you are Deaf or hard of hearing.

The statewide domestic violence hotline is open 24-hours a day every day. You can talk to someone and be connected with a local sexual assault or domestic violence program.

SafeLink is free, confidential and multi-lingual.

Visit Safelink

3. You can also choose to contact the police by calling call 9-1-1.

Choosing to contact the police to report a sexual assault or incident of domestic violence does not require you to file charges or testify in court.

A community-based sexual or domestic violence advocate can help you sort out this option.

Connect with an advocate

Resources within Massachusetts

Rape Crisis Centers (sexual assault programs) hotlines and services – click here

Intimate Partner Abuse Education Program – click here

Children Exposed to Domestic Violence – click here

Supervised Visitation – click here

Civil legal needs for survivors of sexual assault and rape – Victim Rights Law Center

The following hospitals and health care institutions in Massachusetts have internal sexual assault and/or domestic violence services for their patients and communities they serve:

AWAKE at Boston Children’s Hospital in Boston
Community Advocacy Program at Boston area community health centers
Domestic Violence Program at Boston Medical Center
Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery at Beth Israel Medical Deaconess Center
The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital
HAVEN at Massachusetts General Hospital
Passageway at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Brigham/Faulkner Hospital
Violence Recovery Program at Fenway Health (Cape Cod, Western Mass and Boston)
Victim Resource Center at Cambridge Health Alliance

Resources outside of Massachusetts and the United States

National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
https://www.thehotline.org/help/ (chat or call)

The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides referral for people experiencing abuse as well as for those who may be causing harm to others. So if you are concerned about your safety or how you are treating people in your life, please call or chat today.

Love Is Respect
1-866-331-9474
TTY 1-866-331-8453
Text: loveis to 22522
Chat Online and Website: www.loveisrespect.org

Love is Respect is a national resource to disrupt and prevent unhealthy relationships and intimate partner violence by empowering young people through inclusive and equitable education, support, and resources.

Sexual Violence

Sexual violence or sexual assault is any type of unwanted sexual attention, contact, or activity. It can range from cat-calls and harassment to sexual exploitation and coercion. Sexual violence violates a person’s trust, autonomy, and feeling of safety. Most sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone known to the victim and not a stranger. Regardless of the relationship, sexual violence is never a victim’s fault. Click on learn more to read about the impact of sexual violence and how to support survivors.

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Domestic Violence

Domestic violence includes a wide range of behaviors where one person is exerting power and control over a spouse, partner, girl/boyfriend, teen, and/or an adult family member. The violence may cause injury, but domestic violence is not always physical. Click on learn more to read more about some of the common warning signs that your relationship may be abusive and what you can do to support someone experiencing abuse.

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Stalking

Stalking is generally defined as any unwanted contact that communicates a threat or places the victim in fear. In most cases, the stalker isn’t a stranger. The stalker may be a current or former intimate partner, a friend, customer, coworker, or an acquaintance. Stalking is a crime. Click learn more to find out about protections for victims.

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Cultural and Community-Specific Resources

Although anyone can be a victim of violence and abuse, we know that the experience of survivors can greatly differ. Additional factors like systemic racism, homophobia, transphobia, and immigration status can greatly exacerbate the trauma for survivors. Click learn more for information on how to support survivors including women of color, immigrants, young people and those in the LBGTIQ community.

Learn More

Additional Resources

There are other resources and protections in place to assist survivors as they move towards independence and healing. Click here to learn more about using technology safely, how to obtain a confidential address, additional legal protections as well as health care resources.

Learn More

Get Involved

At JDI we believe that everyone regardless of their life circumstances can make a difference. Find out how you can take the first step today.

Get Involved

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