Get Involved With DOVE! Join the DOVE Community and help save lives today. I'm interested in learning about: * Required Hosting An Event Lunch & Learn Hosting a Book Club Hosting a Friendraiser Holding a Workplace Drive Hosting a Jean Day at My Office Donating a Cell Phone or Device Matching Gifts Other Submit Thanks for submitting!

HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM We need your help to fulfill holiday wishlists for families served through DOVE’s Emergency Shelter and Community Services programs. We invite you to help us brighten a family’s holiday! HOW IT WORKS To participate, email: dove.elfteam@gmail.com . DOVE will provide a list of options where donors can choose to support a specific family, donate general goods to our shelter or, help support our much needed general gift card drive to support our families through the holidays and beyond. Donors who choose to support a specific family will receive their family’s Holiday Wish List by no later than Friday, December 1st. To ensure that each of our more than 150 families receive their gifts before the holidays, we ask that donors schedule a time to drop off by Wednesday December 13th. Become a Holiday Donor! More Information about DOVE's Holiday Assistance Program Thank you for your interest in DOVE’s Holiday Assistance Program! Each holiday season, DOVE’s Holiday Donation Drop-Off location transforms into an amazing workshop of toys and goodies. The generosity of our community brings together gifts, personal care items, clothing, and so much more to fulfill the wish lists of the individuals and families we serve. Individuals, families, community groups, and corporate teams can join together and ‘adopt a family’ for the holidays. Participating community members are able to bring great joy to what can be a difficult time for domestic violence survivors, uprooted and struggling to build self-sufficient, thriving lives. Become a Holiday Donor DOVE’s Holiday Assistance Program assists families during the holiday season, who may be living in our emergency shelter, transitioning out of shelter into their own housing for the holidays, or who are struggling to make ends meet while building a stable, violence-free life. How does it work? Donate Goods / Provide for a Family: Contact DOVE to donate to one of the families we serve in our Emergency Shelter or Community-based Services Program. Donors are given a specific family’s wish list. Families can be as small as a single individual and as large as a parent and 6 children. Donors should plan to spend roughly $100 per family member. Wrap and deliver: Purchase wrapping supplies and bring them along with your gifts (please do not pre-wrap). Help make someone’s holiday warmer and brighter! Interested? Please contact: dove.elfteam@gmail.com

YouthSpeak Sign Up Check Out YouthSpeak: Program Levels Program Timeline Program Components Middle School Workshops YouthSpeak , DOVE’s Healthy Relationship Education and Abuse Prevention Program, educates students and young adults on the complex issues of dating and relationships while supporting and empowering youth to become leaders and agents for change in their communities. Middle and High Schools are offered three different levels of increasing engagement, from one-time classroom presentations by DOVE staff to health classes, to a comprehensive peer led program with monthly meetings. DOVE also offers a six-part middle school series for 6th through 8th graders with six cumulative interactive workshops. Follow us on Instagram! Youth Advocate Summits Young people often turn to their peers for relationship advice. L earn about safe and healthy relationships with DOVE experts. Open to all high school students in Norfolk County, MA. Fill out our pre-registration form. We will contact you via email in 2-3 business days to set up a virtual 5-10 minute friendly interview just to hear why you are interested in joining! If your reason is just to learn more about healthy relationships, then that's a great answer! Please note that you must complete a virtual interview prior to registration. PRE-REGISTER HERE February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month! Each February, advocates and organizations nationwide raise awareness about teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), focusing on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts. Check out our 2026 community events! Stay tuned for 2027 updates.

Join Us At Harvesting Hope October 25, 2024 Purchase Tickets to Attends Please inform us of any seating preferences in the comments section of the form. Return to Home

Legal Advocacy Services Please note, the DOVE legal department will only be accepting internal referrals at this time. We appreciate your patience. Many survivors of domestic violence find themselves involved in court to address various legal issues. The legal system can be scary and confusing; DOVE’s Legal Advocacy Program may be able to help. DOVE’s legal staff are specifically educated on domestic violence and applicable laws. We provide trauma-informed, client-centered services and guide survivors through the legal system while keeping in mind safety concerns. Our team can provide legal advice and representation to survivors of domestic violence with cases in Norfolk County, and may be able to offer legal advice and referrals to survivors who have legal cases outside of our catchment area. All of our services are free and confidential. The legal team will provide services in the survivor’s primary language. We are able to assist clients of all languages through the use of phone and in-person interpreters. We offer assistance in the following areas: Restraining Orders (also called 209A Abuse Prevention Orders): Representation at restraining order hearings for survivors of domestic violence who are seeking a restraining order against an abuser or who need to defend against a restraining order; consultation about the strength of the case and any potential risks to filing in court; assistance reading or drafting court documents. Family Law Assistance with family law matters including divorce, custody, paternity, parenting time, and child support; consultation about the case and the pros, cons, and risks to filing in court; assistance reading or drafting court documents; negotiation with the opposing party in the case; preparation for court hearings or limited assistance representation by one of our staff attorneys. Housing Representation in summary process (eviction) cases in District Court and Metro South Housing court; representation at housing authority hearings including appeals of denials of domestic violence priorities on subsidized housing waitlists; negotiation with landlords and housing authorities regarding domestic violence-related housing issues such as names on leases/lease bifurcations, income calculations, getting locks changed, and porting vouchers; assistance with reasonable accommodations and security deposits. Benefits Assistance accessing and maintaining SNAP (food stamps), TAFDC (cash assistance), and EAEDC (state disability and caretaker benefits) benefits; representation at DTA hearings and appeals involving overpayments, fraud, and benefits termination issues related to domestic violence. Immigration Representation in affirmative applications for immigration relief for survivors of domestic violence, including U visas, which offer relief to undocumented individuals w ho are the victims of certain serious crimes; relief under the Violence Against Women Act; assistance removing the conditions on lawful permanent status; asylum, and other forms of relief. Victim’s Rights Legal advice and assistance for survivors whose abusive partners are facing criminal charges as a result of the abuse, including help understanding the criminal legal process and the survivor’s role in it as a victim witness; information about what to expect when called to testify against an abusive partner or former partner; help drafting victim impact statements; assistance communicating with the District Attorney’s office or victim witness advocate, and help advocating for protections in the Victim’s Bill of Rights.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Program Brochures View General DV Information View Legal Advocacy Resources View Information for Teens & Young Adults View View LGBTQIA+ Resources Public Policy & Advocacy Resources View Chinese Resources View FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is domestic violence? “Domestic Violence is not an argument every once in a while or a bad mood after a rough day; it is a pattern of harmful, controlling behavior that someone uses against their partner. Domestic violence is all about power and control and may not always involve physical abuse. It can include emotional/verbal, sexual, financial, and cultural/identity-based abuse and crosses all gender, age, ability, social, ethnic, racial, and economic lines. Abuse is never mutual, and doing everything “right” will not stop it. No one deserves to be threatened, intimidated, or harmed by a partner. You do not have to leave your partner to come to DOVE. You are not alone; help is available.”

Janet Johnston Operations Director Janet Johnston (she/her) RETURN TO ALL STAFF

Information for Teens & Young Adults DOVE Teen & Young Adult Brochure Cycle of Violence Defining Domestic Violence Defining Healthy Relationships Interactive Safety Planning Love & Abuse Red Flags Disguised as Romantic Gestures Relationship Bill of Rights Relationship Spectrum Talking To Your High Schoolers About Dating Additional Media Resources

Kathleen Lydon Sr. Director, Community Services Kathleen Lydon, MSW, LICSW (she/her) earned her undergraduate Social Work degree at Providence College and holds a Master of Social Work degree from Wheelock College. Kathleen has a background in working with at-risk adolescents, many of whom have been exposed to violence; additionally, she has experience working with victims and survivors of sexual assault. Kathleen shares DOVE’s mission to provide strengths-based, empowerment-focused and trauma-informed services. Kathleen’s work with DOVE began in 2009 as a Social Work Intern and subsequently a community-based Advocate. She assumed her current position in 2012. Kathleen oversees DOVE’s domestic violence counseling & advocacy services, support groups, children services, civilian domestic violence services and DOVE’s clinical internship program. Kathleen is a native of Maine and currently resides with her husband and three children on the South Shore. RETURN TO ALL STAFF

OUR MISSION, VISION & VALUES MISSION Hope, healing, safety, social change. Working together to end domestic and partner violence. VISION A community unified in peace, justice, and equity, for the safety and well-being of every individual. VALUES Anti-oppression. We understand that domestic and sexual violence are rooted in white supremacy, patriarchy, and economic oppression. We engage in efforts to dismantle these systems at all levels as we work toward liberation. Being bold and taking risks. Inspired by survivors, we strive to be courageous in taking action with and for survivors, staff, and community. Connection. We value building authentic relationships with each other and being in solidarity with survivors and community partners. Culture of learning and growth. Together we learn, grow, and inspire one another to create a more just and equitable world free of violence. Empowerment. Through collaboration and mutual respect, we promote self-determination and lift up our communities' voices. Integrity. We are committed to our mission, vision, and values, and embrace a culture of accountability when we act outside of them. RESILIENCE LIKE RIPPLES ON A POND A SAFE PLACE

2024 Harvesting Hope Gala Fundraiser

Join DOVE , Quincy Art Association , and Artists & Activists for The Power of Art Thursday, June 22nd 6-8pm Ticket Entry - $25 At QArts Gallery - 1229 Hancock St, Quincy Come together with us as we showcase survivors' expressive artwork. We will be joined by local artists and the Voices of Hope choir for a night filled with unity. Light refreshments will be served. In addition, there will be fun raffles throughout the night to help raise money for DOVE's lifesaving programs and services. Please purchase your tickets below!