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Support Groups All services, including support groups, are free and confidential. To join a support group please call our intake line: 617-770-4065 ext. 300 DOVE’s support groups are 8-weeks long and focused on providing attendees with education around domestic violence while also processing trauma and getting support from others. Each week the group will talk about a topic and gain skills and new understandings. The sessions' themes are as followed: Session 1: Introduction and Types of Abuse Session 2: The Cycle of Violence Session 3: Impact of Domestic Violence on our Bodies Session 4: Safety Planning Session 5: Warning Signs Session 6: Healthy Relationships Session 7: Boundaries and Self-Esteem Session 8: Coping Skills and Self-Care For more information on groups at DOVE, please call our intake line: 617-770-4065 ext. 300

Legal Advocacy Services First name* Last name Phone* Email Town of Residence Would you prefer we call you from a BLOCKED or UNBLOCKED phone number? BLOCKED UNBLOCKED Kind of Case Family Housing Immigration Restraining Orders Unsure Other Due to very limited resources, please expect to wait about two weeks for a call from us. We appreciate your patience. Submit Please complete this intake form if you think you need legal help. Due to very limited resources, please expect to wait about 2 weeks for us to call you. 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.

Become a DOVE Champion Sponsor As a champion sponsor, you will be approached only once for the entire year, encompassing both of our signature fundraising events. Consolidating your support into a Champion Sponsorship allows you to play a more significant role in driving sustainable change within DOVE’s community. Your commitment as a Champion Sponsor will not only streamline your involvement but also help to set DOVE on a path for sustainable growth and progress towards our mission of ending domestic violence. If you are interested in becoming a Champion Sponsor, please contact Tom Leavitt at tom.leavitt@dovema.org. Learn About Event Sponsorships

Individual Counseling & Advocacy Services All services are free and confidential. For more information, contact our intake line 617-770-4065 ext. 300. DOVE’s Community Advocates work with survivors to help them cope with their experiences and begin the healing process. Community Advocates work with survivors to address and identify safety risks and concerns to develop an individualized safety plan. Community Advocates can support survivors with offering a range of services including: emotional support safety planning & risk assessment resource navigation support making difficult decisions advocacy with and or connection to other service providers as needed. View Our Resources! Support for Family and Friends of Survivors Friends and family members of abuse survivors sometimes feel at a loss for how to support and help their loved one. DOVE provides information, referrals, education, and support to equip non-abusive friends and family members to better understand and support their loved ones. Address Confidentiality Program Assistance Certified through the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, DOVE staff assist clients with the application process of the Address Confidentiality Program. The ACP provides a safe substitute address for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking to use as their legal address, as well as work and/or school address. Victim Compensation Application Assistance DOVE staff assist victims of domestic violence crimes with the application process for the Victim Compensation Program through the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. For more information, contact our intake line 617-770-4065 ext. 300 to schedule an appointment

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) started as a "Day of Unity" in 1981 to connect advocates and survivors across the country working to end domestic and intimate partner violence. Eventually recognition started building on local, state, and nationwide levels. In October 1987, the first DVAM was celebrated and is now an important month for all service organizations across the country. DOVE is so excited to connect with our community in raising awareness throughout the month. We have so much planned and there are so many ways to get involved! Community Events October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) Media Recommendations

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES DOVE prides itself as a collaborative, inclusive and passionate work environment where our employees are dedicated to our Mission and Vision. DOVE aspires to cultivate the leadership potential of promising candidates. Domestic violence survivors, members of historically oppressed communities including QTPOC, candidates with disabilities, and individuals with experience working in DOVE’s catchment area are particularly encouraged to apply. YouthSpeak Coordinator The YouthSpeak Coordinator will implement a comprehensive teen dating abuse prevention program in Norfolk County Middle and High schools. The YouthSpeak Coordinator will work collaboratively with schools, community-based non-profit organizations, area youth programs, and communities to conduct education, create awareness, and ultimately work to prevent sexual/domestic violence and teen dating abuse. Click here to read full description and to apply

DOVE Publications All Posts LGBTQIA+ Young Adult Children Public Policy Immigration Legal Health Search DOVE, Inc. Oct 22, 2020 2 min Domestic Violence Awareness Month: The Tiny World of an LGBQT+ Survivor LGBTQ+ communities tend to be small. If someone feels safe and accepted as their most authentic self with only a few people, their world... DOVE, Inc. Oct 22, 2020 1 min Domestic Violence Awareness Month: From One Survivor To Another As October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I wanted to share some insight into the ongoing problem of domestic violence, especially... DOVE, Inc. Oct 22, 2020 4 min DOVE Signs on to JDI's Letter of Support for Police Accountability A Joint Letter From Programs Serving Sexual and Domestic Violence Survivors Dear Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Spilka, and Policing...

Search Results All (102) Other Pages (81) Products (12) Blog Posts (9) 102 items found for "" Other Pages (81) LGBTQIA+ Services | DOVE LGBTQIA+ SERVICES DOVE’s LGBTQIA+ Program offers identity-specific counseling services which are affirming and knowledgeable about the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ survivors of domestic or partner violence, including a support group for LGBTQIA+ survivors. View Our LGBTQIA+ Resources! Lesbian, gay, bisexual+, trans, and queer individuals experience domestic or partner violence at rates equal to or greater than straight, cisgender individuals. Between 25%-33% of LGBTQIA+ people experience partner violence at some point in their lifetime. Transgender individuals experience especially high rates of violence, with the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey reporting that over half (54%) of transgender respondents had experienced partner violence. ​ LGBTQIA+ survivors face additional barriers in seeking services and leaving their relationship, including: ​ Lack of focused resources for LGBTQIA+ survivors Cultural myth that abuse only happens in heterosexual relationships and to cisgender people Discrimination including homophobia, biphobia, and/or transphobia Increased isolation due to small and insular community Lack of recognition of the relationship Challenges with parental and adoptive parent rights Fear of being outed All of DOVE’s services are free, confidential, and LGBTQIA+ -affirming. ​ For counseling services and support groups, call 617.770.4065 ext. 300. For legal services, call 617.770.4065 ext. 400. ​ DOVE’s LGBTQIA+ Program also offers trainings and presentations for providers and community members, including: ​ Introduction to Gender and Sexuality, and continuing education on LGBTQIA+ inclusivity Partner Violence and the LGBTQIA+ Community Queerly Beloved: An Introduction to Relationship Skills – a workshop series designed for school GSAs, LGBTQIA+ youth groups, and other youth-based LGBTQIA+ gathering spaces ​ For LGBTQIA+ -specific trainings and workshops, contact the LGBTQIA+ Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator at 617.770.4065 ext. 305 ​ DOVE’s LGBTQIA+ Advocacy & Outreach Program is generously supported by the MA Office for Victim Assistance through a Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Thomas Leavitt | DOVE Thomas Leavitt Director of Development tom.leavitt@dovema.org Thomas Leavitt (he/him) joined DOVE in January, 2024 as Director of Development. Tom brings experience leading diverse nonprofit organizations committed to social justice, access to healthcare, and youth development. As a development and marketing values driven professional for more than 20 years, past appointments include leadership roles with the Boys & Girls Club of Newton, GLAD, and Fenway Health. He remains committed to serving underserved and disenfranchised communities. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, he participated in programs at Rutgers College and Brandies University Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Philanthropy. RETURN TO ALL STAFF Eliza Manriquez | DOVE Eliza Manriquez Immigration & Housing Staff Attorney eliza.manriquez@dovema.org Eliza Manriquez (she/her) is an Immigration & Housing Staff Attorney for DOVE's Legal Advocacy Program. She earned a J.D. from New England Law | Boston in the spring of 2023. Eliza has worked with survivors of trauma in the past and wanted to continue this fulfilling and challenging work at DOVE. In her capacity as an Immigration & Housing Staff Attorney, Eliza helps out with the immigration and housing law caseload for the legal team and helps to manage the legal helpline. Outside of work, Eliza spends a lot of time with her gray tuxedo cat, Grover, and enjoys cooking, thrifting, and spending time with her pals. RETURN TO ALL STAFF View All Products (12) I'm a product $120.00 Add to Cart I'm a product $7.50 Add to Cart I'm a product $25.00 Add to Cart View All Blog Posts (9) Domestic Violence Awareness Month: The Tiny World of an LGBQT+ Survivor LGBTQ+ communities tend to be small. If someone feels safe and accepted as their most authentic self with only a few people, their world tends to be even smaller. LGBTQ+ survivors may only have a small circle of chosen family, which includes their partner, and may shrink even further due to the isolation typical of abusive dynamics. Thus, these survivors may share their entire support system with their abusive partner. Due to a limited number of LGBTQ+ services and spaces, the only spaces they may be out in – and therefore could talk about their relationship in – could be those their partner frequents. So, who will an LGBTQ+ survivor tell if they experience abuse? Fear of being refused services based on gender or sexual identity is a powerful barrier to seeking support. Will they be believed? Does the person they are talking to recognize the intricacies of abuse in the LGBTQ+ community? Even if they are believed and provided services, these survivors don’t know if support will be accompanied by behaviors or comments that, regardless of intention, are painful. Will staff understand their identities? To reach outside of one’s tiny community for support also necessitates recognition of one’s experience as abuse. Messaging that abuse is primarily experienced by women in heterosexual relationships is powerful in our society, and an LGBTQ+ survivor may not identify what they’re experiencing as abuse. The tiny world of an LGBTQ+ survivor could be broadened at each level by societal shifts away from homophobia and transphobia. Our work as community members is not just interpersonal. We must do our part in combatting the oppression LGBTQ+ individuals experience to make it more accessible to reach out for support and build healthier relationships free of shame, secrecy, and fear. DOVE serves survivors of all genders and sexualities. Reach out for support if you need it. Domestic Violence Awareness Month: From One Survivor To Another As October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I wanted to share some insight into the ongoing problem of domestic violence, especially during these unprecedented times. As someone who has experienced it myself, I know that there are so many fears and emotions that keep victims and survivors stuck; self-blame, guilt, and shame can stop us from reaching out. I am the mother of four young adults right now but during my divorce, they were four school-aged children. My ex-husband was in the law enforcement field and so, I hid the abuse for a very long time. The good news is that there are programs out there that can help survivors of domestic violence and their children. If you are a survivor, I hope you are reading this now: you are loved, you are cared for. If it is safe to do so, please find a way to make a phone call to your local domestic violence agency or to someone you trust for support. As for myself, I still struggle sometimes. I have lost a lot of friends along the way after my divorce and know how devastating the isolation can be. I gain strength, however, from a domestic violence support group at DOVE once a week and my other spiritual and social support systems. Now, I hope to share my story to make sure others don’t ever have to feel alone again. So please find somebody that you trust, make that call to your local domestic violence agency, start planning for your safety and wellbeing. You deserve to live a life free of abuse! Please stay healthy and safe! Lisa DOVE Signs on to JDI's Letter of Support for Police Accountability A Joint Letter From Programs Serving Sexual and Domestic Violence Survivors Dear Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Spilka, and Policing Reform Conference Committee Members: We, the undersigned community-based sexual and domestic violence service providers, urge you to take immediate action to pass a policing reform bill that incorporates the many provisions of S.2820/H.4886 designed to increase police accountability and reduce harm in communities most impacted by police violence. Those who oppose police reform often cite the needs of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault as reasons not to place reasonable limits on police authority to use force. This argument presumes that the greatest risk to victims is the person who caused them immediate harm, and the greatest means of protection is to call the police. However, the reality for many victims and survivors is that both police action and inaction can sometimes add more harm, and these harms are disproportionately experienced by people and communities of color, immigrants, poor people, those struggling with addiction and mental illness, and so many more. As organizations who work to end sexual and domestic violence, we want you to hear directly from us that harm reduction in policing practices is essential to ensuring that law enforcement officers and the system as a whole will be more effective and more accountable to the communities they serve. Survivors repeatedly tell us that they do not want their abuser hurt, and certainly not killed, when they call for help; they want the harm to stop, to feel safe in their own homes, and for those who caused them harm to be held accountable in meaningful ways. Victims should also not have to worry that they or their children might be hurt by the very people they are calling for help. We ask that you declare that Black lives in the Commonwealth matter by supporting efforts that will reduce the harm of police-inflicted violence on our communities. Omnibus Policing Reform Priorities We see the provisions of S.2820/H.4886 as one step towards reducing the harm of structural violence in Massachusetts. In particular, the following provisions must be included in an Omnibus Policing Reform bill to improve the safety and justice for all people in the Commonwealth. 1. Ban the most violent of police tactics. We urge the Conference Committee to include strong use of force standards including a complete ban on the most violent of police tactics—chokeholds, no-knock warrants and tear gas and other chemical weapons. These violent and harmful police tactics need to be prohibited to ensure the safety of all persons who encounter a police officer. We have witnessed time and again the use of chokeholds by police officers against Black men that ultimately lead to death. This practice cannot continue. We have also seen the dangers of no-knock warrants which are disproportionately used when Black and Brown people are the suspects. Lastly, tear gas and other chemical weapons have been shown to cause serious hormonal disruption, bodily injury and even death. The Commonwealth must not allow these dangerous practices that disproportionately target and harm Black people to continue. 2. Strict limits on qualified immunity. It is imperative the Conference Committee answer the calls of the people to impose strict limits on qualified immunity to ensure that police can be held accountable when they violate people’s rights. Banning violent police tactics is meaningless if there is no way for people to hold the police accountable if they break the rules. 3. Ban on the use of facial recognition technology. Face surveillance technologies have serious racial bias flaws built into their systems. Based on research, we know this technology is extremely poor at accurately recognizing the faces of women and people of color, misclassifying darker-skinned females at an extremely higher rate than lighter-skinned males. These dangerous failings of facial recognition technology serve to supercharge racist policing. Furthermore, all survivors of sexual and domestic violence, and particularly Black survivors, should not have to worry that calling the police will result in them being wrongfully identified as a criminal or having their activity monitored. 4. Prevent sexual assault in police custody. Included as an amendment to H.4886, this provision closes a statutory loophole by prohibiting law enforcement officers from engaging in sexual conduct with persons in their custody. There is no clear ability to determine consent when power dynamics are so significant that one party has the power and ability to control another’s personal liberty. Law enforcement officers should not be able to use their role to subject a person in their custody to any unwanted sexual contact of any kind. 5. Create an Independent Oversight System with Strong Accountability Measures: Massachusetts is one of only a few states without a POST system. Any oversight body should have strong civilian representation and evidentiary standards that enable rather than deny justice. We urge the Committee to establish a POST system that is truly independent and includes strong representation from members of the public who have personal and/or professional experience with respect to the impact of structural racism on communities of color. 6. Justice Reinvestment and Opportunity in Communities Affected by Incarceration : Reducing the harm of police-inflicted violence on communities also requires investing in communities most impacted by crimes and the successes of criminal justice reform. We support investing in the Justice Reinvestment Workforce Development Fund to support communities heavily impacted by crime and the criminal justice system. Using savings from reductions in incarceration to strengthen communities & prevent crime through programs like workforce development, social enterprise & small business development, dropout prevention programs, and transitional employment improve the lives of survivors of sexual and domestic violence and their communities. 7. Commission on Structural Racism: Unfortunately, our declarations of injustice and critiques of structural racism often fall on unsympathetic ears in the absence of empirical data. Despite the numerous reports that look at racial disparities, there has not been a commission that will take a comprehensive look at the policies and practices that lead to racially disparate outcomes. In order to hone in on the policies and practices that lead these disparate outcomes we trust that you will include in the final version of the bill a commission on structural racism. This is our opportunity as a Commonwealth to invest in our communities to build a more equitable and just Commonwealth that explicitly values Black Lives, and which in doing so will also improve the ability of law enforcement to more effectively and ultimately more safely respond to domestic and sexual violence. Signed, Sue Chandler DOVE Executive Director View All