Intimate Partner Violence Support
Intimate Partner/Domestic Violence is not a private matter; it’s a community issue, and the YWCA has been offering crucial support to survivors and their families in the Merrimack Valley since 1993. Our services are made possible through state, federal, and municipal funds, private foundations, and generous individual donors and contributors.
At the YWCA, our Survivors Services are a beacon of support and empowerment, ensuring survivors of intimate partner violence and their non-offending friends and families access vital advocacy services. We stand in solidarity with survivors, assisting them in their journey. Our mission is to empower them with resources and knowledge and offer support in every decision that they make during their healing journey.
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Our Comprehensive Services Include:
Intimate Partner Violence is a community challenge; together, we can support survivors on their journey to safety, healing, and empowerment.
Emergency Services
We provide immediate crisis intervention, advocacy, safety planning, referrals to shelters, transportation referrals, and resources to help individuals access food and other emergency essentials.
SAFEPLAN Court Advocacy
Our bilingual (English Spanish) SAFEPLAN Advocates are stationed at Lawrence and Haverhill District Court. They offer invaluable support in obtaining restraining orders and harassment orders in both district and probate courts. Our advocates help survivors understand their legal rights, options, and responsibilities, arrange for translation services, and make referrals to legal services as needed.
Transitional Housing and Supportive Services
Our OASIS program provides apartment units for families who have experienced homelessness due to Intimate Partner Violence. Services include programs on becoming economically self-sufficient, vocational counseling, parenting skills instruction, anger management, individual case management, and counseling support for women and their children. Additionally, our Single Residency Occupancy [SRO] program offers single-room occupancy apartments in Lawrence and Haverhill with shared kitchen, living room, and baths for single women who have become homeless due to Intimate Partner Violence. Residents receive vocational counseling, case management and can live there permanently if necessary.
Youth Education on Healthy Relationships & Abuse Prevention
We conduct in-school workshops on healthy relationships, reaching over 1,400 teens annually. Our workshops empower teens to recognize red flags, manage emotions, understand their choices, grasp the true meaning of consent, and prioritize safety. We also offer workshops for parents, youth workers, and community leaders.
How to Reach Us:
During Business Hours
Call the YWCA at 978.682.3039 from 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
After Hours
For Sexual Assault support, call our 24-hour hotline at 877.509.YWCA (9922). For Intimate Partner Violence assistance, call our 24-hour hotline at 844.372.9922.
Statewide Assistance
You can also contact the statewide, 24-hour SafeLink Intimate Partner Violence Sheltering Line at 877.785.2020 for referrals to shelters and domestic violence hotlines in your region.
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Contact Arelis Huertas by filling out the form below or by calling 978.516.5112 for information on how to bring free prevention and education programs to your school today!
Support & Counseling for Survivors
Individual Counseling
We offer free and confidential individual counseling to survivors of intimate partner violence and the supportive individuals in their lives. Our sessions typically occur in our offices, but we are flexible about arranging meetings at other locations when necessary. Additionally, we hold office hours at various times weekly at our satellite locations throughout the North Shore.
If you are interested in individual counseling, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our office at 978.687.0331.
Group Counseling
We facilitate various support groups throughout the year to accommodate diverse needs. These groups have covered topics such as Teen Peer-to-Peer Support, a Male Survivors Group, Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Assault, and an Adult Women’s Group.
All of our groups are free and strictly confidential.
We either organize groups as needed or include them on a group interest list. For more information, please email Arelis Huertas or call our office at 978.687.0331 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
You don’t have to face this journey alone. We provide the support, counseling, and resources you need to heal and move forward. Your well-being is our priority.