The Rural Economic Security Initiative of The Massachusetts Rural Domestic and Sexual Violence Project was created to address a reality that survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their advocates have long known– that economic security is necessary for survivor safety. Abusers cut off victims’ access to money, education, and employment, making it harder for them to leave and leaving them few options when they do, a situation exacerbated in rural areas by isolation, lack of affordable transportation, and limited job opportunities. In Massachusetts, where domestic violence is the leading cause of women’s homelessness, communities can no longer afford to treat violence and poverty as separate issues. Violence can jeopardize a person's economic well-being, leading to homelessness, unemployment, and interrupted education, while poverty increases the risks and intensifies the effects of violence. The Rural Economic Security Initiative aims to respond to the economic needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence in rural western Massachusetts in order to build a safer, and stronger, community.
The Massachusetts Rural Domestic and Sexual Violence Project (MRSDVP) supports comprehensive services and advocacy for adult and adolescent survivors of domestic and sexual violence in 84 rural communities in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Worcester Counties. Funded through a grant from the Federal Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, MRDSVP is a partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, four rural community based sexual and domestic violence programs (New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT), Elizabeth Freeman Center, Center for Women and Community of the University of Massachusetts, and Safe Passage), Jane Doe Inc., Hilltown Community Health Centers Inc., and the Northwestern and Berkshire County District Attorney’s Offices. The mission of the MRDSVP is to reduce/eliminate domestic, dating and sexual violence in rural Massachusetts by providing culturally relevant, accessible support and intervention to rural adult and adolescent survivors as well as extensive domestic and sexual violence community education, engagement and prevention initiatives. In addition, the Project works to improve the systemic response to violence through coordination of community coalitions, public awareness, and professional training in order to respond effectively to these issues.
The Massachusetts Rural Domestic and Sexual Violence Project (MRSDVP) supports comprehensive services and advocacy for adult and adolescent survivors of domestic and sexual violence in 84 rural communities in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Worcester Counties. Funded through a grant from the Federal Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, MRDSVP is a partnership between the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, four rural community based sexual and domestic violence programs (New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT), Elizabeth Freeman Center, Center for Women and Community of the University of Massachusetts, and Safe Passage), Jane Doe Inc., Hilltown Community Health Centers Inc., and the Northwestern and Berkshire County District Attorney’s Offices. The mission of the MRDSVP is to reduce/eliminate domestic, dating and sexual violence in rural Massachusetts by providing culturally relevant, accessible support and intervention to rural adult and adolescent survivors as well as extensive domestic and sexual violence community education, engagement and prevention initiatives. In addition, the Project works to improve the systemic response to violence through coordination of community coalitions, public awareness, and professional training in order to respond effectively to these issues.
This website and its content are supported by Grant No. 2011-WR-AX-0016 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.