Victim Services

Domestic violence services are designed to meet the needs of women and children whose lives are affected by interpersonal violence. All services are confidential and free of charge. All services can be accessed by calling the 24-hour hotline in your geographic area.

24-Hour Hotline
The 24-hour hotline service provides emotional support, domestic violence advocacy, referrals to community resources, safety planning and crisis intervention. The hotline is answered by trained advocates who offer thoughtful attention. The hotline accepts collect calls.

Community Approach To Reduce Demand (CARD)
This innovative six-hour program aims to reduce recidivism by purchasers and the demand of sex for a fee. A state ordered program, CARD educates purchasers of sex for a fee and addresses the community problem of prostitution. CARD is a collaborative of the YWCA, Worcester District Court Probation Department, Worcester District Attorney and numerous community stakeholders.

Community Outreach
Local outreach is conducted at various community sites and provides access to support, advocacy, referrals, safety planning and crisis intervention.

Developing Alternatives For Women Now (DAWN)
DAWN is a intervention group targeted at women adjudicated for prostitution-related offenses. The program engages prostituted women in an eight-session cycle and provides alternatives so that women may choose to exit prostitution. DAWN is a collaborative of the YWCA, Worcester District Court Probation Department, the City of Worcester and numerous community stakeholders.

Domestic Violence Class at Department of Children & Families (DFC)
Clients who have been identified as domestic violence victims are referred to Daybreak’s domestic violence class held at DCF once a week for 4 weeks.

Emergency Shelter
The shelters are safe, confidential sites that serve families fleeing imminent danger. The Daybreak Shelter is the only confidential shelter in Worcester. Staff provides support, advocacy, counseling, and individual case management. The shelter’s goal is to stabilize the lives of women and their families and to assist them in rebuilding for the future.

Family & Friends Bystander Program
Families and friends of victims, or suspected victims, may meet with a Domestic Violence Advocate for support, resources and information about domestic violence, as well as to discuss possible interventions.

SAFEPLAN/Court Advocacy
SAFEPLAN advocates are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice, but are available at the court to assist victims of domestic violence through the restraining order process. SAFEPLAN advocates provide emotional support, explain the legal process of restraining orders and paperwork, courtroom procedure and discuss safety planning as well as referrals to ongoing support services. To speak to a SAFEPLAN Advocate, call the 24-hour hotline or the SAFEPLAN office in a court.

Short-term Counseling
This service provides goal oriented short-term counseling to women or men allowing individuals to explore their options privately with support of a counselor. The counseling process empowers victims to evaluate their situations and plan for their safety and future. Counselors may meet with victims at a designated location or schedule sessions over the phone. This service is not therapy.

Recovery Linkage
Substance Abuse/Domestic Violence Advocates coordinate services within community substance abuse treatment sites, serving women at various levels of treatment. Domestic violence intervention, education and prevention services are linked to each site, as well as direct services including short term counseling and facilitation of psycho-educational groups.

Support Group
The domestic violence support groups are a time for people who have experienced domestic violence to come together, share experiences, and offer support to one another. They provide a comfortable
atmosphere to develop trusting and caring relationships, and a safe place to talk about the abuse. All discussion is kept confidential.Women meet with an advocate and discuss the most compatible option available to them prior to joining the support group. In Worcester, childcare arrangements can be made using the YWCA respite drop-in child care program for sessions held during the day.

Service Provider Consultations
Domestic Violence Advocates are available to Service Providers for domestic violence consultations and resource information.

Worcester Sheriff’s Department Support Group
Develops comprehensive domestic violence programming for female offenders identified by the Sheriff’s Department. Weekly meetings are held at the Sheriff’s Office in Fitchburg and Worcester. This is a collaboration between the YWCA, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of Community Corrections.