Get Help for Yourself or Someone You Know
Safety must be your first consideration. Leave without a plan if necessary, and get to a protected place, preferably a shelter.
Find Support. We offer a range of services and can help you:
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Plan for safety
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Access safe housing
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Talk about your relationship and your options
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Locate and apply for resources
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Individual counseling
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Provider consultation
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Training sessions for your organization
Please call us at (617) 667-8141 if you would like more information or want to schedule an appointment. Also visit our Resource page for community resources and services including 24hr helplines!
All Services are private, confidential, and free
Increasing your personal safety
Choose a trusted person. Tell this person your plans & ask for help in carrying them out.
Gather all important information: ID cards, driver's license, medical insurance cards, medications & prescriptions, birth certificates, marriage licenses/divorce papers, passports, visas, credit & ATM cards, bank account numbers, Social Security cards, copy of car keys, phone numbers & addresses of friends and family.
Put aside a few clothes for yourself and your children.
Hide money whenever you can.
Find a place to store important documents, keys & clothes. Place all of these important items in a safe place, for example in a safety deposit box, or at a trusted friend's house, so that you can get it easily when you decide to leave.
Open a post office box in your name. To avoid creating a trail, choose a post office in a town other than your present one, or the one you plan to go to.
Get a protective order. If the order is violated, call the police. You can obtain a protective order from your area district or probate court. If at all possible, have an advocate, friend, or family member accompany you to court. Keep a copy of the order with you at all times. Give copies of the order to your school/workplace, children's schools, neighbors, and other important people. Encourage them to report a violation.
Prepare your children for emergencies. Make sure they know how to dial 911 and are not afraid to do so.
Find a safe place to go. Choose a place where your partner won't be able to find you. This could be a friend or family member, or a confidential shelter.
Stay Safe. Keep your doors locked day and night. Do not open your door to strangers. Screen all calls with an answering machine/caller ID. Change all locks, whether or not you are still living at home.
Take threats seriously and report them. Threats are not only violations of a protective order, but also possible indicators of imminent danger. With this in mind, keep a log of dates and incidents. You may need this information later to prove your case in court.
For more information on how to stay safe visit Jane Doe Inc. and the
MA Dept of Public Health
