
REACH Blog
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REACH provides survivors of domestic violence with safety, shelter, and a path to healing. Our innovative, community-based approach promotes healthy relationships, fosters collaboration, and empowers community members to be agents of change.
REACH Blog
1M ago
At REACH, one important aspect of how we do our work is recognizing that domestic violence survivors are the experts of their own lives, and that there is no clear-cut “template” for the healing journeys they embark on once they decide to leave their abusive relationships. Some survivors turn to their family members and loved ones when they need support, others find strength in the communal...
The post Last Call: How One Domestic Violence Survivor Found Healing Through Game Development appeared first on REACH ..read more
REACH Blog
3M ago
The following blog post was written by Nancy Teeven, a longstanding member of REACH’s Board of Directors. Domestic abuse is ugly in so many ways, and much more prevalent than any of us like to think about. More than one in three women (35.6%) and one in four men (28.5%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their...
The post Providing Financial Help for Domestic Violence Survivors appeared first on REACH ..read more
REACH Blog
3M ago
*In honor of National Homelessness Awareness Month, members of REACH’s residential advocacy team collaborated on the following blog post which brings attention to the clear yet often overlooked link between homelessness and domestic violence. As we observe National Homelessness Awareness Month, it’s important to reflect on the lives of the countless individuals who have experienced homelessness due to circumstances beyond their control. One of the most...
The post Homelessness – Creating a Path to Healing and Stability appeared first on REACH ..read more
REACH Blog
4M ago
The Survivor Speaker’s Bureau (SSB) of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence is based on a social justice model in which REACH staff and volunteers work with community members, community agencies, educational institutions, and youth to raise community awareness and understanding of domestic violence to create positive change by encouraging individuals to reflect on their selves and their relationships with individuals and the community. This blog post was...
The post My Trauma Wounded Me, But it Did Not Silence Me appeared first on REACH ..read more
REACH Blog
4M ago
*As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’re looking back at the origins of the term ‘gaslighting’ and how it impacts the work we do with domestic violence survivors In 1944, the film production company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released a movie that quickly captivated critics and casual movie-goers alike. The movie, which starred two of Hollywood’s biggest actors of the time; Ingrid Bergman (of Casablanca fame) and Charles...
The post Where Does the Term ‘Gaslighting’ Come From? appeared first on REACH ..read more
REACH Blog
5M ago
*This post was written using valuable input from Catalina Folch, REACH’s Children and Families Program Manager For most people, September is that cozy time of the year when the leaves start changing color and we gradually shift from the hot summer months into a cooler fall period. But for kids and teens heading back to school, September can be much more stressful. This is especially true...
The post How Can Schools Best Support Children and Teen Survivors of Domestic Violence? appeared first on REACH ..read more
REACH Blog
6M ago
*Written by Maggie Mieczkowski, former REACH intern and student at Hamilton College As I reflect on my time at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, I am struck by the profound impact it has had on me personally and professionally. When I first discovered REACH, I was moved by the stories of courageous women and resilient children facing unimaginable challenges. I remember questioning my own ability to help...
The post Overcoming the Fear of Failure – Reflections from a REACH Intern appeared first on REACH ..read more
REACH Blog
7M ago
On June 20, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed into law Bill H.4744, also known as ‘An Act to Prevent Abuse and Exploitation.’ The primary goal of the bill is to expand protection capabilities for survivors of abuse by classifying coercive control and digital exploitation as forms of domestic violence. However, there are several other components of the bill which are also worth mentioning, and which we have detailed below.
Restraining Orders for Non-physical Abuse
As many survivors sadly know already, not all forms of domestic violence are physical. Non-physical forms of abuse ..read more
REACH Blog
7M ago
By now, it seems safe to assume that most people know what the internet is and even use it on a frequent basis. In many cases the internet has already become a major part of how people perform their jobs, keep in touch with friends and loved ones, or simply spend their free time. The internet can be quite handy for things like conducting research, managing a business, and meeting new people, but the convenience it affords us can sadly also be exploited.
More tech-savvy domestic abusers will happily utilize the internet to maintain their sense of power and control, and one of the main ways th ..read more
REACH Blog
8M ago
If someone in your life has been subjected to domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or intimate partner violence), it can be hard to figure out how best to support them. Do you keep your distance and give them space? Do you put in extra effort to stay close in case they don’t want to be alone? Do you try and ask them about their experiences? Or do you purposefully avoid the subject for fear of dredging up traumatic memories?
If you’re ever unsure how you can help a domestic violence survivor in your life, it’s often best to just remember a simple four-letter word: TALK.
Seek Firs ..read more