Mission Statement

Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence brings together organizations and people committed to ending domestic violence and sexual assault. We create social change by addressing the root causes of this violence, and promote justice, safety and healing for survivors. JDI advocates for responsive public policy, promotes collaboration, raises public awareness, and supports our member organizations to provide comprehensive prevention and intervention services. We are guided by the voices of survivors.

History and Scope

Jane Doe Inc., (JDI) is a state-wide membership advocacy organization dedicated to preventing and abolishing domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. We operate from a social justice framework that recognizes the intersections of oppression and the critical roles of organizing and advocacy in transforming social norms. JDI was formed by the 1998 merger of the MA Coalition of Battered Women Service Groups and the MA Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Our membership is comprised of more than sixty community-based domestic violence, sexual assault and/or dual programs. We work very closely with our member programs in order to understand the impact that domestic and sexual violence has on victims and local communities. We support their capacity to be responsive and to integrate best practices of the field. As the statewide resource center for sexual assault and domestic violence, Jane Doe Inc. provides technical assistance, training, and information and facilitates communication among the membership in many venues. We recognize that coalitions are most effective when they are member centric and victim focused so that the experiences of survivors are reflected through communications from our members and that understanding drives our prevention, program and policy advocacy actions.

While Jane Doe Inc. understands the unique role of state coalitions in improving practices of their member programs, we also place a high priority on collaborating with and influencing the best practices and approaches of other systems. Since its inception, JDI has served as a central point of contact for survivors, victims' advocates, sexual and domestic violence service providers and other health, social service, law enforcement and criminal justice professionals, educators and policy makers. We provide a collective voice on the issues of domestic and sexual violence in framing them as public health concerns that require both short and long-term solutions. Within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, JDI is recognized as the authority on these issues and works closely with state agencies, the Governor’s administration, and other statewide advocacy organizations. We provide leadership to these and other areas across the state as part of our intentionally broad role in integrating local, state and national practices to end domestic and sexual violence. We also work closely with other state coalitions and national organizations to remain current on developments in the field and to influence policy and practice.