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Enterprise News
O ctober 2, 2007

Governor puts spotlight on domestic violence
By Enterprise staff

Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday announced his administration will review “already successful” domestic violence programs with the goal of delivering the best practices statewide to fight partner abuse.

The announcement came as the governor and first lady Diane Patrick spotlighted the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, held annually in October.

Patrick said he directed Lt. Gov. Tim Murray and the state's Sexual and Domestic Violence Council to conduct the review of programs and “deliver a set of best practice recommendations, addressing both the public health and public safety aspects of domestic violence, to be implemented across the commonwealth.”

In July, the governor signed a budget with an increase of nearly $3.6 million for programs that address domestic violence.

“By all accounts, domestic violence is on the rise in Massachusetts. We are feeling the impact on families and in social services everywhere,” Patrick said. “We need to step up, working together in state government and with family members, friends and neighbors to put an end to this tragedy.”

The funding includes:

*The state Executive Office of Public Safety received a U.S. Department of Justice grant for more than $1.3 million for collaboration between the Municipal Police Training Committee and Jane Doe Inc. to improve the response of commonwealth police departments to domestic violence and sexual abuse incidents through a new veteran and recruit training programs.

*The state Department of Public Health recently received nearly $900,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women for the Massachusetts Rural Domestic and Sexual Violence Project to provide services to rural children and families affected by domestic and dating violence, and to organize and implement sexual and domestic violence prevention initiatives in five counties in rural Massachusetts over the next two years.

*The state Department of Social Services will use about $500,000 from the fiscal 2008 budget to support strategies that most effectively reach women at imminent risk of serious harm, including homicide. DSS will also direct $500,000 to emergency housing stabilization funding for quick, flexible cash assistance to prevent families from becoming homeless due to domestic violence.

“It is important for us to take note of and honor those who care and advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence — and not just in October, but every day throughout the year, because they work tirelessly, every day and every night, throughout the year,” said Diane Patrick. “We must celebrate their accomplishments and do all we can to support their ongoing work.”