The Healey-Driscoll administration recently announced $3.4 million in grants to support 42 organizations across Massachusetts that help survivors of domestic assault, sexual assault and stalking to access services, as well as strengthen coordinated responses and improve public safety.
Locally, $126,162 was awarded to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office serving Franklin and Hampshire counties and the town of Athol. According to DA’s office spokesperson Melissa Sippel, the funding will support the office’s existing Domestic Violence Intervention Project, an early intervention model that provides a coordinated response between law enforcement and victim advocates for individuals impacted by domestic and sexual violence.
Through the Domestic Violence Intervention Project, which first began in 1996, victims are connected with a community-based advocate with specialized training immediately after an interaction with law enforcement. The program uses advocates from Behavioral Health Network in Hampshire County and the Resilience Center of Franklin County (formerly the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition) to provide crisis intervention and support. In addition, DA’s office staff conduct ongoing outreach and trainings for police officers focused on trauma-informed response and on-scene risk assessment.
“This funding allows us to strengthen how we respond to intimate partner violence across our region,” Katie Rosewarne, director of domestic and sexual violence projects, said in a statement. “By focusing on early intervention, training and collaboration with community partners, we’re improving safety and making sure survivors have meaningful support.”
The continuation awards are funded through the federal Violence Against Women Act grant program by the U.S. Department of Justice. In Massachusetts, the program is administered by the Office of Grants and Research.
“Our administration remains focused on ensuring that survivors can reach timely and trauma-informed assistance in communities across Massachusetts,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “We are investing in the frontline teams and providers who help survivors find safety, regain stability and move forward on their path to healing.”
This marks the final year of the grant program’s current, four-year grant cycle. Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process in 2022 and were eligible to apply for continuation awards in each of the following three years. Pending the release of federal fiscal year 2026 Violence Against Women Act funds by the Department of Justice, the Office of Grants and Research intends to conduct a competitive application process later in 2026, marking the beginning of a new four-year grant cycle.