Local merger offers 'new wave' of domestic violence services By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer 12/09/2005

Westborough - Anyone who feels controlled by another person, who is kept isolated from seeing family and friends, whose access to finances is restricted, or whose freedom is being stifled in other ways is a victim of domestic violence, according to Mary Ann Manion, president of Westborough Abuse and Violence Education and Support (WAVES). For years, as a WAVES volunteer, Manion has been on the front lines, responding to domestic violence crises in Westborough by providing resource information and support to victims. But the grassroots volunteer-run organization she has been a part of has seen dwindling numbers of volunteers - and with the economic downturn, a decrease in corporate financial support. Rather than seeing the domestic violence services sink, she said, WAVES decided to approach the well established domestic violence service program, Daybreak, about pooling their resources and merging services. Daybreak is a program of the YWCA of Central Massachusetts that is headquartered in Worcester and has locations in Westborough. Manion expects the merger process that is underway to become finalized in the coming months.
   By the exposure the merger brings to the domestic violence issue, Manion said, she hopes the community will acknowledge that the problem exists and will support related programming. While WAVES offered support and resources via lay people since 1994, Manion said, the merger with Daybreak will enable people to access services that are administered by professionals. And while WAVES's trained volunteers will continue to have a presence at Westborough District Court, supporting victims who are pursuing restraining orders, Manion said the linkage with Daybreak will avail victims with options for longer-term solutions.
   According to Manion, Daybreak had been interested in expanding their services delivery into Westborough, and merging with WAVES suited both organizations' needs. As part of the merger negotiations, Manion said, Daybreak agreed to earmark the funding turned over by WAVES for use in serving Westborough clients.
   "We're told that Daybreak is going to have an office on Grove Street in Westborough," Manion said.
   The gamut of services provided by Daybreak will, however, continue to include resources that are also accessible to victims from surrounding towns. Daybreak offers shelter services for women and children, a 24-hour hotline, short-term counseling, support groups, court advocacy, and school- and community-based educational services.
   Manion said WAVES saw a diversity of domestic violence service needs emerging - including the need for bilingual services - that their organization, with its diminishing resources, would have had trouble meeting if it remained a solo provider. Daybreak has resources to assist victims with those and other types of issues, she said.
   Bette Oliver, a volunteer member of Against Domestic Violence In Shrewsbury Education Project (ADVISE), said she believes the WAVES/Daybreak merger will be beneficial.
   "I'm of the opinion," Oliver said, "that Daybreak is very well known in the circles of domestic violence, and I think they're going to be a very large asset to the community and the surrounding communities because they are so well known. And I think it will be good for us [ADVISE] too, because we'll probably have people who will access the things that they offer that will be closer to Shrewsbury people."
   Janet Trippi, cochair of ADVISE, said she sees the merger as a helpful response to identified problems.
   "These grassroots organizations like WAVES and ADVISE," Trippi said, "they grew out of a need and the need is now being recognized. And fortunately there are these truly professional larger agencies that can come in and start to take care of that need."
   With WAVES having provided both community education and support to individuals, Manion said she wants the organization's effort to live on.
   "The goal," Manion said, "is to make sure the spirit of WAVES still exists but in a broader sense, with a lot more access for our clientele."
   For more information about Daybreak services, call (508) 755-5371, or for the 24-hour hotline, call (508) 755-9030.

Resources:
Hotlines/Help lines:
Daybreak (resources for women and children): (508) 755-9030
New Hope: 1-(800) 323-HOPE (4673)
Rape Crisis: 1-(800) 870-5905
ADVISE: (508) 842-0056
Wayside Trauma Intervention Services 24-hour hotline: 1-(800) 511-5070
Voices Against Violence (Framingham): 1-(800) 593-1125, TTY-(508) 626-8686
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-(800) 799-SAFE.

Shelters:
New Hope: 1-(800) 323-HOPE (4673)
Daybreak (resources for women and children): (508) 755-9030
Abby's House: (508) 756-5486

Counseling and Referrals:
Marlborough Community Services (advocacy and referral): (508) 481-4080
Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services: (508) 845-6932
Westborough Youth and Family Services: (508) 366-3090
Southborough Youth and Family Services: (508) 481-5676
Northborough Family and Youth Services: (508) 393-5020

Legal Help:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts: (508) 752-3718, TTY (508) 775-3260

This column is made possible through a partnership with Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS) and Against Domestic Violence In Shrewsbury Education Project (ADVISE). Special acknowledgements go to Christine Hilditch (formerly named Chris Biron), MA, LMHC, clinical director at SYFS, and Janet Trippi, cochair of ADVISE, for sharing their expertise and for their assistance in coordinating input from other community resources.