FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 10, 2014

CONTACT: Peter Van Delft
(617) 704-6682

SHERIFF TOMPKINS JOINS CAMPAIGN IN RECOGNITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH

Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins (far left) joined Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick (6th from left), Secretary of Public Safety and Security Andrea Cabral (2nd from left), Casa Myrna CEO Stephanie Brown (3rd from left) and supporters for the kickoff of Casa Myrna’s transit ad campaign in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins joined with Governor Deval Patrick, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Andrea Cabral, State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry and other elected officials and organization representatives to help kick off Casa Myrna’s eleventh statewide public awareness transit ad campaign in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Speaking about the issue, Casa Myrna CEO Stephanie Brown and Jane Doe Inc. Interim Executive Director Debra Robbin provided information about the ad campaign and also about the services available to those affected by domestic violence.

Running for the month of October, the ad campaign will be displayed in English and Spanish on the Red, Orange, and Silver Lines of the MBTA in Boston, and on buses in Haverhill, North Andover, Lawrence, New Bedford, Fall River, Pittsfield, Springfield, and Brockton.

On hand to lend his support to the organizations behind the event, Sheriff Tompkins spoke about the need for more services for both victims of abuse and the perpetrators of domestic violence.

“It is critical work that Casa Myrna, Jane Doe Inc. and others are doing around domestic violence,” said Sheriff Tompkins. “So many lives are so deeply affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse, and these organizations provide the support and services that can make a world of difference. As great as they are, however, we need to have even more such organizations for not only the victims, but also for the perpetrators of these crimes so that we can begin addressing the issue at its root cause.”

Casa Myrna is an organization that gives women who are living in violent, abusive households tools to recover from the trauma of abuse and begin to build sustainable self–sufficiency. Each year, they serve nearly 1,000 survivors through: three residential programs; housing search assistance; financial literacy education; counseling; legal advocacy and representation; and community–based advocacy. Casa Myrna operates SafeLink, the only statewide 24/7 toll– free domestic violence hotline in Massachusetts. SafeLink receives nearly 30,000 calls a year from survivors, their family, friends, and service providers. And because the provision of services will not end domestic violence, Casa Myrna invests in awareness, education and prevention efforts by educating hundreds of teens and adults across the state through workshops, seminars, trainings, daily social media posts, and annual ad campaigns on mass transit systems.

For more information, please visit: www.casamyrna.org and www.janedoe.org.

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