October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). It’s a time to recognize and honor survivors, raise awareness, and take meaningful actions that help survivors heal and thrive in safe and supportive communities. This year, however, comes with renewed urgency. The state of Massachusetts is facing a proposed $7 million cut to sexual and domestic violence […]
Each October, communities across the country recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) to shine a light on a pervasive issue that often thrives in silence and shame. At The Second Step, this recognition is deeply personal. It’s a time to honor the strength of survivors and recommit to the work of building safe and supportive communities throughout […]
When someone experiences domestic violence, the legal system can be both a powerful tool for protection and a source of additional trauma. Survivors often face a confusing and intimidating process at a time when they are already navigating fear, grief, and instability. At The Second Step, we believe survivors deserve legal representation along with holistic, […]
Each September, children load up their backpacks, leave their seemingly happy homes, and head back to school. Society shifts its focus to learning, structure, and fresh beginnings. For many families, the “Back to School” season represents hope and opportunity. It’s a return to routine, social connections, and safe learning environments. But for far too many […]
Last week, President Trump dismissed domestic violence incidents as “a little fight with the wife” while speaking about crime in Washington, D.C. His words, delivered casually from a podium, carry consequences far beyond political rhetoric. For survivors of domestic violence, hearing the highest office in the nation minimize abuse is not just disheartening — it […]
For far too many, domestic violence is a quiet storm. The violence rages behind closed doors, invisible to most of the outside world. It’s a pain that isolates, a trauma that whispers, No one will believe you. A convincing and strengthening fear repeating, You have nowhere to go. Survivors of domestic violence often carry the […]
Earlier this month, 18-year-old Kylee Monteiro went missing. She was 11 weeks pregnant. On August 19, her remains were discovered in Rehoboth. Police have charged her boyfriend, who just days before had been arraigned on charges including aggravated assault on a pregnant person and intimidation of a witness, with her murder. (Missing Rehoboth teen’s boyfriend […]
Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that affects individuals and families across all demographics. In Massachusetts, thousands of survivors, predominantly women and children, experience abuse in their homes each year. Leaving an abusive environment takes extraordinary strength and bravery. Recognizing the abuse and finding the courage to walk away is the first step in reclaiming […]
At The Second Step, every day we support survivors who are silenced, dismissed, or retraumatized by a system that often fails to recognize their truth. So, when we witness high-profile cases like the recent acquittal of Sean “Diddy” Combs on federal sex trafficking charges, we feel the need to say what many survivors cannot: a […]
A Message and Call to Action fromSusan Ross, CEO, The Second Step In just one week, two women in Massachusetts were killed by their intimate partners – one in Milton and one in Brockton. The Second Step extends its deepest sympathy to the families and friends who are grieving these profound losses. Murder by an […]