Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative
We strive to create an inclusive, trauma-informed, and equitable environment that fosters a collective response to and prevention of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence.
While we do not provide direct case management services to survivors, the Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative serves as a vital resource for community-based organizations. We offer training, education, and capacity-building to strengthen prevention and response efforts across greater Boston.
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Have questions or want to connect?
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We are not direct service providers. If you or someone you know needs direct case management, please refer to the Resources section.
What is Gender-Based Violence?
Gender-based violence (GBV) is an umbrella term that encompasses any harmful action or threat directed at someone because of their sex, gender identity, or how society expects them to act based on their gender or sex assigned at birth. Other types of violence that fall under this umbrella term include but are not limited to: Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, Child Sexual Abuse, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Intimate Partner Violence, and Teen Dating Violence.
Resources
Jane Doe Inc.
Find services in your area with Jane Doe Inc.'s Massachusetts Map or public directory
RIA Inc.
Their aim is to support adults who have experienced commercial sex trade, and its associated exploitation, trafficking, and prostitution.
Safe Exit Initiative
Creating safe and sustainable ways for survivors of exploitation and sex trade to leave through programming, partnerships, and legislation.
Northeastern University Domestic Violence Law Clinic
Students aid in the representation of restraining order cases and assist community-based domestic violence organizations in policy, programming, and outreach related projects. Please reach out to the director for more information on referrals.
Commonwealth Anti-Trafficking Task Force
A joint project using a trauma-informed approach to address trafficking.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
A hotline providing information and support for survivors of human trafficking. Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.
Dee Kennedy Family Justice Center
Houses services for those affected by/exposed to domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, or human trafficking.
Digital Safety from Domestic Violence
Learn about digital safety in the context of domestic violence including device tracking solutions, hardware spying, and more.
Get a Copy of a Police Report
Learn how to request a copy of a police report by email or in person.
Work with Us
Core Training Offerings
Training Institutes are free and open to all providers serving children, young people, adults, and families. They involve multiple sessions and their length ranges from a total of 12 to 21 hours. Trainings are offered online and in- person. Trainings are usually held once a year and are on a first come, first serve basis.
Training offerings include:
- Trauma, Domestic Violence, and Resilience Training Institute
- Trauma, Resilience, and Racial Equity Training Institute
To learn more about our training institutes, email DSGPI@BPHC.org.
The Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative works with the Capacity Building and Training Initiative to offer two Training Institutes.
Check back for updates on the next offering of each institute.
Organization-Specific Training
We partner with organizations to create customized training, adapted from core offerings, to fit specific needs. There are two formats:
- Short Workshops (90 mins - 4 hours): Basic concepts and skills.
- Extended Series (6+ hours): Advanced knowledge and practice skills.
Once the form is completed, our team will review and respond within 3-4 weeks. We typically require at least 6 weeks from request to delivery, depending on level of adaptation and team capacity.
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About the Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative
About UsOur initiative is rooted in a public health approach that views violence as preventable—not inevitable. Just as public health strategies have successfully reduced lung cancer, waterborne illnesses, and traffic fatalities, we believe similar principles can be applied to preventing violence before it occurs. Gender-based violence does not exist in isolation. It is deeply connected to community violence, gun violence, state violence, and the broader structural inequities that shape where and how people live, work, learn, and heal. That’s why our prevention strategies must be just as interconnected—working across systems and at every level of prevention, intervention, and response.
Our Mission: We strive to create an inclusive, trauma-informed, and equitable environment that fosters a collective response to and prevention of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Our goal is to support all survivors—particularly BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ folks, women, girls, young people, immigrants, incarcerated folks, and those with disabilities and/or currently unhoused—by advocating for and supporting the provision of culturally responsive and linguistically accessible resources that aid in their healing, while also challenging the systemic inequities, including patriarchy, racism, and all forms of oppression, that perpetuate gender-based violence.
Our Vision: We envision a greater Boston where every person, particularly those targeted by systemic inequities, experience safety, empowerment and has access to the support and tools they need to heal from gender-based violence and thrive.
- Advance survivor-centered and data-driven priorities by building accessible data infrastructure and collecting input from residents and providers through Gender-based Violence landscape assessments, regular convenings, and community-driven feedback. This ensures continuous engagement, better services, and actionable information to guide prevention and response efforts.
- Strengthen trauma-informed and equitable training, education, and capacity-building for service providers across key sectors—including early childhood education, higher education, housing, faith-based and youth-serving organizations, immigrant services, and reentry programs – to better support survivors. At the same time, we will prioritize workforce wellness by supporting the mental health, self-care, and professional development of those working to prevent and respond to GBV.
- Promote policy change that supports survivors, with a focus on addressing root causes of violence through policies that expand economic stability, housing access, equitable child welfare practices, and trauma-informed mental health supports.
The Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-based Violence Prevention Initiative was formed through the City of Boston's Plan to End Violence. Over the course of 16 adult and youth listening sessions across Boston, over 500+ resident engaged with us and we heard the need to re-envision the way the city of Boston approaches the prevention of gender-based violence.
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Have questions or want to connect?
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We are not direct service providers. If you or someone you know needs direct case management, please refer to the Resources section.
