By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Western Massachusetts) The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has received $120,000 in funding from the Baker-Polito administration to fight violence against women and gang violence. The grants were administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
“The agencies and organizers receiving these funds are bringing hope and healing to the people who need it most, and they strengthen our communities through their commitment to providing survivors and their families with safety nets and critical resources,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.
The VAWA STOP grant, which stands for Violence Against Women Act, Services Training Officers Prosecutors, is meant to help equip victim support organizations, criminal justice agencies, and community based partners to respond effectively and compassionately,” said Governor Charlie Baker.
The University of Massachusetts was also awarded Senator Charles E. Shannon Jr. Community Safety Imitative awards, or Shannon CSI awards, in their Amherst, Boston, and Lowell campuses.
Mary Kociela, Director of Domestic and Sexual Violence Projects at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, said the money from the VAWA grant will go to support a 20 year old program that connects domestic violence advocates with survivors after a call to the police has been made. The idea is to give information and support to survivors at the time of the call. A retired police sergeant is in charge of coordinating with DVIP, or the domestic violence intervention project.