Founded: 1995

Status: 501(c)3 tax-exempt, nonprofit organization

Location: Melrose, Massachusetts is a city of approximately 28,000 people located 7 miles north of Boston. Our offices are on the 2nd floor of the Beebe Estate at 235 West Foster Street in Melrose.

Mission: To raise community awareness of teen dating and domestic violence, and to promote programs that work to reduce violence and encourage healthy relationships.

Funding: MAAV is funded through a combination of federal, state and local grants, individual and corporate donations, and funds raised through special events. Our two major fundraisers each year include the MAAV Walk & Candlelight Vigil in October, and the Melrose Run for Women, led by the Melrose Running Club each year on Mother’s Day.

Staff: 1 full-time Executive Director and 3 part-time staff members.

Board of Directors: 14 Board members and 7 Associate Board members include representatives from the police, schools, clergy, hospital, business community, health department, students, parents and community members at large.

Current Programs and Accomplishments:

Community Awareness Activities

• Information Booth at the Annual Victorian Fair.
• Palm cards listing hotline numbers placed in stores, restaurants, public buildings, churches, medical offices and businesses throughout the community.
• Annual Walk & Candlelight Vigil held each October commemorating victims and survivors of domestic violence.
• Publication of MAAV newsletter, “The Communicator.”
• Web site providing information and confidential advice.
• Editorials in the local newspapers and programs on cable television.
• Presentations on domestic violence to church, civic and community groups.

Prevention/Education Programs

• Initiated comprehensive Bullying Prevention Program at middle school level, including training for staff, students and parents.
• Community Mentoring Program matching adult volunteers with middle school youth.
• 6-session “Healthy Relationships” Program for all 8th graders.
• “Dear Lisa” Program on dating violence for all 9th and 10th graders.
• Teen palm cards listing hotline numbers distributed to teens and school staff.
• 16 member Student Action Board at Melrose High School; implements programs to prevent dating violence, sexual assault, and other issues.
• Founded Peer Mediation Program at Melrose High School.
• Domestic and teen dating violence training for clergy, healthcare professionals, parents, and school personnel.

Trainings

• Bullying Prevention trainings for students, staff and parents which meet or exceed the requirements of the Massachusetts anti-bullying law
• Recognizing and Responding to Intimate Partner Violence in the Healthcare Setting
• Healthy Relationships: Understanding Teen Dating Violence
• A Community-wide Approach to Preventing Relationship Violence
• The Effects of Domestic Violence on the Family System

Resource & Referral Services/Support for Victim

• Palm cards with hotline numbers in over 30 sites throughout the community.
• Local attorney referral list for pro bono/sliding scale opportunities.
• Respond to phone calls, office visits and e-mails from individuals, friends and family members seeking help.
• Brochures, handouts, articles, books and videotapes available free of charge/for loan.
• Links to criminal justice, healthcare, counseling and other resources.

Other

• Serve on Melrose Community Coalition.
• Serve on Melrose Public Schools Health Advisory Council.
• Selected as model program and featured on national broadcast addressing teen dating violence prevention.
• Helped neighboring communities of Stoneham and Wakefield start similar organizations.
• Executive Director Rebecca Mooney was named 2006 Community “Unsung Heroine” at awards ceremony at the State House in Boston.
• Student Action Board awarded the 2009 Jackson Katz Award from Northeastern University’s Sport in Society Institute.
• Received one of only 27 federal grants for Youth Violence Prevention from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
• Received federal Department of Education Mentoring Programs grant in 2007.