Blog
Survivor-Centered Care: How We Live It at RESPOND
So, what does survivor-centered care really mean at RESPOND? For us, it’s not just a philosophy—it’s a practice we follow daily. It means we start with the survivor as the expert in their own life. We center their voice, choices, and lived experience, even when those choices don’t match what we might recommend. Take Elizabeth,......
From Concerts to Galas: How Community Fundraising Brings People Together
Fundraising events are more than just raising dollars, they’re an opportunity to connect people, share joy, and build collective support for survivors. That spirit was on full display at The Rockery & Friends concert, a third-party fundraising event benefiting RESPOND. Third party events are fundraisers created and hosted by community members, businesses, or local partners......
Strength Through the Season: How Winter Weather Increases the Vulnerability of Domestic Violence Survivors
Winter in New England brings quiet streets, early sunsets, and biting cold. For survivors of domestic violence, the season can bring heightened risks that often go unseen. At RESPOND, our advocates hear the same worry every year as temperatures drop: “I don’t know where to go.” “I don’t want to put my kids through another......
Navigating the Holidays After Leaving Abuse
For many people, the holiday season brings warmth, celebration, and connection. For survivors who have recently left an abusive relationship, this time can feel complicated. Traditions from past years may stir up difficult memories, and the pressure to feel joyful can feel distant. At RESPOND, we see these experiences every day. We walk alongside survivors......
Giving Thanks, Giving Back
Thanksgiving is almost here, and at RESPOND, we’re thinking about all the ways people show up for survivors, sometimes in ways you can see, and sometimes in ways you can’t. Some of our favorite examples? A turkey donation so a family in shelter can sit down to a warm meal. A small, hand-knit baby blanket......
Moving Forward Looks Different for Everyone (and how RESPOND counselors walk beside you)
At RESPOND, we know that life after abuse is complicated. It can bring relief, sadness, hope, and confusion sometimes all at once. There’s no single way to move forward, and the path rarely feels linear. Many survivors describe feeling waves of emotions: relief, sadness, hope, confusion, and everything in between. This range of emotions isn’t......
Why We Do This Work: Reflections from RESPOND staff
We asked RESPOND staff members to tell us why they do the work they do. Their answers reminded us that behind every program, every call, and every shelter stay, are people who care deeply, and who bring heart, skill, and dedication to every survivor they support. “I do this work because I love seeing our......
The Overlap Between Domestic Violence and the Child Welfare System
When we talk about domestic violence, it’s important to remember what it really is: a pattern of behavior used to gain power and control in an intimate relationship. That control can take many forms—physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual, and financial are just a few. Abuse gradually strips away a survivor’s resources, health, freedom, and sense of......
Why Sponsorships Matter Now More Than Ever for Small Nonprofits
At RESPOND, we often talk about how every gift makes a difference. And it truly does. But when it comes to major fundraising events like our Gala, sponsorships can be the difference between a modest net profit and a transformational one. For small nonprofits, sponsorships are so much more than a logo on a program......
A Day in the Life of a RESPOND SAFER Counselor
The Survivors of Abuse Feeling Empowered for Re-entry (SAFER) program is a one-of-a-kind partnership between RESPOND and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, supporting women who are incarcerated or detained as they process experiences of domestic violence and plan for a safe, stable place to go once they’re released. My name is Kahdijah, and I am......