• Abusive partners commonly use controlling and abusive tactics against their children.
• We should refer to “domestic abuse” or “coercive control” instead of using the term domestic “violence,” which reminds us only of physical violence. Some abusers never use physical or sexual violence to control their victims, and are more likely to use psychological abuse, isolation, financial abuse etc.
• The amended law for restraining orders now covers many different forms of coercive control, as well as forms not listed in the law, including isolation, psychological abuse, deprivation of basic necessities, financial and workplace abuse, medical abuse, and animal abuse.
• Survivors should carefully document dates and examples of coercive control used against themselves and their children and their impacts and create a safety plan.
• Resources for domestic abuse victims and advocates include:
• Domestic Violence Services Network (dvsn.org, 888-399-6111)
• REACH Beyond Domestic Violence (reachma.org, 800-899-4000)
• Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable (www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org) — Does not directly offer services to abuse survivors but creates public education opportunities
• Journey to Safety (tinyurl.com/jfcs-safety, 781-647-5327) — A part of Jewish Family and Children’s Service that offers culturally competent and religiously sensitive services for Jewish and Russian-speaking survivors
• Jane Does Well (www.janedoeswell.org, [email protected]) — Provides divorce care, support, and educational programs to single women and mothers
• Mass. Family Advocacy Coalition (massfamily.org) — Promotes survivor-centered laws and ensures a more equitable process in family court
