COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Legal Advocacy Program

Opened in 1991, the Legal Advocacy Program seeks to address
the unmet legal needs of battered women by serving as a
culturally competent point of access for women who, due to
linguistic, cultural, and economic barriers, would not be able to
access representation through normal channels. Initially established to provide emergency legal services, the program has expanded its capacity to include critically needed full representation in Probate and Family Court matters. Casa Myrna is one of the few programs in Massachusetts to provide clients with representation beyond the initial restraining order hearing, and provides ongoing comprehensive family law representation, as well as a Legal HelpLine. The program serves between 400 and 500 clients a year.
Legal HelpLine (617) 521-0146 Legal Fax Line (617) 521-0181
legal@casamyrna.org

Mental Health Program

The Mental Health Program provides individual, family and group counseling to women and children, as well as referrals to outside therapeutic resources. Support groups in both Spanish and English are facilitated by the community advocate. The counselors also provide trainings to other human-services provider groups, from faith-based organizations to community health centers, on the issue of domestic violence. The program is staffed by a licensed social worker, a community advocate and interns from area universities who are majoring in social work or clinical psychology.
cmcs@casamyrna.org

Housing Advocacy

A bilingual Spanish-English Housing Specialist works with women who have been made homeless by domestic violence, or who are at risk of ongoing injury in their current living situations due to domestic violence. Women are helped to assess their housing needs, and given guidance in identifying, applying for and securing permanent, affordable housing. The program also helps them secure donations of household items and assistance with moving expenses.
housing@casamyrna.org

SOAR II (Stability, Opportunity, Achievement, Results)

Casa Myrna’s economic development program helps women set and pursue educational, vocational and employment goals, and teaches them to budget, save and plan for their financial self-sufficiency. The program provides 5-week workshops and individual counseling sessions that help women learn to review their credit histories, repair bad credit, open savings or checking accounts and master the realities of budgeting and sound financial planning.
soar@casamyrna.org