SafeLink, Casa Myrna’s statewide, toll-free, domestic violence hotline, was created in October of 2000 by Casa Myrna Vazquez, with support from the Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS). The SafeLink number is (877) 785-2020. SafeLink is a critical resource to those affected by domestic violence — women, men, adults, youth, victims of abuse and their family members, friends, and colleagues. Callers to SafeLink receive confidential “help at the end of the line” 24 hours a day, every day of the year. SafeLink’s specially trained advocates provide support in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and have access to TTY and translation services through on-call specialists at the ATT Language Line. That resource can provide simultaneous interpretation in over 140 languages, giving SafeLink the capacity to respond to most callers in their native language.
The hotline complements the network of organizations providing domestic violence services across the Commonwealth by linking them to a central information and service resource. The hotline’s main objectives include the provision of:
- Linguistically appropriate services
- Immediate crisis intervention
- Safety planning
- Assistance in accessing emergency shelter through direct linkage
to Massachusetts’ domestic violence programs - Resource linkage to supportive services such as counseling and legal advocacy
- Support for victims
- Support for family members, friends, and professionals who are concerned about a victim of domestic violence