The lynn police department (LPD) - in partnership with healing abuse working for change (hawc) will use FY24 microgrants funding to implement a victim advocate program for the purpose of building…

The City of Lynn, MA was awarded a $175,000 Project Grant by the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office under the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710). The grant funding will be used to implement a Victim Advocate Program in partnership with the local non-profit organization Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC). The program aims to build trust and legitimacy within the Lynn community, particularly targeting the city's migrant population, in response to a 123% increase in domestic violence incidents over the past five years. Key components of the program include embedding a designated domestic violence advocate within the Lynn Police Department and conducting targeted outreach, creating resource materials, and carrying out a community education campaign in collaboration with HAWC. The grant project period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

The lynn police department (LPD) - in partnership with healing abuse working for change (hawc) will use FY24 microgrants funding to implement a victim advocate program for the purpose of building trust and legitimacy within the community. Incidents of domestic violence in lynn are increasing at an alarming level, up 123% over the past five years. We are especially concerned about rates of domestic violence among our migrant community whose fears of drawing attention cause them to be more likely to suffer in silence. The proposed victim advocate program will include a designated domestic violence advocate within the lynn police department to reach victims of domestic violence identified during police response. In addition, LPD will work alongside hawc - an extremely trusted community partner to implement targeted outreach strategies that reach the migrant population, create resource materials and conduct a community education campaign.