HAWC Emergency Advocacy Response Team (HEART)

The HAWC Emergency Advocacy Response Team (HEART) is a collaborative effort between Help for Abused Women and their Children (HAWC), the Beverly Police Department (BPD), North Shore Medical Center (NSMC), Lynn Union Hospital and the North Shore Children's Hospital (NSCH). The mission of the HEART Program is to provide a comprehensive, coordinated community response to domestic violence. This team is available evenings, weekends and holidays.

The HEART Program
The HEART program provides assistance to victims of domestic violence who are at the Beverly Police Department, Salem Hospital, Lynn Union Hospital and Children's Hospital. Victims may be seeking emotional support, crisis intervention, emergency shelter, assistance with an abuse prevention order (209A) and/or referrals to other available resources.

Program Goals
Increase victim safety - Empower victims to break the cycle of violence - Increase the awareness of the effects of domestic violence on children - Educate the community on the topic of domestic violence - Reduce the risk of domestic homicides - Increase the number of successful prosecutions of domestic violence crimes - Ensure the quality of services provided by hospital personnel, law enforcement and domestic violence advocates.

Program Objectives
Provide victims with immediate safety planning and crisis intervention directly following an abusive incident. Provide education and raise awareness about domestic violence and the effects on victims. Provide information on the effects of violence on children and children's services. Provide information about the Massachusetts judicial system. Maintain communication with victims in order to help break her isolation. Collaborate with police department to assure that responses to domestic violence cases are done appropriately and in compliance with Massachusetts's enforcement and public safety laws. Encourage good working relationships with all members of the HEART program to assure quality services are provided to all victims.

Program Coordinators
If you have any questions about the HEART program and need assistance please contact the program coordinators listed below:

Tina Nieves, Domestic Violence Program Coordinator Beverly Domestic Violence Unit (978) 922-1155 or Beverly Police Department (978) 922-1212.

Peg Tiberio, Domestic Violence Program Coordinator Salem Hospital (978) 354-4383.

HEART Volunteers Needed
Volunteers for HEART are on-call between 5:00pm and 7:00am for a period of one week. Three hours of training in addition to the 40 hour HAWC volunteer training must be completed. The HEART program pays a stipend of $50 to the volunteer for each call out.  If you are interested in becoming a HEART volunteer or have any questions please call us at: (978) 922-1155.