Domestic Violence Services Network (DVSN) is offering a free Volunteer Advocate Training program in March for interested community members. DVSN advocates provide emotional support, risk assessment, and safety planning for victims of domestic violence in our 13 partner communities.
The 40-hour training is designed to familiarize volunteers with the many aspects of domestic violence and give them the skills necessary to provide confidential and appropriate services to DVSN’s clients. Once trained, DVSN’s volunteer Advocates provide direct service over the phone, at Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence.
The 2026 training will be held at the Lexington Police department starting on March 2 through March 20: Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. and Fridays from 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.. For those who decide to activate as volunteer advocates, there is an additional 10 to 12 hours of supervised field training at the completion of the classroom segment.
DVSN provides services to help people live healthier and safer lives free from abuse and coercive control by mobilizing the power of volunteers, donors, and communities.The Network collaborates with local police departments, Hanscom AFB Security Forces, Emerson Hospital, Eliot Center, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Concord District Court, and an extensive network of community agencies to provide victims of domestic violence with emotional support, risk assessment, safety planning, guidance, support groups, and connections to appropriate community resources.
Concord and Acton police departments started the Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program (DVVAP) in 1998. The two towns’ police chiefs, Len Wetherbee of Concord and Frank Widmayer of Acton, had taken note of incidents of domestic violence in their affluent communities.
According to a booklet designed for DVSN’s 25th anniversary, DVVAP graduated its first class of volunteers to advocate for victims of domestic violence in 1999. In 2000, the organization was incorporated as Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc., “an inter-community umbrella organization dedicated to collaborating with local community agencies to serve the unique needs of the central Middlesex area.” Between 2000 and 2016, 10 more communities from Maynard to Weston joined the network, as well as multiple community partners. The group receives 1100 referrals and requests for service in an average year.
Soon after the organization was formed, newly retired Acton resident Marilyn Peterson noticed a poster in the Concord Bookstore about an upcoming training. After serving as an advocate for a short time, she was asked to join the Board of Directors of DVSN where she has continued for 25 years. Reflecting on how she became involved and how long ago she retired, Peterson quipped, “That’s really admitting my age!”
Peterson described the work of the advocates. “When police are called to a domestic violence incident, our office receives a copy of the report. An advocate reaches out to the victim, usually within a day or two by phone, making sure that it is a safe time to talk, and then gives the victim a chance to share their story. Often the individual has become isolated from their family and friends, so has not had an opportunity to tell anyone what their life has really been like. Advocates continue to work with their clients to develop safety plans and put them in contact with resources available to them. The strength of the DVSN program lies with our trained advocates who provide ongoing confidential, nonjudgemental support that helps clients make the decisions and changes in their lives that are right for them.”
The training is provided at no cost to attendees. All necessary materials will be provided. For more information about the training or to request an application, call (978) 318-3421 or send an e-mail to training@dvsn.org. Applications are due no later than Wed., Feb. 18, 2026.
To learn more about DVSN and its programs, services, and events, visit DVSN.org.
DVSN member communities include Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston, and Hanscom Security Forces.
