DASI celebrates 30 years of help and hope

NEWTON — A vital, county-wide organization known as DASI is celebrating its 30th anniversary this October. In its three-decade tenure, this non-profit has helped to protect, heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking and shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.

Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Intervention Service (DASI) has sheltered more than 3,000 women and children, has responded to more than 30,000 hotline calls, and has served more than 20,000 women, men, and children affected by domestic and/or sexual violence. In its 30 years, the dedicated staff and volunteers have helped many tear-filled eyes turn to heartfelt hope and resolution.

History
Before DASI was born, a woman named Barbara Cole ran a hotline and safe house out of her home. In 1984, a grant enabled the creation of Domestic Abuse Services of Samaritan Inn, and DASI staff trained its first volunteers for the 24-hour hotline. One of those volunteers was Jamie Bernard who is now DASI's Executive Director.

"The initial staff and Board set a standard of quality that has underscored our agency: services that help smooth the difficult healing journey for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, always offered within a framework of empowerment and respect remain the core of what we do," Bernard said.

DASI was first located in a former supply closet at Sussex Technical School. In 1987 enough funds were raised to open the DASI Emergency Shelter, a 15-bed facility situated in a confidential location for individuals and families who were not safe in their own homes due to domestic violence. DASI’s first Executive Director was Sally Gibson, who is still involved with the agency.

One of her first moves at the helm was to hire Barbara Cole and another was to surround herself with people who understood domestic violence either because they had survived it or because they thoroughly understood it on both an intellectual and emotional level. She then set her compass toward establishing a solid mission statement and making the agency independent, which happened in 1989 when it was incorporated as Domestic Abuse Services, Inc.

DECIDE, a program for domestic violence offenders, was also launched and in years to come an Outreach Office was established in Newton for non-residential services such as counseling and legal advocacy. DASI moved from location to location as the staff grew in number and the services expanded and increased. In 1998 the shelter was fully renovated and an addition was added. That same year, DASI began offering services to sexual assault and abuse survivors. In 1999, DASI was able to purchase a building in Newton and established the DASI Community Outreach Center. In 2004, funding came in to purchase and renovate a six-apartment building in Newton, which opened in 2008 as the Step-by-Step Transitional Living Program which helps participants stabilize their lives for six to 24 months.

Survival
Keri Marino is the Vice President/Business Sales Manager at Sussex Bank and the President of DASI’s Board of Trustees. She is also a survivor.

"DASI actually saved my life," Marino said. "At that time it was too new and too raw, but I made a commitment to myself that I would give back to those who were going through the same thing."

At first, Marino gave anonymous donations to women in the shelter at Christmas time — the same shelter where she had found refuge.

"Then there came a time when I didn't want to be anonymous anymore and felt sharing my story was important," Marino said. "The stereotype is a woman with a black eye holding a baby and hiding. If people can see someone who is successful that has survived and is thriving, it's more of a service. The reality is it exists in every community, in every race, in all socioeconomic levels and affects men as well as women."

Moving forward
"Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and human trafficking have had to encounter some of the worst that life has to offer," Bernard said. "DASI's programs help reintroduce them to some of the best life has to offer in the form of safety, compassion, strength and hope."

DASI staff assist with physical, emotional and psychological injuries, and help with safety planning, housing and financial emergencies. Services include a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, counseling, support groups, advocacy, court preparation and accompaniment, children’s services, transportation, transitional housing apartments, food and clothing, all of which are available to help individuals and families to heal and rebuild their lives.

Bernard said in the future, DASI hopes to expand its children's services to include "more comprehensive services to both residential and nonresidential children who have been traumatized by domestic violence." She added, "We continue to learn more and more about victims of human trafficking and how to help them and hope to expand services in that area as well. In addition, we want to ensure that we fully integrate a holistic, trauma-informed approach to all of our services."

Marino echo's Bernard's hopes and is excited to build DASI's Board and "bring on new talent and people who are ambitious with fund raising and networking."

"Our professional staff, league of volunteers and supporters who work toward ending domestic and sexual violence every day are fantastic people," Gibson said. "Like the perennial flower, may DASI continue to bloom and grow and may all the people who need the services of the agency find strength to make choices that bring peace."

Morning Glory Thrift Shop
Located in the antique area of Andover, Morning Glory Thrift & Gift Shop is DASI's main fund raiser.

"There have been other fund raisers and special events over the years," said Bernard, "But when DASI took this idea and ran with it several years ago, it just seemed perfect."

Most items are donated to the store and include everything from fine china to fancy dining room sets to name-brand clothing and shoes, to kitchen gadgets, to furniture and things one might never have thought fathomable. All proceeds benefit DASI. In addition, DASI has T-shirts available for sale to support the organization at its web-site.