about us

The Community Advocacy Program (CAP) is a successful initiative of the Center for Community Health Education, Research, and Service (CCHERS), Inc., a not-for-profit incorporated partnership.  CAP is a partnership of community health centers providing free and confidential domestic violence services for health center clients and community residents.

The mission of the Community Advocacy Program is to provide and increase the availability and quality of domestic violence services for victims and their families in community health centers, offering these services in an accessible and safe setting.

what we do

The CCHERS Community Advocacy Program (CAP) supports Family Advocates at five of its partner community health centers, providing a range of services to victims and survivors of dating and domestic violence and their loved ones, including:

crisis intervention

safety assessment and planning

advocacy

assistance with housing and shelter

legal assistance, including court accompaniment

information and supported referrals

support groups for adult women and teens

counseling 

our history

In 1994, the Massachussetts Department of Public Health Pediatric Family Violence Prevention Project provided funding for support groups for battered women, and corresponding groups for their children, in two community health centers.  Based on the success of this initiative and the obvious need for additional services, in September, 1995, at the urging of its member health centers, CCHERS established the Community Advocacy Program, with initial funding support from the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA).  CAP is the only community health center-based domestic violence service partnership in the country.