Independence House is a member of the Cape Cod High Risk Task Force and in collaboration with the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office, all Barnstable County Police Departments, Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Transitional Assistance, and the Intimate Partner Abuse Education Program, respond to the needs of domestic violence at greatest risk of future serious physical harm or death.

• Download a High Risk Task Force Brochure for First Responders and Helping Professionals
• Download a High Risk Task Force Referral Form

Independence House is the appointed agency to work with victims of sexual violence while at the Barnstable County Jail and the Barnstable County Correctional Facility under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Independence House also offers psychoeducational groups to inmates on the effects of trauma as it relates to domestic and sexual violence.

Independence House represents the Cape and Islands Regional Domestic Violence Council on the Advisory Council. The Council, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, is responsible for providing advice concerning the human service needs of the residents of Barnstable County. A major purpose of the Advisory Council is to assist in identification of health and human service needs of Barnstable County in order to prioritize issues for action by County government.

Independence House provides domestic and sexual violence advocates and counselors on-site at the Falmouth Police Department.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Independence House are entered into a MOU with the object of providing off-campus alternatives for students and employees to receive sexual assault crisis services, including a sexual assault nurse examiner if available, or domestic violence crisis services in response to sexual harassment and sexual assault misconduct, and ensure that students or employees of the institution are able to access free and confidential counseling and advocacy services either on campus or off campus. The MOU additionally encourages cooperation and trainings between the two organizations.

Independence House, Inc. and Latinx in Action established a collaboration made possible through a culturally specific partnership funding award by the Family Violence Prevention Acts Fund for Rape Crisis Centers from the Department of Public Health, Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, Division of Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention and Services.   This collaboration will provide crisis intervention, individual and longer-term counseling for Black sexual assault survivors and immigrant survivors who speak Portuguese or Spanish as a first language. Independence House-Latinx in Action Services take place at the Latinx in Action building , 116 Stevens Street, Hyannis (across the parking lot of the Hyannis Independence House office).

Independence House and Latham Centers is entered into a collaborative MOU for Rape Prevention and Education programming (RPE). The collaboration aims to decrease the rates of sexual violence for individuals with different disabilities. The target population selected is informed by compelling data which shows individuals with disabilities have less access to services, experience sexual violence at higher rates than individuals who do not have disabilities and face worse outcomes from sexual violence.

Through a collaboration between Independence House, the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office, and the Yarmouth Police Department, Cape Cod White Ribbon Day events have been presented for a decade.  Cape Cod White Ribbon Day events are presented and facilitated throughout the community with a focus on men coming together in solidarity and pledge to be part of the solution in ending violence against women and all gender based violence. These events take place annually each March and provide opportunities for men to participate in additional programming throughout the year.

Independence House is part of the collaboration comprised of business and educational professionals, local government, and community leaders that make up The MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board (CIWB) Youth Council. The collaborative council aims to provide all young adults with opportunities to become productive members of the community and envisions a community where all young adults are successful in school, work, and life.

Independence House has facilitated Creative Expressions workshops to promote and enhance physical, emotional, and mental health through use of creative and expressive art. The Cultural Center of Cape Cod’s partnership with Independence House also includes hosting and collaborating with other programs involving domestic and sexual violence, including Cape Cod White Ribbon Day events, film presentations, and Courageous Conversation meetings.

Outer Cape Community Solutions (OCCS) is a nonprofit consortium to advance a rural health planning network for the Outer-Cape region. Independence House is a community partner in the area of domestic and sexual violence and participates in the network’s goal to bring together key healthcare, government and community-based stakeholders to enhance relationships to better coordinate care and services and increase overall access to care in the region.

The Enough Abuse Campaign was created by Jetta Bernier, Executive Director of MassKids, a child advocacy organization.  The campaign was established on Cape Cod in 2012 by Independence House in partnership with the Community Network of Cape Cod. Today the campaign is co-facilitated with Independence House and the Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Coalition.  Together we organize, facilitate and plan workshops in this Cape Cod region.  Other members of the planning committee are represented by MASS Mentors, Yarmouth Police Dept., Family Resource Center, as well as community members.  The Campaign provides adults and communities with knowledge and skills needed to help end the silent epidemic of child sexual abuse.

Independence House was gifted the entire original Clothesline Project display and manages, maintains, and organizes displays of the Project throughout Cape Cod.  The Clothesline Project started on Cape Cod in 1990 to address the issue of violence against women, and is a vehicle for survivors affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating tee shirts.