Offering comprehensive support for survivors of sexual violence across Central Massachusetts.

Pathways for Change, Inc. is one of only three standalone rape crisis centers in the Commonwealth, serving 47 towns and cities across Central Massachusetts, including Worcester. Pathways provides crucial support to those directly or indirectly impacted by sexual violence. They work with a range of cross-sector partners to support survivors at every stage of their healing journey, including within hospital emergency rooms in the aftermath of a sexual assault.

The Foundation provides operating and program funding to Pathways to help them train on-call advocates who can provide medical accompaniment to survivors, even if they are at a hospital that does not have an onsite Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.

These advocates are specially trained professionals who provide culturally and linguistically appropriate — and, crucially, timely — medical accompaniment and support. Pathways’ goal is to ensure that 100% of sexual violence survivors are supported by an advocate during a sexual assault forensic exam, recognizing the importance of preserving DNA evidence as a key tool for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes of sexual violence.

In Worcester County, four hospitals are part of a network that has Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners on-site and five hospitals are not. It can take up to five days to be seen by a SANE nurse for an exam.

Kim Dawkins, President & CEO of Pathways for Change, remarks that one of the most challenging aspects of the job is that sexual violence is a topic that people do not like to talk about. However, it is a pressing community issue. An estimated 16.5% of women and 7% of men in Massachusetts have experienced sexual violence in their lifetimes, and — due to the stigma and barriers to reporting — the real numbers are likely higher.

"The reality is that if we are doing our job well, the number of reports of sexual violence incidences may actually increase. Because when we talk about it, more survivors learn that they are not alone and feel empowered to come forward and ultimately get the support they need and deserve."

Supporting the Deaf Community

Pathways for Change’s Deaf Survivors Program has become a national model for rape crisis centers seeking to support individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This program addresses the unique needs of deaf survivors of sexual assault and abuse, offering culturally appropriate counseling and advocacy services.

Pathways also supports the Deaf community through community-building and education events, such as their “ASL Jeopardy” (pictured). Participants deepen their knowledge about sexual violence and the Deaf Survivors Program through a Jeopardy-style game, with topics like “Massachusetts’ Laws and Procedures” and “Healthy Relationships,” hosted in American Sign Language with interpretation.

Visit pathwaysforchange.help to learn more about Pathways. If you or a loved one needs support, call their 24-hour, free and confidential hotline at 800-870-5905.

Pathways for Change also offers an ASL Video Phone hotline at 508-502-7681.

This story was originally published in our 2023 Annual Report.