Jacquelin Apsler, DVSN Director, Receives Rotary District 7910’s First “Champions of Peace” Award

Submitted by the Domestic Violence Service Network

Jacquelin Apsler, Executive Director of Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) was awarded Rotary District 7910’s first “Champions of Peace” award in early December 2017. The award “recognizes an individual or organization with a history of embracing tolerance, promoting compromise, and achieving the peaceful resolution of differences.  Recipients contribute to the furtherance of peace and understanding here in Massachusetts and throughout the world.”  Rotary District 7910, comprised of 51 Clubs, modeled this award after Rotary International’s annual Peace Award.

DVSN, founded in 1998 by the Concord and Acton police chiefs, is a community-based organization, dedicated to providing domestic violence services to meet the diverse needs of victims in the central Middlesex region. Its mission is to build safer communities through the coordination of education, prevention, and intervention programs, and promote greater awareness and understanding of the many facets of domestic violence through innovative initiatives.

In October 2016, Apsler received the “Forty for Forty” Award, as one of 40 people recognized on the 40^th anniversary of Metro West Legal Services for advocacy efforts to provide hope and justice for children, the elderly, victims of domestic violence, and poverty level clients living in Metro West communities.  In January 2014, the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce honored her with their “Outstanding Leadership by a Non-Profit Director Award”.   In December 2011, for her exemplary service to the people of Middlesex County and for her dedication to combating domestic violence, the Middlesex District Attorney awarded Apsler with The Paul R. McLaughlin Community Activist Award.

Apsler has led DVSN since 2005 in promoting awareness, understanding, and support for victims of domestic violence.  Ninety percent of DVSN’s clients reside in one of its 13 partner communities: Acton, Boxborough, Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Maynard, Lexington, Lincoln, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston, and Hanscom Air Force Base, all of which are in the Rotary District 7910 service area. DVSN has averaged approximately 1200 referrals or requests for service annually for the past four years. Several Rotary clubs have done service projects to benefit DVSN.  Apsler is a member of the Rotary Club of Bedford where she serves as this year’s President.

Under Apsler’s leadership, DVSN has expanded its programs and services from its original Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program to include a Court Support Program, an Emerson Hospital Program, a Community Dinners Program, a Central Middlesex Assessment for Safety Team, Central Middlesex Alliance for Resilience Training, a Lawyer for a Day Program, and RESIST Self-Defense Training.  DVSN provides 52-hour training sessions for volunteer advocates twice a year. Volunteer advocates, who provide follow-up intervention by phone with victims, are housed at the Bedford Police Department.  Advocates also work with victims in person at the Concord District Courthouse and Emerson Hospital.

If you or someone you know is in a relationship affected by domestic violence, please seek help. Local resources available are the DVSN Confidential Helpline, local police departments, and clergy. Help is also available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) For more information about DVSN, please call 978-318-3421 or email [email protected]. To speak with an advocate, call DVSN’s toll-free, confidential Help Line at 888-399-6111.