"The Safety Net" Spotlights Domestic Violence and Support

Domestic violence is a problem that exists nearly everywhere, and Brookline is no exception. The cable access television program The Safety Net is an hour-long panel show that features various local agencies that provide services in domestic violence, among other public health concerns, such as veteran issues, and animal abuse. Stephen Bressler, the former director of the Town of Brookline’s Department of Human Relations/Youth Resources, hosts The Safety Net. Bressler came out of his 2013 retirement to film four new shows this year.

The Safety Net first began in 1996 as an extension of the Brookline Domestic Violence Roundtable, a committee that hosts monthly meetings to educate the public on domestic violence prevention and control activities. Viewers can find the program on YouTube and the Brookline Interactive Group’s website.

Despite its reputation as a safe community, Brookline is not immune to this social epidemic. According to Doreen Gallagher, domestic violence and sexual assault advocate and the violence prevention coordinator at the Brookline Police Department, there were 106 cases of domestic violence reported in the town in 2018 and 75 cases reported so far in 2019. “Every community should be aware of the warning signs of any case of domestic violence — whether it’s physical, sexual, or emotional — and be aware of the resources in the community to help,” says Gallagher.

The show shines a light on several agencies and resources accessible to the Brookline community. One episode featured representatives from Journey to Safety, the Jewish Family and Children Service’s domestic violence unit. “In the Jewish community, there’s a belief that this isn’t a problem, but it’s definitely there,” Bressler says. “Jewish victims of domestic violence also have special needs, such as finding shelters that offer kosher food and can accommodate a large number of children.” Bressler hopes that the information featured on The Safety Net can reach everyone. “We know abuse exists in all cultures, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds,” he says. “It involves poor people and very affluent people. There’s an awful lot to cover.”

Other guests of The Safety Net have included representatives from the Waltham-based REACH Beyond Domestic Violence and the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commissions Sexual Response Unit. Bressler has also filmed a show with Pat Norling, who founded the Jennifer Lynch Committee Against Domestic Violence in honor of her daughter, who was murdered by her abusive husband in 2006. This organization is active at Brookline High School, working to educate students on teen dating violence.

The Safety Net is still a work in progress. Bressler hopes for the opportunity to cover other issues such as social media and cyber-bullying. “The cyberbully in charge has set an evil tone in this country,” Bressler says. “In Massachusetts, two girls convinced their boyfriends to commit suicide. It’s a problem that concerns us.” Regardless of the topics The Safety Net features in the future, Bressler wants the show to make an impact. In 2013, that Brookline Police Department informed him of two different families that phoned the police department to thank them. They each had teenage daughters who were in relationships that came with warning signs of abuse, warning signs they had discovered from watching the show. “We possibly saved two lives,” he says. “The work involved in putting together this show is well worth the effort.”

By Alicia Landsberg

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