Domestic Violence Training Held for Students at Assabet Regional Technical High School

MARLBOROUGH – Today, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan spoke to more than 60 cosmetology and health assisting students, faculty and school administrators at Assabet Regional Technical High School in Marlborough as part of the Cut It Out Middlesex program.

Participants in the training learned how to spot signs of domestic violence and how to safely refer clients to local community service providers. This training is part of the public-private partnership started by District Attorney Ryan in 2009 to bring the national domestic violence prevention program Cut It Out to high school vocational programs, professional training academies and private salons across Middlesex County. The program also introduces and aligns participants with domestic violence service agencies, as well as specialized domestic violence officers from local police departments.

Following the program students provided salon services and free lunch to local survivors of domestic violence.

In an effort to expand Cut It Out training across the Commonwealth, District Attorney Ryan has partnered with State Representative Christine Barber to spearhead legislation that would require licensed aestheticians, barbers, cosmetologists, electrologists, hairdressers, manicurists, and massage therapists to complete one hour of domestic violence and sexual assault awareness training upon receiving or renewing their license to practice.

Domestic violence is a major public safety and public health issue. The World Health Organization estimates that one in three women experience sexual or physical violence. This new bill recognizes the value of expanding education about domestic violence and sexual assault in a community setting. Under the new bill licensed practitioners would be protected from any criminal or civil liability.

Cut It Out Middlesex started at local vocational and technical high school training programs to create awareness around the issue of domestic violence at the earliest stage of students’ professional development. The Cut It Out program was conceived and first implemented in 2002 in Alabama and has become the national program of the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund, which is dedicated to mobilizing salon professionals and others to recognize signs of abuse and to fight the epidemic of domestic violence in communities across the United States. To date, District Attorney Ryan has trained over 2,000 individuals through the Cut It Out Program.