Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Opens in New Jersey Middle School

In a recent press release, it was announced that the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation opened their first Margaret's Place at the Jose Marti Middle School, in New Jersey. Margaret's Place is designed to be a 'safe house' for middle school students who are struggling with domestic violence issues in their homes.

This program will allow students to meet with counselors who are professionally trained in domestic violence intervention and prevention. More than 500 students will have access to this program if they need it.

"I am very proud to help bring Margaret's Place to New Jersey. We need to do all we can to raise funds and awareness to help end this vicious cycle. I especially want to thank the Verizon Foundation for their support in this initiative. We hope that other corporations follow in their lead," said Joe Torre.

Torre was once the manager of the New York Yankees and is founder and chairman of the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation. He was raised in a home full of domestic violence. He witnessed the way domestic violence can impact children. Torres father was abusive to his mother. Torre and his wife, Ali, founded the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation in 2002.

Named after his mother, Margaret's Place will have a full-time counselor, or a social worker, on staff that is specifically trained to deal with the ramifications of domestic violence. Among other things, they will provide:

-Group and individual counseling
-Prevention workshops
-Peer leadership programs
-Staff, family, parent, and community workshops on youth violence

Using materials developed by Safe Horizon. Safe Horizon is a national group whose goal is to help those affected by crime and violence. They are working to help prevent violence and provide support and justice for people who are victims of crime, their families, and their communities.

This is the first Margaret's Place that has opened outside of New York. They hope to have additional rooms in other schools in New Jersey in the future.