About NHP's Domestic Violence Program

The NHP Domestic Violence Initiative began in 2006, in response to the growing need for a healthcare-based, system-wide response to domestic violence.

Increasing evidence points to the relevance of addressing DV in the health care setting, not only due to the many associated health impacts on victims, but also given the DV identification and prevention efforts being incorporated in many health centers, hospitals, and private practices.

As a managed care organization, NHP is in a critical position to address the intersection of health care and partner abuse. To this end, NHP has implemented a multi-year, multi-level DV program that seeks to strengthen internal awareness and resources, create community collaborations, gather data on community needs, and implement best practices. The NHP DV Initiative established both an Advisory Board and an internal Task Force.

Advisory Board

The NHP Domestic Violence Advisory Board (DVAB) was chartered to assist with the development, expansion, and enhancement of domestic violence programming and resources at local Community Health Centers.  The Board is comprised of community leaders chosen for their expertise and NHP staff.

The DVAB members are responsible for:

• Providing feedback and direction for internal and external initiatives.

• Ensuring that NHP's commitment to improving the health and well-being of members and the community at large is fully represented at all levels of programming and intervention.

Domestic Violence Advisory Board members include:

• Carla Bettano, Vice President of Business Development, NHP
• Ramona Bourguignon, Director of Provider Relations, NHP
• Sue Chandler, MPH, MSW, Executive Director of DOVE, Inc.
• Matthew Collins, M.D., Medical Director, NHP
• Bernadette Di Re, Senior Director of Sales & Membership (chair), NHP
• Leah Gallivan, MSW, MS, COO of Edward M. Kennedy Health Center
• Anne Gillespie, JD, Family Law Attorney
• Annie Lewis-O'Connor, Ph.D., MPH, APRN, Director of Nursing Practice, Center for Women and Newborns, Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Sara Nechasek, Senior Project Manager (program manager), NHP
• Keisha Ormond, Program Coordinator, Community Advocacy Program CCHERS, Inc.
• Joan Pernice, RNC, MS, Clinical Health Affairs Director, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

Task Force

The internal NHP Domestic Violence Task Force (with representation from various NHP departments) seeks to:

• Provide information on Domestic Violence to other NHP employees and guide employees to community resources.
• Increase employee awareness and encourage education about Domestic Violence related issues.
• Promote volunteerism through our partner Domestic Violence service organizations.
• Collaborate with Human Resources on efforts to support employees with Domestic Violence resources.

Questions or Feedback?

For questions or feedback about NHP's Domestic Violence Initiative, please contact Sara Nechasek at sara_nechasek@nhp.org. Please note that this is not an emergency contact. If you need assistance or resources , you can call the Massachusetts domestic violence hotline Safelink at 1-877-785-2020, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger please dial 911.