BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has teamed up with the New England Patriots to provide a program for domestic violence and sexual assault prevention training. Healey announced on Dec. 7 that of the 98 high schools chosen to participate, Chicopee, Holyoke, Springfield, West Springfield, Westfield and South Hadley were selected.

The training comes as the first part of “Game Change: The Patriots Anti-Violence Partnership,” which is working to teach Massachusetts youth about healthy relationships.

Two representatives from each school will participate in a three-day course in January. The training will be conducted by Mentors in Violence Partnership (MVP), which is run by the Center for Sport in Society at Northeastern University.

Healey said the program is a chance to break the cycle.

“One in three young people has experienced physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse in a relationship. At the high school level we have a unique opportunity to disrupt that cycle,” Healey said in a press release from her office. “Thanks to the leadership and support of Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation, students in a diverse range of schools and communities will be empowered to play an active role in preventing violence.”

Springfield Superintendent Dan Warwick said the opportunity to partner in this program is a great one for Central High School.

"This is a wonderful opportunity and a great honor for Springfield Public Schools to have been included in this program. The staff and coaches and student athletes at Central High School will make great ambassadors,” Warwick said. “The topic of anti-violence is an important one we are grateful for this unique opportunity to leverage that message on a platform with The Patriots and Northeastern University through this partnership."  

West Springfield Superintendent Michael Richard echoed this, saying the school adjustment counselors and guidance staff at West Springfield High School were crucial in making this partnership possible.

“We’re super excited about this because we’ve been working to coordinate with the Attorney General’s office for years now on so many programs, whether it’s substance use and abuse, violence, impaired driving, all of those issues,” Richard said. “We’ve worked closely with that office to be recognized, in some ways, for that work and the persistence of placing the importance on the value of those issues that are so close to so many students. It was an awesome feeling. The hard work that was done predominately by people at the high school to bring the grant to us is extraordinary.”

Though Richard said they have not decided who will be attending the training on behalf of West Springfield, they are hoping to send one male and one female because domestic violence is not just a women’s issue.

With the prevalence of social media, Richard said it is easier now than ever for students to “engage in harmful behavior,” and the partnership with Healey’s office and the Patriots will be crucial in educating students how to address violence and abuse.

“We want to bring just general awareness. We certainly want to bring our students and community tools to address these issues when they’re known so we know what good decision making looks like and when you’re in a bad situation, how to remove yourself from it and in whom you can confide,” Richard said. “From the adult’s perspective, we can learn what resources can be shared to makes sure students get the help they need in a timely way.”

For more information about the Game Change program, visit www.mass.gov/ago/about-the-ago/ago-grants/game-change.html.