Family Crisis Services (FCS) has been offering support and resources to those affected by domestic violence in Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties of Maine since 1977. Our goal is to create a society in which domestic violence and all violence is unacceptable. FCS is working towards that goal by providing programs that focus on individual advocacy for battered women and their children, institutional change to assign responsibility for battering to the perpetrators and community education on the abuse of women.

In 1995 Lois Galgay Reckitt, Executive Director of FCS, wanted to strengthen Famly Crisis Services’ ability to work with and provide “community education on the abuse of women”. It is from this goal and vision that the Young Adult Abuse Prevention Program (YAAPP) was formed. The philosophy of YAAPP is that every person regardless of gender, class, race, sexual orientation, education, weight, age or any other difference should be treated equally and with respect. YAAPP believes domestic violence and dating violence occurs because our society does not recognize the inequities and violence towards women and minority groups as a national problem. If an individual’s violence and crimes against their partner are so vile and vicious, the community will condemn the actions, but does not work to discover why this violence happened and what can be done to stop it in the future.

The very first member of YAAPP was Courtney Gale. She worked to create a program that helps young adults recognize domestic and dating violence, why people believe dating violence is normal and how to support friends and family affected by domestic violence. Courtney created and wrote the Jake and Caroline play, which looks at a realistic relationship between two high school students. The play was performed in high school health classes and provided the audience an honest look at dating violence, the slow progression of abuse in a relationship, and how confusing, scary and dangerous it is to when a boyfriend uses power and control over his girlfriend. After the play, the YAAPP staff step out of character and talk with the class about what they witnessed and what they think about violence in relationships. Students learned a lot from the program and wanted to help stop dating violence in their schools and communities. Courtney was inspired by the students’ enthusiasm to form a peer educator group for students who wanted to part of the solution to ending domestic and dating violence. Courtney created a peer educator program for students from Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties to come together, learn more about the complicated reality of domestic violence and to share their knowledge with others.

YAAPP is still working to educate and end dating violence in our communities. YAAPP continues to work with youths in most of the high schools in Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties, and has done dating violence training for school administration and staff, local service providers, and many conferences and workshops.