Page 9 - 2018 Impact Report The Shelter for Abused Women and Children
P. 9

OUTREACH SERVICES


                                                                           Ester first learned about The Shelter’s services during a
                                                                           community education class at her nursing school. Three
                                                                           months later, she called The Shelter’s Crisis Hotline
                                                                           seeking help for herself.
                                                                           Beaten down physically, emotionally and financially,
                                                                           Ester shared the pain and suffering of her 17-year
                                                                           abusive marriage. She showed a picture of herself
                                                                           before marriage and remarked with sadness how her
                                                                           face had become permanently damaged.
                                                                           The impact of her husband’s violence left Ester convinced
                                                                           she would never escape. She had no financial support,
                                                                           no daycare and no place to live long term.

                                                                           Through The Shelter’s Haitian Initiative, Ester took part in
                                                                           the Creole Support Group, where she was empowered
                                                                           to take matters into her own hands. She created an
                                                                           escape plan and, with the help of a local attorney,
                                                                           moved forward with a divorce. She returned to school,
                                                                           completed her nursing degree and is creating a new life
                                                                           for herself and her children.

                                                                           Ester is a role model and mentor to other members of
                                                                           her support group. She is living proof that there’s no
                                                                           stopping the success of an empowered woman once the
                                                                           barriers of violence and abuse have been lifted!


                                                                                   Esther












              Advocates assisted survivors of all ages to create 20,693 safety plans                20,693
                     individually designed to meet their unique needs and situations.


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