Hope

Safety planning can provide an immeasurable amount of hope for survivors in an abusive situation and I am proud of all the support we can offer them.

When speaking with clients, I get to know them and develop a deeper understanding of their specific needs. Every client’s situation is different, and flexibility and adaptability on our part is key. Some survivors I work with have fears of their assailant picking their children up of from school without their knowing, concerns that their abuser is tracking their phones and monitoring their technology, or worries that their home is no longer a safe place to stay. We work with survivors to figure out what we need to do to help them establish a sense of safety.

My clients often ask me what is available to legally protect them. I help them understand their rights, such as the difference between a no-contact bond condition and a PPO (personal protective order) and we work together to figure out what is best for them.

If they are very concerned about their immediate safety, we often talk about what coming into shelter looks like. Survivors tend to ask if their children and pets can come with them into shelter. They are often worried about their kids and how coming into shelter will feel, and if their kids can stay in the same school. They also tend to want to know what support looks like while they are living in shelter – from how physically safe the shelter is to if there is therapy available. I am so grateful that I can confidently respond, " yes," to all of these questions.

Being able to offer safe shelter that is comfortable and realistic for their needs adds an immeasurable amount of hope and helps them see a pathway out of danger and feel grounded in the fact that they are not alone. I have had so many clients share that the first night after they arrive in shelter is also one of the first nights that they have had a restful night’s sleep in years. The relief that they share is palpable. I feel proud of our work when we can customize our services to each individual' s needs. To me, this is huge. It is everything when it comes to empowering survivors.

-Maureen Barney-McGuire