Acknowledging that you’re in an abusive relationship is never easy. When you have three children to raise all you want is to create a positive and safe environment for them. Though I was having difficulty coming to terms with the relationship with my husband, I decided to seek help and remained in treatment close to a year. In that time I engaged my children in counseling, attended parenting classes and left my relationship. I made great strides and became much stronger mentally, but still struggled to provide a sustainable income for my children. I worked with Project RENEW (Recognizing the Need to Empower Women) financial case manager and shortly after was discharged from services due to my completion of the DV counseling treatment plan.

My abuser continued to manipulate and control me through my children and finances. A few months later I had asked to return to the program because I realized that going back to school and obtaining a job was crucial for my family to have a better life. While I was in school, I had found internal strength to set boundaries between my now ex-husband and me, and no longer allowed him to control the situation with my children. I filed and obtained child support, completed a degree program and was able to find employment.

Words cannot describe how grateful I am with the help and encouragement I received from the agency and the staff. I admit that I was scared, confused, overwhelmed and even stubborn at times about facing my reality; the support of the staff really influenced me to make the needed significant changes in my life. It brings a smile to my face knowing how far I have come, and that I did what was best for myself and my children.