When Mother's Day comes many of us will celebrate the day
gladly. Formany of us, mother stands for love, comfort, and
encouragement. It also stands for strength and courage - things
one mother I recently met showed when her family most needed her.
Violet is her name, and she came to us with a shocking story.
Violet's daughters told her that her husband, their stepfather,
had sexually assaulted them. It is hard to believe your own spouse
could hurt your children, but Violet believed her daughters, and she
reported the abuse to child protective services. The agency
investigated her claim but did not find evidence of abuse; however,
they gave Violet Safe Horizon's hotline number just in case.
It was not long afterward when Violet called our hotlines. She called
and told us that her husband had takenher oldest daughter to
work with him, where he molested her and then offered her drugs and
alcohol in exchange for sex. Our staff called child protective
services on Violet's behalf. The second time, child protective
services called the police, and the police investigated. They found
enough evidence to arrest Violet's husband.
Violet should have felt relieved when her husband went to jail, but
her troubles were only beginning. While in jail, Violet's
husband called and threatened her. His family then came by
Violet's home to harass her and her children. For having the
courage to stand up to her husband's abuse, Violet's life
and the lives of her children were now in danger. She called our
hotlines once more, frightened and desperate to find safety for her
family.
Our hotlines staff can do more than listen when someone facing crisis
calls. With the support of Safe Horizon's domestic violence,
rape and sexual assault, and crime services, our hotlines are a
gateway to the real support that mothers like Violet need to keep
their families safe.
Violet's bravery deserved encouragement - not
intimidation. Our trained staff was there to provide it, as we
listened to Violet and her fears for herself and her children. We
worked with her so she could find an immediate and safe way to escape
her husband and his family. We helped her create a safety plan,
listing family members she could trust and other sources. We then gave
Violet other options - including going to a domestic violence
shelter. Knowing that she and her children could go to a shelter,
Violet asked if we could help her find one for her family.
Safe Horizon's program staff stepped in to give Violet more
support. We made several calls until we found a shelter for her and
her daughters, and then we helped arranged transportation to the
shelter for them. Safe Horizon also helped Violet get counseling
referrals, which she and her daughters would need to deal with the
emotional and psychological trauma caused by their ordeal. Then, in
addition to finding shelter and counseling services for Violet, we
helped her file an order of protection against her husband.
It took only 36 hours from the time Violet called us for help for her
to escape the crisis in her home and into the safe haven of a shelter.
Violet's brave decision had earned her the protection she
deserved from violence and abuse.
Yet these things are only possible when we have your support...
Sadly, many mothers like Violet are spending this Mothers' Day
facing terrible situations. They must summon all the courage and
strength they have to protect themselves and their children from
abuse. Like Violet, these families are frightened and desperate,
seeking help and hope to get through danger.
Safe Horizon gives families that help and hope, through services such
as our 24-hour toll-free hotlines, our domestic violence shelters for
safe refuge, and our court and community programs where staff meets
with families to find them legal and other support.
We need your help to continue to offer these services! Because of the
care and concern our supporters show for families facing difficult
times, Safe Horizon can keep our telephone lines and our doors open
when families need us the most.
Please help Safe Horizon provide the safety and services families in
crisis so urgently need this Mother's Day.
Families like Violet's should spend Mothers' Day in
celebration, not in fear for their lives. With your help today, we can
change this. Support Safe Horizon and give the greatest gift any
mother could want: a safe and happy Mothers' Day, free from
violence and abuse.
Sincerely,
Ariel Zwang
CEO
http://getinvolved.safehorizon.org/site/R?i=wvgOhIhfl7Q4vlpfDR-hSA..
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