Economic Empowerment
Economic Empowerment Program Information
Financial power and control is a major aspect of the domestic violence dynamic. In 2017, Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. enhanced our Economic Empowerment Program (EEP), The Road to Personal Success. This program is funded in part by Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV), grants and donations. Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. has incorporated the Economic Empowerment Program to support, encourage and empower survivors of domestic violence to achieve personal success and independence through education, literacy and vocational training. We are collaborating with various community agencies regarding employment, ESOL, and GED services. The goal of the EEP is to empower all survivors through direct referrals and partnerships with valuable resources within the community as well as provide continued guidance and support through consistent advocacy. 
A main aspect of our Economic Empowerment Program is to provide Financial Literacy groups and services as well as preliminary employment assistance. Financial group topics include information about financial abuse, financial goals, budgeting, credit management, and savings. It is so important that our participants learn about finances and money management in order to successfully provide for their households and maintain financial independence.
“Financial abuse, while less commonly understood, is one of the most powerful methods of keeping a survivor trapped in an abusive relationship and deeply diminishes her ability to stay safe after leaving an abusive relationship. Research indicates that financial abuse is experienced in 98% of abusive relationships and surveys of survivors reflect that concerns over their ability to provide financially for themselves and their children was one of the top reason for staying in or returning to a battering relationship. As with all forms of abuse, it occurs across all socio-economic, educational and racial and ethnic groups.” – National Network to End Domestic Violence (www.NNEDV.org 9/28/2017)
As you know, Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. (ACT) has served our community for four decades. The mission of ACT is to protect, support, educate and empower victims of domestic violence and their children, survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking in Lee, Hendry and Glades counties. ACT continues to provide emergency safe shelter, a 24-hour crisis hotline, individual counseling, support groups, advocacy, rape crisis center, outreach counseling, batterer’s intervention groups, children’s program, community and professional education and awareness and information and referrals to those seeking assistance in other matters. All victim services are offered free of charge. The Economic Empowerment Program is an enhancement to our already vast array of program services. We are excited to grow the Economic Empowerment Program within our community. This program is offered free of charge.
Community Collaboration
In order for the Economic Empowerment Program to flourish we recognize that community collaborations are imperative. The proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” can be applied to our thought process in regards to empowering our participants through interagency collaboration in order to facilitate participant success. We are excited to currently partner with Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Allstate Foundation and local community agencies including Dress for Success SW Florida, School District of Lee County, The Foundation for Lee County Schools, Literacy Council Gulf Coast, Goodwill Industries of SW FL, Edison National Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Florida Community Bank, Second ACT Thrift Store and CareerSource SW FL. If you are interested in obtaining additional information, please contact Shelly at smossey@actabuse.com.
Help Fund the Road to Financial Success! Donate today!
The National Network to End Domestic Violence states that financial abuse is experienced in 98% of abusive relationships and that the ability of the survivor to provide financially for themselves and their children was one of the top reasons for staying in the abusive relationship. One of our financial goals is to aid survivors in receiving micro-loans and matched savings plans. A matched savings plan provides low-income individuals an incentive to save money. These financial resources would fund short-term or long-term goals. A matched-savings plan would encourage participants to save money in order to purchase assets such as beds or even a vehicle to easily access employment. This goal could be accomplished with your financial support! If you would like to donate funds towards a matched savings account for a domestic violence survivor, please contact Shelly at smossey@actabuse.com
or www.actabuse.com/giving.
Economic Abuse Power and Control Wheel
This site is owned and maintained by Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc., a non-profit agency funded in part by United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, Lee County, Florida Department of Children and Families, Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, City of Cape Coral, Office of the Attorney General, The Bobby Nichols - Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation, fundraising and donations from the community.
