HomeMy WebLinkAboutCADASI_Survivor StoriesPlease see below survivor success stories from each of our core programs.
Empowerment (client quote)
“Almost two years divorced now from my abuser, I want to thank your center for all the love and
support you gave to me when I didn’t have a voice. I wanted to say how grateful I am for your center
and what your staff do to help women like me every day. I want to share with you all my hard self-work
these last almost two years. It’s been a lot of self-reflec&on, my new beginning. It’s been wonderful
stepping out of the darkness and into the light. Every day I wear my color purple as a survivor - no longer
a vic&m - to abuse. Thank you for being my advocate.”
- Empowerment Client
Shelter (as told by our Shelter Family Advocate)
“We had a young mom in shelter who was here for the fourth &me with her two li-le girls. The first &me
she stayed two nights, the second and third &me a week each, and this &me she was here for two and a
half months. Each &me they returned to shelter, she and her children came out of their shells a bit more.
This most recent &me in shelter has made all the difference. Her children went from being quiet,
withdrawn, and scared to laughing and playing and just being silly kids. She applied for and got into a
transi&onal housing program through ADVOCAP. The fact that she knew she could come back mul&ple
&mes and services are here for her no ma-er what is the message we want clients to know and
understand. We strive to make Chris&ne Ann a judgement-free zone that fosters healing and growth.
Mom has a good job and is taking a few classes at UWO. They have their own apartment, close to UWO
and grandparents who help with childcare. It has been a privilege to watch this family grow and move
forward to the next chapter in their journey."
Youth (as told by our Youth & Preven&on Advocate)
“I've been mee&ng with a young girl who fled Florida with her mom last spring. She had led a life of
uncertainty and abuse in her home. She moved a lot and never a-ended school.
In her safe home here, she started a-ending school and quickly learned to read and catch up with other
students. Last week, I read her The Day my Daddy Lost his Temper by Dr. Carol S McCleary. In the story,
a young girl narrates about her family, the abuse they keep secret, the day her dad le=, her processing
and feelings about the abuse, and her complex feelings toward her dad. The story contained illustra&ons
meant to look like a young girl's drawings in her notebook. These drawings and the story really intrigued
my client, as she felt like she related to the narrator.
This week, my client came to our appointment with a folder. In this folder, was drawings and words like
the story, but she made these about her story. She talked about her sad feelings and confusion. She
talked about how her dad would yell and was mean to her and her mom. I was completely blown away
by her ability to process and express her experience in this way!
My client found a way to cope with her experiences by channeling it into story telling. I am so proud of
her for her courage to tell her story and to face it for what it is. She has shown so much growth and
understanding about what happened to them, how they did not deserve it, and that she can s&ll love
her dad, just not love his choices.”