Sharon never imagined she would need help from The Center for Women and Families, but she’d heard about The Center’s services when a Community Educator gave a presentation at her office. Later, her live-in partner began abusing her and she looked up the 24 hour crisis line with some trepidation. “It’s hard to imagine someone you care about would want to hurt you like that,” she says.

Our dedicated Crisis Counselors and Family Advocates helped Sharon rebuild her life many months ago, and today she is a thriving client of our Economic Success Services. She meets regularly with her Economic Success Counselor to overcome challenges–like poor credit, rental and employment histories–caused by the abuse she endured.

Sharon knows her strengths, anticipates barriers and has developed strategies to avoid economic hardship in the future. She recently received a scholarship from Allstate to help pay her tuition to a local college, where she’s studying to become an elementary school teacher.

When she’s not in class or taking care of her little boy, Sharon volunteers at several organizations to “give back to the community that’s given so much to [her].”