Grace Coleman, Director of Crisis Center North, shares her unique background growing up in a small Irish-American village and her transition to combating domestic violence. The center serves over 2,500 clients annually, providing critical services including emergency shelter and long-term counseling. Grace highlights their unique housing program for victims and their pets, and their innovative use of new technologies. She highlights the importance of financial abuse awareness and offers financial literacy workshops and a micro-loan program. Grace discusses the center's funding and the need for creative fundraising events to support continuing programs. as well as state, federal and foundation efforts. She introduces and shares the success of the PAWS for Empowerment program, which started as a single shelter dog named Penny and expanded to include more animal advocates to support victims, making the courtroom process more compassionate and humane for the survivors.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Grace introduces her current role with Crisis Center North in Pittsburgh.
2. She shares her origins from a small Irish-American village in Pennsylvania.
3. Grace recounts her transition from teaching to working at Crisis Center North, where she has been for 26 years.
4. She recounts the importance of her father's very diverse veterinary career and the lack of social work services in her childhood community, leaving her father to often provide critical crisis managment to the community.
5. Grace provides and overview and Crisis Center North's history, starting with its founding mother and her husband Paul, who provided pro-bono services to domestic violence victims.
6. She highlights the services provided by Crisis Center North, including hot line and text line services crucial for providing immediate support for victims.
7. Grace addresses the prevalence of financial abuse in domestic violence cases and the challenges victims faces when needing legal support.
8. Grace introduces the PAWS for Empowerment program, which started as a single shelter dog named Penny and has expanded to included various animal interventions.
9. She highlights the PAW's program's success and role in making the courtroom process more compassionate and humane.
10. She shares details of the center's fundraising efforts to ensure the center's sustainability and ability to provide comprehensive services.
11. Grace reflects on the personal fulfillment she finds in her work and the importance of integrating her passions into her career.

LINKS:

Crisis Center North Web Site

PAWS for Empowerment Program

www.financialabusehelp.net

Mr. Jay, relationship coach and betrayal trauma practitioner, discusses his background and shares his approach to dealing with betrayal trauma during the holidays. He details his personal experiences of growing up with financial instability and the impact of his parents' behaviors on his relationship with money. Mr. Jay emphasizes the importance of self-forgiveness and healing before making major decisions post-betrayal. He advises setting boundaries, practicing grounding techniques, and maintaining self care. He also talks in depth about keeping a holiday journal and focusing on creating meaningful memories instead of material gifts. Mr. Jay also discusses his upcoming plans for '26 and the launching of a betrayal trauma course for a local university.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Mr. Jay, relationship coach, educator and public speaker, highlights his background as a native of New York State and his enjoyment of his home town area.
2. He reflects on his childhood, describing his parents' financial irresponsibility and the impact it had on his family, including frequent moves due to financial instability.
3. Mr. Jay details his mother's overspending combined with his father's strict upbringing, which taught him the importance of earning what he wanted, even at a young age.
4. He shares personal anecdotes about his struggles, including having to collect cans for bus money to attend college without parental financial assistance, and reflects on
5. Mr. Jay explains the difference between stress and trauma, emphasizing that trauma overwhelms coping mechanisms.
6. He defines betrayal trauma as trauma caused by a primary attachment figure, such as a parent or a spouse, and discusses the unique challenges of healing betrayal trauma.
7. Mr. Jay advises listeners to set boundaries and not attend events that cause stress, emphasizing the importance of self care during the holidays.
8. He suggests several mental techniques to cope with triggering events and comments from holiday family members: keeping a holiday journal to manage thoughts and emotions, imagining oneself as a super hero, and engaging in activities that feed the soul.
9. Mr. Jay emphasizes the importance of self forgiveness and treating past traumas in order to heal the present.
10. He details suggestions for setting boundaries with family members during the holidays and the challenges of receiving support from family when disclosing relationship issues.
11. Mr. Jay shares his approach to New Year's resolutions, focusing on personal growth and self-improvement.

LINKS:

Mr. Jay Relationship Coach Web Site

www.financialabusehelp.net

Ana Jimenez, Case Manager and Advocate with Family Resource Center in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, discusses the growth of domestic abuse resources throughout the island communities and how resources are provided for victims and survivors of abuse. The center, serving St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix and Water Islands, has been operational for nearly 40 years. It provides shelter, counseling and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking and elder abuse. The center also addresses financial abuse, a critical issue often overlooked. Ana explains how Family Resource Center raises awareness as well as critical funds to support Virgin Island communities in preventing domestic abuse as well as providing urgent resources for victims and survivors of domestic violence. Ana emphasizes the importance of community education and support for all of Virgin Island's many communities.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Ana shares that she is in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and provides a brief overview of the islands, including St. Croix and St. John.
2. Ana discusses her transition from law enforcement to counseling, including her education at University of Virgin Islands and Liberty University.
3. Ana explains her envolvement with the Family Resource Center, which started as a vision to protect women and children.
4. She highlights the center's services, including counseling, shelter and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking, elder abuse and various violent crimes.
5. Ana explains the center's efforts to educate the community through outreach specialists who speak at schools, churches and businesses.
6. She elaborates on the concept of financial abuse as a form of domestic violence, emphasizing that it often goes unrecognized.
7. Ana provides details about the center's shelter services, which are available to women and children.
8. She highlights the need for food drives, fundraising events, and other community support to sustain the center's services.
9. Ana explains the center's involvement in various fundraising events, including Pets with Wings, and the importance of these events in raising awareness and funds for the center's operations.
10. Ana highlights the Peacemaker Gala, a formal event with a focus on domestic violence awareness.
11. She describes the center's involvement in conducting workshops to train police recruits and workplaces employees.
12. Ana provides advise for victims who have not taken their first step to leave an abusive relationship, and offers her final thoughts on how survivors of abuse can look forward to a bright and hopeful future.

LINKS:

Family Resource Center Web Site:

Virgin Island Cities with Domestic Violence Programs:

www.financialabusehelp.net

Today's guest, Meghan Scanlon, President and CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, discusses her journey from Virginia to Connecticut, her involvement with social justice at an early age, and her career in advocacy. She highlights the CCADV's role in supporting 18 member organizations, providing advocacy, outreach and education, and running the statewide Domestic Violence Resource Hotline, CT Safe Connect. Meghan details the challenges of fundraising, particularly the impact of federal funding cuts, and the importance of private fundraising. She shares her admiration for specific women mentors who have and continue to inspire her passion for advocacy on women's issues.

LINK:

Connect Coalition Against Domestic Violence

www.financialabusehelp.net

Claire Holcombe, a domestic abuse advocate from the UK, recounts her journey from wanting to be an English teacher to working with homeless and abused women. She details Women's Aid Luton's 50-year history, including its founding by feminist activists and a secret visit from Princess Diana. The organization provides refuges, a helpline and support for children. Claire emphsizes the challenges of financial abuse, the impact of cultural differences and the need for better funding and resources. She also shares initiatives like fundraising campaigns and community support to enhance services for women and children escaping abuse.

Kathy McAtee Young, a trauma-trained certified mental health coach, discusses her path from a survivor of an abusive marriage to a a trauma-informed coach and educator for survivors and victims of domestic violence. She emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma, particularly the nervous system's response, and the need for somatic techniques in healing, Kathy highlights the significance of educating oneself about abuse, recognizing symptoms like blame-shifting and gas lighting, and creating safetly plans. She also stresses of the role of faith-based communities in addressing trauma and abuse, advocating for trauma-informed reponses and resources. Kathy's mission is to provide survivors with the tools and support they need to heal and regain control of their lives.

LINKS:

https://www.kathymcateeyoung.com/

Kathy McAtee Young Email

www.financialabusehelp.net

Joe Dillon, divorce mediator and co-founder of Equitable Mediation, discusses his background and the benefits of mediation over a litigated divorce. He contrasts the aggressive, financially draining nature of litigated divorces with the cost effective, cooperative approach of mediation, which he has practiced for over two decades. Joe emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and transparency, highlighting common issues like hidden debt and financial abuse. He mentions his online courses on divorce mediation, which aim to educate clients on divorce preperation, negotiation tactics and emotional aspects. Dillon's approach, which includes collaboration with his partner and wife, a divorce coach, aims to help clients reach agreements efficiently and minimalize emotional and financial strain.

KEY LINKS:

Equitable Mediation Web Site

Equitable Mediation Divorce Coaching

www.financialabusehelp.net

Joy Ingram, CEO and Founder of Love & Joy, discusses her journey from Georgia to Virginia, where she began advocacy work for domestic violence survivors. She highlights her roles at New Directions and RAFT, emphasizing the importance of supporting advocates to prevent burnout. Joy also shares her personal experience as a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, which fueled her passion for advocacy. She notes that over 60% of advocates in the field of domestic abuse are survivors themselves and need consistent self-care and systematic changes within non-profit organizations. Joy plans to expand her Love & Joy consulting and workshop services to help and support more agencies and advocate organizations.

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KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Joy shares her background, born in Hawaii and raised in Rome, Georgia, before moving to Atlanta.
2. She explains her move to Staunton, Virginia, through an early college entrance exam.
3. Joy recounts her midlife crisis in 2016, which led her to make a connnection with a woman at her church and who adopted her into her family.
4. Joy discusses her passion for helping survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, which began with her own experience.
5. Joy begins volunteering at a rape crisis center in Decatur, Georgia, and later at a crisis center in Atlanta.
6. She explains the New Beginnings organization and their programs and services.
7. Joy discusses the RAFT (Resilience for Advocates Through Foundational Training) and its mission to support advocates working in the domestic abuse fields.
8. She highlights the unique stresses faced by advocates, such as vicarious trauma from dealing with survivor issues throughout each working day.
9. Joy shares statistics that 61% of all advocates in the domestic abuse field are survivors of abuse themselves.
10. She discusses the importance of collaboration and communication between domestic violence agencies, sparking her idea to form her own consulting firm.
11. Joy explains her Love and Joy company and its place in supporting advocates in domestic abuse agencies, including workshops to prevent job burnout and promote self care.
12. She offers advice to survivors still in an abusive relationship as well as how to receive support after the end of the abusive partnership.

LINKS:

Love and Joy Facebook Page

RAFT (Resilience for Advocates Through Foundational Training)

www.financialabusehelp.net