Surviving Domestic Violence: Jane’s Story of Teen Survival

During the summer, Doorways received a hotline from a young mother in crisis. The hotline advocate quickly made sure the caller was safe. Once safety was established, Jane began to describe the intimidation, threats and sexual assaults she had endured from her live-in partner. Jane also explained to the hotline advocate that she had a six-year-old daughter, Julia, and was into her third trimester of pregnancy. Once an eligibility assessment was conducted, travel was arranged, and the young family arrived at Doorways’ Domestic Violence Safehouse.

Jane was busy her first few days at the Safehouse with meetings with the Client Services Coordinator, Financial Educator and Children’s Services Coordinator. In her meeting with the Client Services Coordinator, Jane shared more about her personal situation. She became pregnant with her first child when she was in the 7th grade. Though her family had been moderately supportive of her at the time, gradually the relationship with her mother became unhealthy and Jane was legally emancipated at age 15. Soon after, Jane and her daughter moved into a residential program for young mothers. Since leaving this program, Jane and Julia had moved frequently and their most recent residence was shared with her abusive partner.

Jane quickly completed a family services assessment and created a goal plan that included finding a job, helping her child prepare for the new baby’s birth and addressing her need to save money. She also met with the Financial Educator to create a financial plan to reduce debt and establish savings in an escrow account. The Children’s Services Coordinator met with Jane to discuss her role as a mother and assess Julia’s well-being.

During their three-month stay at the Safehouse, Jane reached many of her goals. Working with the Children’s Services Coordinator, she was able to better prepare her daughter for the new baby’s arrival. Jane secured a part-time job on the weekends which helped her to reduce her debt and save money. Jane was also accepted into the HomeStart Supportive Housing Program. Doorways was able to arrange the donation of a bassinet and other furniture for Jane’s apartment. Jane spent her last few weeks at the Safehouse getting everything ready for the move to the new apartment and the forthcoming birth of the baby. Although Jane was only at the Safehouse for a short time, she improved her family’s wellness, secured a source of income and saved money, but most importantly, she achieved independence and safety for herself and her family.