Differently Abled Purses

By now you've probably realized that every day Wellspring collaborates with many of our local nonprofit agencies and community organizations to  provide the best services we can for our clients. We don't need to re-create the wheel if another agency has a program or service  that would benefit our clients, we refer them... and they do the same.  The mission of Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC) is to provide and promote opportunities for individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency-- clearly a mission that's also important to Wellspring. Click here to hear Krystal Nowhitney Hernandez  talk about how EOC collaborates and supports Wellspring's mission... the second part of her video is a clue to just one of the unique challenges domestic violence survivors may face as they look to leave the abuse.

 

The Prevention Council strives to give youth the skills they need to choose healthy behaviors (thereby reducing the possibility that they will engage in drug or alcohol use or other risk behaviors). Their executive director, Janine Stuchin  says "everyone deserves to grow up in a home that is safe." and she also knows that addressing violence in the home can reduce the risk of drug and alcohol use among youth. Click here for more from Janine.

 

Sometimes the social issues that correlate with domestic violence aren't readily apparent. AIM Services is dedicated to partnering with people of diverse abilities to foster growth and independence. The people they assist may have developmental challenges or traumatic brain injury. How does this intersect with the work of Wellspring? Abusers may prey upon someone with challenges, exploiting their vulnerabilities. Alternately, just being a victim of abuse, particularly intense or repeated physical abuse, can result in traumatic brain injury. Often the symptoms and how they impact the person's life aren't identified or connected to their history of domestic violence... sometimes simply because no one has asked about a history of abuse. Both Wellspring and AIM Services work to provide what Walt Adams describes as "a better quality of life for people at a time in their life when they really need someone who can understand and support them." Click here for more from Walt

 

Every domestic violence survivor's obstacles to leaving and their support needs are different. Often they bring vulnerabilities that may have predated the  abuse... or may be as a result of trauma caused by the domestic violence... or by a lifetime of trauma. The barriers are diverse: limited proficiency in English, immigration concerns, learning or developmental disabilities. These can all complicate employment and self-sufficiency. Or there may be mental health concerns or alcohol or drug dependencies- sometimes these were coping strategies that helped the person get through the day... but in the end complicated their life. And sometimes what people think of as deficiencies or challenges, when looked at from a different angle show strength and resilience, that folks who haven't overcome such obstacles don't have. At Wellspring we understand the complexities of people's lives and have partnerships with other organizations to provide the support they need to overcome these barriers.  So whatever challenges you are struggling with, you are not alone. We can help.