24-Hour Helpline
(920) 729-5727
Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services
P.O. Box 99
Neenah, WI 54957-0099
Phone: (920) 235-5998
Fax: (920) 729-0690
Project P.O.W.E.R. (Providing Opportunities for Women's Employment and Retention)
Project P.O.W.E.R., a groundbreaking collaboration between Christine Ann and ADVOCAP, Inc. was created to address the barriers to financial independence faced by domestic abuse victims. Using a "supported employment model" designed by ADVOCAP (which provides job training and self-sufficiency support for people who are low income and disabled), program participants are given resources and intensive case management that includes education/training, job placement assistance, on-site job coaching and job retention follow-up. Through Christine Ann, participants are provided with critical domestic abuse support services to help them overcome barriers and break the cycle of violence.
The goals of Project P.O.W.E.R. are:
- To provide case management and support services for victims of domestic abuse to achieve self sufficiency.
- To assist project participants in acquiring the skills needed to obtain or improve employment.
- To provide job development and job retention services which will enable project participants to obtain and sustain employment.
- To provide or arrange support services which remove barriers to program participation and employment.
Working with a team of specialists, each participant is involved in developing a self-sufficiency plan that identifies her strengths and obstacles, types of employment help that will be most effective, support service needs and tasks to be accomplished. The team meets regularly with participants to review progress and make changes to remove additional barriers to achieving their self-sufficiency goals. Project P.O.W.E.R. also provides funding for participant education and training as well as funds to eliminate barriers faced by victims such as child care and transportation.
Project P.O.W.E.R. creates systemic change: In addition to healing from the abuse, participants develop the skills and confidence to obtain and maintain jobs in pursuit of independence.
The program serves women who are either staying in shelter or who reside elsewhere in communities within Winnebago County including Neenah, Menasha, Winneconne and Omro.
A P.O.W.E.R. Success Story
Mary, Menasha, WI
Mary had endured a lifetime of abuse. When Mary's mother died, she was only 22 and because there was no money, Mary had to get a loan to pay for the funeral. She married and had two children, hoping for a normal life. Mary began to once again battle depression, as her husband grew more controlling. She obtained a divorce and shared custody of her children, but bills were mounting and it was hard to keep a job, find childcare, and have reliable transportation. Her depression worsened. Mary got involved in another relationship - this time she would make it work. However, this man used physical abuse as well as emotional abuse as part of his control. Mary fled to the Christine Ann Center. She had lost her confidence, her physical and mental health had declined and she was battling custody issues with her ex-husband. Her bills seemed insurmountable and her life unmanageable.
"I am finally living my dream".
While at the Christine Ann Center, Mary learned about the P.O.W.E.R. Program. ADVOCAP, the program's collaborative partner with Christine Ann, connected Mary with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the two agencies joined to get her back in school. She had suffered through many factory and retail jobs to pay the bills, but her dream was to become a stylist. While in shelter, just for fun, she had cut and styled the other women's hair. Her natural talent shined through. Today, she is excelling in cosmetology school and has had the opportunity to learn from nationally and internationally known stylists. Project P.O.W.E.R. was also able to assist her with obtaining transitional housing for herself and her children through ADVOCAP's transitional program. Her physical and mental health have both improved. To quote Mary, "I am finally living my dream".
