The site is just one component of The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program, which provides comprehensive programming to energize, empower and equip domestic violence survivors with the resources, knowledge and skills they need to achieve safer and more financially secure lives.
Jennifer Kuhn, who is the program manager for the Foundation's Domestic Violence Program put it this way: “Financial control is an aspect of domestic violence that is frequently overlooked. Abusers frequently isolate their victims by controlling access to money and financial resources. Financial abuse can be more devastating than physical abuse in some situations. With our new Web site, www.EconEmpowerment.org, we provide critical resources and information to help survivors find financial independence free from abuse."
www.EconEmpowerment.org provides information on resources available to survivors, including:
Moving Ahead Through Money Management– The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program\'s financial empowerment curriculum – which includes financial tools and information that enable survivors of domestic abuse to (1) fully understand their financial circumstances, and (2) engage in short- and long-term planning to accomplish their personal goals. The curriculum provides:
Ways to locate and access local, state and national personal safety and financial resources;
Information on how to protect personal and financial safety in-crisis and post-crisis;
Strategies for dealing with the misuse of financial records; and
Tools to help people of all incomes and earning power work toward long-term economic empowerment.
The Allstate Foundation Education and Job Training Fund– A fund that channels small grants to adult domestic violence survivors to help them achieve their educational and professional goals. This covers education, training and job-related expenses including:
-Books and supplies for school;
-Job skills training;
-Certification and registration fees;
-Tuition;
-Requirements for jobs, such as uniforms;
-Child care; and
Public transportation.
Links to national and state-based domestic violence organizations – Each U.S. state & territory has a domestic violence state coalition that connects survivors and interested members of the public to resources, including shelters and emergency funding, in their local communities. Both national and state-based organizations also provide a wealth of information and tips for both survivors and others who wish to help.
www.EconEmpowerment.org contains links and key contact information for state and national organizations.The Web site also contains information for service providers, such as ways to enhance their organization’s financial empowerment services, and information on applying for grants. In addition, it offers information on volunteer opportunities through both local and national programs and organizations.
For additional information, visit http://www.allstate.com/foundation.
What I love about this is thinking "beyond" what people often think about with domestic violence -- and that is a person's financial situation in the long term. It is realizing that a person often needs financial tools and help to get the next level and to truly be independent. Heck -- I am honored to be a member of the Allstate Foundation National Advisory Board for their Domestic Violence Program, and in reviewing the financial literacy curriculum and all the tools and helps involved, I saw that I could really benefit from the information in the curriculum!!!!!
What Allstate is doing here makes a lot of sense -- it aligns with their business practices of making sure people are financially viable, and they are looking at an issue related to domestic violence that to date, not many are taking into consideration -- how to help build financial literacy and economic empowerment for people who are surviving abuse.
And I LOVE the idea of helping people with things like books, job training and certification, tuition, childcare, public transportation. . . the things that will really get them from Point A to Point B in life.
What a way to take what you do well in your book of business (financial stuff) and have it make a difference for victims and survivors of domestic violence!
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