On January 16, CAEPV Members The Allstate Foundation and the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Fund launched an e-mail campaign to bring people to ClicktoEmpower.com, a special Web site created to educate readers about the devastating impact of financial abuse and raise critical funding to support victims of domestic violence. For each person who visits ClicktoEmpower.com and clicks the "Click to Empower" button, $1 will be donated by The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program to the Education and Job Training Assistance (EJTA) Fund, with a total contribution of up to $300,000. The EJTA Fund helps domestic violence survivors pursue long-term financial security by providing vital financial assistance for education, training and job-related expenses.
The Allstate Foundation takes a unique stance on the issue of domestic violence by focusing its efforts on providing tools that help survivors move toward economic independence. Experts report that economic control is a tactic commonly used by abusers to prevent their victims from leaving abusive situations. Abusers often block access to money and/or other financial resources including credit cards, bank accounts or the ability to work outside the home.
"Our goal is to help survivors achieve an economic independence that they may not realize was possible," said Jennifer Kuhn, Domestic Violence Program Manager, The Allstate Foundation. "The Allstate Foundation is excited about the ClicktoEmpower campaign and is confident that through Allstate colleagues, friends, families and advocates we will reach our goal of $300,000."
A domestic violence survivor's ability to attain economic security is dependent upon the availability of:
· Social and economic supports, including child support, child care, transportation, and public benefits;
· Jobs that provide a living wage, and offer benefits as well as opportunities for career advancement;
· Education and job training programs, or other opportunities to gain the skills necessary to obtain and retain a job that pays a living wage.
However, traditional financial aid resources often do not address these barriers. The EJTAF was established by The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program to channel small grants, up to $1,000 each, to adult domestic violence survivors to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from achieving their educational and professional goals. The EJTAF covers education, training and job-related expenses including:
· Books and supplies for school
· Job skills training
· Certification fees
· Tuition
· Registration fees
· Requirements for jobs, such as uniforms
· Child care
· Public transportation
· Fees for computer access
"With the Education and Job Training Assistance Fund, a little goes a long way. In many communities a $1,000 grant can help a survivor take a 10-week computer training course and pay for childcare and transportation while in the course," said Sue Else, President, NNEDV Fund. "That's the difference between having to remain with an abuser to keep a roof over your children's head and having the opportunity to live a free, safe and successful life."
For many domestic violence survivors economic advocacy is critical to their long term self-sufficiency. For additional information on The Allstate Foundation economic empowerment programs please visit http://www.econempowerment.org/
I think things like this are so cool! Not only does money get raised, but people get educated on the "stories" of survivors of domestic violence. And I think this is just a great program -- funding "little things" like a course or books or transportation really is not a "little thing" at all -- it is actually huge! Thank goodness for the stance of The Allstate Foundation on this issue - they understand the importance of a person being able to have economic stability and independence and literacy. You can't "pull yourself up" by your own bootstraps if you don't have any bootstraps, right?
I also have to give a bit of disclaimer here that I sit on The Allstate Foundation Advisory Board for the Domestic Violence program so I am a total fan of this project!
I - for one - have already clicked, already passed the site along, and will be clicking every day until the goal is reached!
I hope you will click to empower, too!
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