The Jenesse publication "I Knew It Was Time When..." details the stories
of three women who escaped abusive relationships and how Jenesse helped
them to rebuild their lives. (Click here to view it as a pdf.)
Over five hundred women and
men enter
the doors of the Jenesse Center 30-day Emergency Shelter program
through the
Jenesse Center Intake office each year. Some call the 24-hour hotline
and make
next day appointments. Many enter the program with “heads
bloody but
unbowed.” The courageous steps these individuals take to save
their lives or
the lives of their children by leaving an abusive home is documented
here. It
shows the spirit and the heart of those who dare to leave and dare to
fly to a
better, secure and safer place with a new life ahead.
Debra*
Debra was critically injured
and
recovering from multiple stab wounds inflicted by her abuser upon
arriving at
the Jenesse Center Intake department. A drug user and former prostitute
with a
criminal record who had lost custody of two children she had a strong
desire to
create a stable home life with them.
Debra’s Case Management treatment plan, included Domestic
Violence Prevention
Education, mental health, individual and group counseling, substance
abuse
counseling and legal services.
Through the help of the Legal Services department she was able to
obtain
custody of her children and bring them to live with her in the
Transitional
apartment. After six months of services she was excited to secure a job
and
stated “This was the first time in my life I was able to obtain
and sustain”
legal employment.”
The judge in her criminal case has expunged her record because Debra
had lived
in the Jenesse transitional for more than a year and had continued to
improve
with the services offered. He was a witness to her renewal and growth.
Carol*
Two years ago Carol* mother
of five
children came to the Intake office in need of supportive services
because of the
mental, physical, emotional and financial abuse she and her children
endured
for years from her husband.
Carol was a Marine reservist with a graduate degree who had been
granted
military leave because of her transition into a shelter program and the
need
for immediate safety and mental health services for herself and her
children.
With emotional issues and uncertainties about the fate of her children
Carol
was left with little hope and a great deal of fear. She cried daily for
reasons
she could not always articulate which questioned her ability to prove
child
abuse allegations and other noted offenses during legal appointments.
After a shaky beginning the family moved into a three bedroom
transitional
apartment in September 2002 and began individual, family and group
counseling.
The family joined a local church Jenesse partner collaborative that
offered
weekly afternoon tutoring and family mentoring program.
Working with the Jenesse team of legal professionals to assist her in
preparing
a legal defense for custody gave Carol new confidence to face her
abuser in
court during many hearings.
Carol was called back to the military for active duty on September 6,
2004 and
given one month to “wrap” up her affairs and before
reporting to duty.
During her two-year stay at
Jenesse
Center, Carol had established a self-sufficiency plan that included
life and
survival as a single mother outside of Jenesse. With the countless
hours of
counseling and comprehensive programming, she appears confident and
willing to
face any situation.
A week before Carol was to report to duty she was awarded physical
custody of
her children by the Courts and was able to take them to live with her
sister
out of state.
On a recent deployment interview with Channel 7 News the reporter asked
if she
would like to say anything to her children, if they happened to be
watching.
With authority and confidence she addressed her children through the
camera
directly and said, “Be good, keep up with your studies and take
care of each
other.”
Barbara*
Needing shelter from a same
sex
relationship that was violent from its beginning, Barbara* came to
Jenesse
Center 30-Day Emergency Shelter, a year ago. Low self esteem,
depression and
unable to enter the workforce because of her mental health prevented
Barbara
from providing for her self.
An individual treatment plan was developed by the Case Manager and the
weekly
Team members to include mental health counseling, vocational services,
legal
services, and housing assistance to prepare her to graduate to Jenesse
transitional housing. Barbara was accepted to UCLA where she needed to
complete
her four-year degree.
After months of transitional residency Barbara secured a part-time job
that
afforded her the opportunity of building a savings and acquired her own
apartment. Barbara now has the brightest smile on her face when she
attends
drop-in brush up classes. She said she is the happiest she has ever
been in her
life and she would never go back to the life she’d known before.
What a difference living at Jenesse Center, Inc. has made in the lives
of these
three courageous women and children. We salute them in their new lives
and we
salute the Jenesse Center staff that cares for them daily.
Lisa*
Lisa
was being physically and
verbally abused by Amber’s father 2 to 3 times a month. He
slapped, punched,
kicked, pushed, threatened and tried to strangle her.
To escape the abuse, she abused
methamphetamine on a weekly basis. Pregnant with their second child,
Lisa knew
it was time for a change when he punched her in the face, stole her car
and
momentarily kidnapped their daughter. He returned on his own but Lisa
had
already called had the police. Because
of the abuse and drug use, Amber was removed from her custody. She
procured a
restraining order but she had to do much more.
Lisa
found help at Jenesse
Center. She attended individual
counseling and domestic violence education classes. Her case manager
advocated
on her behalf by calling the DCFS worker and informing her of
Lisa’s progress.
The case manager also wrote letters to the DCFS worker and the
Children’s
Court. Lisa earned a certificate of completion for the domestic
violence
classes, enrolled in school and was working part-time. She was ordered
to take
random drug testing and was clean every time.
The
DCFS worker doubted her progress
and appeared to be reluctant to recommend for her daughter to be
reunited with Lisa.
The case manager went to the Children’s Court to testify on
Lisa’s behalf and
explained that over the past six months, she consistently demonstrated
progress, had made an effort to learn parenting skills and proved that
she was
stable. The judge ordered Amber to be reunited with her mother.
Lisa
expressed her immense gratitude.
She visited Jenesse to introduce Amber to the case manager. As she pointed to the case manager, she said
to her daughter, “Thanks to her, you were returned to me.”
Scott*
Scott’s wife
was an active gang member. She did not
abuse
him but she had her brother and cousin threaten and physically abuse
him
regularly. He was out of work and
couldn’t afford to find another place to live.
Until he learned of Jenesse, he thought he his
only option was to endure
the abuse.
In June of
2009, Scott entered Jenesse Center’s Emergency Shelter Program
with his two
children. Jenesse provided them with a
room in a local hotel while Scott attended classes and received
services at the
Educational Center. Jenesse’s legal
staff assisted him in obtaining a restraining order against his abusers. Scott also received case management services,
health services, domestic violence supportive services, individual
counseling
and independent living skills training. Upon completion of the
emergency shelter
program, Scott and his children moved into a 2-bedroom apartment at
Jenesse’s
transitional shelter.
While in the
program, Scott Jr. and Crystal participated in children’s program
activities
including the children’s support group. Very
shy when they arrived, they became more
social and comfortable in
their environment.
Determined to
get back on his own, Scott found affordable housing after one month in
the
transitional program and was able to secure a job shortly thereafter. Scott is the first male residential client
that has successfully completed the Jenesse Center’s Emergency
and Transitional
Housing Program.
Testimonial – In her
own
words…
Today I became an American. What a moment of pride in my journey and this
wonderful accomplishment. Whilst most of my friends expected me to go
have a
celebratory drink, I first drove all the way from Montebello to Jenesse
Center
in Los Angeles to allow them to share in my success.
I can tell you there is life
after
Domestic Violence and when I first came to Jenesse (August of 2003), I
didn’t
know if I believed there could be. My
daughter was 7 and my son 7months. I was scared and broken. My daughter did not understand.
My abuser was relentless in his efforts to
win me back. I felt imprisoned by my
situation
and surrounding. My first day I wanted to leave and go back to the man
I
thought I loved. I was in tears and I remember being told by a staff
member
that I didn’t belong there.
Not that the program wasn’t for me but
the
fact that if my abuser really loved me
there would be no reason for me to
be at the shelter. And there is
where my success began.
I spent two years at The
Jenesse
Center. With an open mind I learned the
simplest life skills which made the most significant changes in my
life. Simple
things like, having a plan for my day, setting short term goals,
meeting
deadlines, following and respecting policies and procedures. These
habits have
given me such structure and have allowed for so many little triumphs
along the
way.
There were so many times I
was depressed
and felt like giving up but thankfully I stayed in the program and
today let me
tell you what’s up. I have a full time job. I hold a Cosmetology
License and am
pursuing a career with State Board. I recently moved to a larger
apartment that
I can still afford. I bought myself a
new car and with careful planning, I can pass it on to my daughter note
free as
her high school graduation present. I’ve
successfully taken a slum lord to court and won, filed for and received
my
American citizenship and every now and then can treat myself to a
massage. I’ve
repaired my credit and get a thrill of seeing my score go just a little
bit
higher every month because I choose to be responsible.
It isn’t easy but it’s rewarding. I’m not ashamed of my past, for it has
afforded
me a much healthier future - one where I love me for who I am. I know now that I do have the power to choose.
When I speak of Jenesse
it’s with the
highest regards and respect. I got a lot of tough love there, with the
best
intent and the greatest respect. I had a
voice and my thoughts feelings and opinions mattered.
They were always there just urging me to step
out with confidence and they are still there like family always is. And to the many who will continue to come to
Jenesse; Change requires only one
action.
With all my love,
Paulette
*The names have
been changed to protect the clients.
|
