Empowerment at LifeWire = Survivor-Driven Advocacy

LifeWire’s mission is to support survivors of domestic violence on their path towards safety, stability, and healing. LifeWire advocates serve survivors of domestic violence by partnering individually with each survivor as they gain renewed strength and empowerment. We listen to survivors describe their needs and help them access whatever resources will enable them to build safer lives. By tailoring our support to each survivor, we are able to respond to survivors’ unique challenges and goals.

The Domestic Violence movement refers to the staff members who provide direct services as “advocates.” This title reflects their role in helping survivors advocate for themselves. The emphasis on advocacy in the movement stems from the recognition that abuse is a pattern of power and control and that regaining personal power to make decisions is critical in a survivor’s healing process. Our advocates deliver survivor-driven advocacy based on what individual survivors identify as important and needed, including safety planning, emotional support, and resource referrals. What works for one survivor family may not work for another, so flexibility is key.

Because of the emphasis on personal power, survivors lead the process, choose their own goals, and define what is going to be safer for themselves and their children.

Advocates respect survivors' decisions, offer options—not opinions or mandates, and build off the strengths of each survivor.
Advocates ask “what do you need?” instead of saying, “these are the services we can offer you.”
Advocates look at how a survivor’s culture and community can help them become safer and rebuild connections.
Advocates understand the impacts of trauma, are aware that trauma may directly affect survivors’ interactions with individuals and with systems, can recognize potential triggers, and engage in trauma-informed practices to adapt services accordingly.

A LifeWire Survivor Story

Layla’s husband controlled just about every part of her life. She had a part-time job because he wouldn’t let her work full-time—it was harder to monitor her when she worked. He controlled not only her paycheck, but all of their money. Her name wasn’t even on their accounts, and he made her beg when she needed to buy essentials like food, soap, or toilet paper. Layla felt isolated and cut off from her family and friends. He didn’t let them visit and limited how much time Layla could spend on her phone and who she could call. Feeling alone, one day she used the phone at work to call LifeWire during her lunch break because she didn’t know who else to call.

With the help of her LifeWire advocate, Layla found a new apartment close to work. LifeWire helped her pay her first month’s rent, giving her the financial flexibility she needed to leave her abuser and find safety. This temporary financial assistance offered Layla a path forward to achieving stability. Layla has started working full-time and is able to support herself and enjoy her growing career and personal freedom.

For Layla, empowerment meant access to full-time employment, financial flexibility, and the ability to pay her own rent. For other survivors, it may mean an emergency safety plan, legal assistance, mental health counseling, housing, food assistance, or simply deep listening during a time of crisis. For all the survivors we serve, empowerment includes respecting and honoring their needs, goals, and choices.

Survivor- Driven Advocacy