Julie called the Gateway Battered Women’s Services
24-hour crisis line. She had found the telephone number in the
directory. The batterer, her boyfriend of two years, had hit her for
the first time after months of verbal and mental abuse. Julie came to
the emergency shelter with her 14-month old son. Julie did not have
solid parenting skills and her son, who was very charming and very
active, escaped from her care on a routine basis. The women and child
counselors worked with Julie on developing skills needed to care
for her child. Julie received many individual and group counseling
sessions about domestic violence dynamics, surviving domestic violence,
self-esteem and independent living skills. Referrals were given for
TANF, employment interviews, restraining orders, clothing, parenting
classes and housing. Over the course of her stay, Julie improved in
the care and attention she was giving her son. She found an
opening at a two-year program for young mothers. A Women’s Counselor
advocated for Julie and convinced the program that she would really
benefit from their services. Gateway assisted Julie and her children in
moving to the residential program for young mothers.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, June 09 2007 )
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Client Stories 
