PAWS for Empowerment! Veterinarian's Daughter Turns Animals into Advocates with Innovative Program
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Release Date: 12/09/2025
Bringing Global Resources and Hope to Millions of Survivors of Domestic Abuse
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
DomesticShelter.Org's National Director, Ashley Rumschlag, and Hannah Craig, Director of Content, discuss their roles and backgrounds before and after joining the massive and prestigious organization which supports over 2.7 million annual visitors and has faciliated for than 55,000 "Hope Chat" conversations through their innovative technology partnerships. They detail the history of the organization and its many innovative arms of support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse including the Hope Chat AI-driven chatbot, providing instant support, and Verizon Skill Forward,...
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PAWS for Empowerment! Veterinarian's Daughter Turns Animals into Advocates with Innovative Program
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Grace Coleman, Director of Crisis Center North, shares her unique background growing up in a small Irish-American village and her transition to combating domestic violence. The center serves over 2,500 clients annually, providing critical services including emergency shelter and long-term counseling. Grace highlights their unique housing program for victims and their pets, and their innovative use of new technologies. She highlights the importance of financial abuse awareness and offers financial literacy workshops and a micro-loan program. Grace discusses the center's...
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Betrayal Trauma & The Holidays
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Mr. Jay, relationship coach and betrayal trauma practitioner, discusses his background and shares his approach to dealing with betrayal trauma during the holidays. He details his personal experiences of growing up with financial instability and the impact of his parents' behaviors on his relationship with money. Mr. Jay emphasizes the importance of self-forgiveness and healing before making major decisions post-betrayal. He advises setting boundaries, practicing grounding techniques, and maintaining self care. He also talks in depth about keeping a holiday journal and...
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Enriching Island Communities With Domestic Abuse Resources
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Ana Jimenez, Case Manager and Advocate with Family Resource Center in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, discusses the growth of domestic abuse resources throughout the island communities and how resources are provided for victims and survivors of abuse. The center, serving St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix and Water Islands, has been operational for nearly 40 years. It provides shelter, counseling and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking and elder abuse. The center also addresses financial abuse, a critical issue often...
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Leading the Change to End Domestic Violence
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Today's guest, Meghan Scanlon, President and CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, discusses her journey from Virginia to Connecticut, her involvement with social justice at an early age, and her career in advocacy. She highlights the CCADV's role in supporting 18 member organizations, providing advocacy, outreach and education, and running the statewide Domestic Violence Resource Hotline, CT Safe Connect. Meghan details the challenges of fundraising, particularly the impact of federal funding cuts, and the importance of private fundraising. She shares her...
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Empowering UK Women to Live Free of Abuse and Fear
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Claire Holcombe, a domestic abuse advocate from the UK, recounts her journey from wanting to be an English teacher to working with homeless and abused women. She details Women's Aid Luton's 50-year history, including its founding by feminist activists and a secret visit from Princess Diana. The organization provides refuges, a helpline and support for children. Claire emphsizes the challenges of financial abuse, the impact of cultural differences and the need for better funding and resources. She also shares initiatives like fundraising campaigns and community support...
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How Trauma Informed Coaching Can Help Heal Survivors
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Kathy McAtee Young, a trauma-trained certified mental health coach, discusses her path from a survivor of an abusive marriage to a a trauma-informed coach and educator for survivors and victims of domestic violence. She emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma, particularly the nervous system's response, and the need for somatic techniques in healing, Kathy highlights the significance of educating oneself about abuse, recognizing symptoms like blame-shifting and gas lighting, and creating safetly plans. She also stresses of the role of faith-based communities...
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Getting Out Without a Scorched Earth Divorce
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Joe Dillon, divorce mediator and co-founder of Equitable Mediation, discusses his background and the benefits of mediation over a litigated divorce. He contrasts the aggressive, financially draining nature of litigated divorces with the cost effective, cooperative approach of mediation, which he has practiced for over two decades. Joe emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and transparency, highlighting common issues like hidden debt and financial abuse. He mentions his online courses on divorce mediation, which aim to educate clients on divorce preperation,...
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Going Solo: Survivor Founds New Resource to Support DV Organizations
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Joy Ingram, CEO and Founder of Love & Joy, discusses her journey from Georgia to Virginia, where she began advocacy work for domestic violence survivors. She highlights her roles at New Directions and RAFT, emphasizing the importance of supporting advocates to prevent burnout. Joy also shares her personal experience as a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, which fueled her passion for advocacy. She notes that over 60% of advocates in the field of domestic abuse are survivors themselves and need consistent self-care and systematic changes within non-profit...
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Legal Eagle Becomes a Champion Advocate for Survivors of Domestic Abuse
Speaking Out on Financial Abuse
Maisha Colter, CEO of AVDA in Texas, discusses her extensive background in social work and law, emphasizing her transition from social work to law to better advocate for vulnerable populations, particularly children and women. AVDA provides legal services for thousands every year, focusing on family court cases and economic abuse. Maisha highlights the organizations BIPP program, which educates abusers on gender roles and communication, and its annual interfaith workshop to train faith leaders on supporting domestic violence survivors. AVDA also conducts various community...
info_outlineGrace Coleman, Director of Crisis Center North, shares her unique background growing up in a small Irish-American village and her transition to combating domestic violence. The center serves over 2,500 clients annually, providing critical services including emergency shelter and long-term counseling. Grace highlights their unique housing program for victims and their pets, and their innovative use of new technologies. She highlights the importance of financial abuse awareness and offers financial literacy workshops and a micro-loan program. Grace discusses the center's funding and the need for creative fundraising events to support continuing programs. as well as state, federal and foundation efforts. She introduces and shares the success of the PAWS for Empowerment program, which started as a single shelter dog named Penny and expanded to include more animal advocates to support victims, making the courtroom process more compassionate and humane for the survivors.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Grace introduces her current role with Crisis Center North in Pittsburgh.
- She shares her origins from a small Irish-American village in Pennsylvania.
- Grace recounts her transition from teaching to working at Crisis Center North, where she has been for 26 years.
- She recounts the importance of her father's very diverse veterinary career and the lack of social work services in her childhood community, leaving her father to often provide critical crisis managment to the community.
- Grace provides and overview and Crisis Center North's history, starting with its founding mother and her husband Paul, who provided pro-bono services to domestic violence victims.
- She highlights the services provided by Crisis Center North, including hot line and text line services crucial for providing immediate support for victims.
- Grace addresses the prevalence of financial abuse in domestic violence cases and the challenges victims faces when needing legal support.
- Grace introduces the PAWS for Empowerment program, which started as a single shelter dog named Penny and has expanded to included various animal interventions.
- She highlights the PAW's program's success and role in making the courtroom process more compassionate and humane.
- She shares details of the center's fundraising efforts to ensure the center's sustainability and ability to provide comprehensive services.
- Grace reflects on the personal fulfillment she finds in her work and the importance of integrating her passions into her career.
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