Here’s a brief excerpt from my recent Record Talk Radio interview with Elaine Meyerson, the executive director of the Center for Hope and Safety (formerly known as Shelter Our Sisters.)
I asked Meyerson, who is retiring later this month, what she considered the most significant development in her 29 years with the agency, which advocates for domestic violence survivors.
Here’s what she had to say:
“I think really what has changed in the field is the expansion of community-based programs.
“The shelter is an absolutely essential component of our program, assisting survivors from throughout the state and the country.
“But we’ve also learned that if people can empower themselves and get restraining orders and develop safety plans, they could stay with family or home and then receive other services, whether it be community counseling.
“We have outreach counseling. We have Project Self-Sufficiency helping people decide where they want to go vocationally because economic independence is really the key to becoming free and self-sufficient.”
Click below to hear the entire 28-minute interview, which also includes Julye Myner, who will succeed Meyerson next month.
