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I am wanting to start some sort of community outreach program for abused women and children. I was abused and I want to give bck to the community and help others overcome this trauma. Could you please send me information on what direction to go in in terms of starting. I have the perfect idea and our community desperately needs some prevention plans and help to children who are being victimized. I want to be that mediator to bring awareness in addition to change in my community!
Answer:

                Thank you for writing to us at Ask an Advisor with your important question.
               It’s great that you want to start a community outreach program for abused women and children in your community.  Your enthusiasm and passion shine through in your letter, and we definitely believe that these in themselves are two of the most important starting ingredients!
              Beyond that, some key questions that arise in a project such as this would include:
              What specific form would your outreach program take? For example, would it be face-to-face?   Might part of it be online, or use social media? Or both?  Would there be groups, or 1-on-1 counseling, or both?   
              How, specifically, would you publicize the program?  What’s your plan for getting the word out?
               Who in your community would you want to get on board with the program, so that they can support and help you – or at least not oppose you?
              What kind of financial resources might you need to pay for this program, and how you would you generate them?      
              All of this calls for a good deal of careful thinking before you actually begin. That’s natural for any program such as this. It does realistically some take thoughtful planning work in advance, but if you are committed, it is definitely doable.           
              One more thought:  What you have in mind seems like a pretty big idea, which suggests you might not want to carry it out all by yourself. So can you find a small group of people who think as you do, and who could work with you on the project?  By sharing your collective energies and wisdom, you can both support each other, share the work, and minimize the likelihood of making mistakes along the way.  
           For further information, you might want to consult some relevant materials in the Tool Box,  such as Chapters 18 and 19 on community interventions. Section 18-1 and 19-1 may be particularly helpful to you. 
          We hope some of these thoughts may be helpful to you.  Thanks again for being in touch, and all very best wishes for success in your work!
 
           
 

Question Date: Wed, 01/03/2018