For survivors of domestic violence, safety and employment are often deeply connected. Maintaining a job can provide stability, independence, and the resources needed to move toward safety, but navigating the workplace while experiencing abuse can also present significant challenges.

In this episode of Root for Each Other, we explore what it means to Employ & Empower survivors through stronger workplace protections, better-informed advocates, and more prepared employers.

Sara is joined by Samuel “Raymie” White, Legal Services Director with the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Bella Book, Program Manager and Program Attorney with Futures Without Violence's Workplace & Economic Opportunity team.

Bella leads the Advancing Safety Through Employment Rights Advocacy Project, a national effort focused on increasing awareness of employment protections available to survivors and providing advocates, attorneys, and survivors with practical tools and resources. The project brings together participants from across the country to share knowledge, explore state-specific protections, and develop resources that can be adapted for local communities.

West Virginia was represented in this national learning community by a four-person team which included representation from the WVCADV, Legal Aid of WV and Branches Domestic Violence Shelter. Together, they explored the legal protections available to survivors, the challenges survivors encounter in maintaining employment, and ways advocates can help survivors better understand and navigate their rights in the workplace.

Learn more about Building Trauma Responsive (BTR) Communities

Learn more about Futures Without Violence

Learn more about the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence