Instruction
You are a battered woman, and you have decided to leave your abusive husband. You are 25 years old, and you have been married for six yrs. You have only a high school education. You are unemployed, and you lack an established credit history. The mortgage, the car title, and the checking account are in your husband’s name. You have three children, few friends, and an estranged relationship with your birth family. Your husband has stated that he will kill you if you ever attempt to leave. In less than three hours, he is scheduled to return home from work. The family has been struggling financially, and the tension is beginning to build. It is only a matter of time before he batters you again. The abuse history is undocumented because you have been afraid to file police reports in the past. He has never physically abused the children; yet, you fear that their safety is in jeopardy as well. Although you don’t know where to turn, you realize that you must take action immediately. You contact a local domestic violence organization to inquire about shelter services. However, to your horror, you are informed that the shelter is full. You must be resourceful in order to survive. What do you plan to do?
Written Exercise: Develop an escape plan, identifying any potential obstacles you can envision. You must consider the long-term consequences of your decision to leave the home.
Note: This is a critical thinking exercise. Your responses should be thoughtful, and approximately 5 pages in length. Use a Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced font.
You may wish to organize your ideas in outline form. For example, in one section, address the financial considerations of the plan: Prepare an itemized budget of projected monthly expenditures and discuss housing and employment options. In another section, address the legal considerations of the plan. You are interested in filing divorce and seeking primary custody/conservatorship of your children. (You do not wish to file a police report or obtain a protective order at this time). Contact your local legal aid program to obtain information on the process of filing for custody and divorce. [To ensure the accuracy of all information, be sure to properly cite the source(s) you consult. Please note that this information is subject to verification]. Finally, address the safety considerations related to any child visitation exchanges. Investigate safe visitation programs and other options. (Again, cite all information you obtain from other sources).
Do some investigative research. In order for this to work, you must actually go through the motions of planning your escape. Consult the classified section of the local newspaper and on-line resources, etc. Include both a bibliography and appendices (complete with the actual job listing, housing ad, and any other supporting documentation).
*Note: Your solutions must be realistic (ex. You cannot win the lottery or borrow money from someone. You must do the legwork. Additionally, you may not use lethal force against the abuser. The point of the exercise is to problem-solve and to navigate your way to safety).