The Pathways to Opportunity Initiative Brings Together Community Partners to Help Survivors with Employment
By Moira McLaughlin
September 30, 2026
Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and harassment encounter unique challenges to obtaining and maintaining employment. Missing work for a court appearance, experiencing employment sabotage by an abuser, or needing to take safe leave to move to a safe place are just a few of the ways violence can affect a survivor’s ability to work.
A report from FUTURES with the National Domestic Violence Hotline found that many survivors said that the abuse they were experiencing made it harder to work, including:
- 79% of domestic violence survivors,
- 35% of stalking survivors,
- 27% of sexual assault survivors, and
- 25% of dating violence survivors.
What if organizations that work with survivors were able to better collaborate with other organizations in support of survivors’ employment?
Support, Education and Job Training
This is the goal of Pathways to Opportunity, a FUTURES Initiative with the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce and Women Employed that trains multi-sector teams on how to collaborate and create pathways to employment for survivors.
“Pathways is about building partnerships that address the barriers survivors have when it comes to accessing education and employment opportunities,” said Carolyne Ouya, Program Director at FUTURES, who leads the Pathways initiative.
Through an application process last winter, FUTURES chose four teams from Lincoln, Nebraska; Wheeling, West Virginia; Irvine, California; and Boston, Massachusetts, each consisting of a victim service, education, and workforce development organization. FUTURES provides the teams with training, peer learning convenings, one-on-one technical assistance, as well as a stipend. Teams strategize solutions to ensure survivors they work with can obtain and maintain employment.
“Thoughtful peer-learning convenings have created intentional space to consider how trauma exposure may impact successful workforce integration for the survivors we serve,” said Ellen Reilly, who is on a Pathways team. She works at Friendship Home, which provides services and shelter for survivors in Lincoln.
“These educational opportunities have allowed us to look internally and consider our existing supports while also examining opportunities for future growth to enhance the continuum of services we offer to the survivors we serve,” Reilly said.
Team Goals
Ronesha Love, who works for the American Job Center, a job training organization that helps people overcome barriers to employment, is a part of the Nebraska team. Through Pathways, she is building strong relationships with organizations like Reilly’s. Their team is building a referral pathway that will ensure survivors can enroll in a specific employment program based on their goals and interests.
“Being a part of Pathways has been helpful in gaining knowledge about how to work with survivors,” Love said. “Training has helped with how to work with [survivors] in preparation for receiving referrals.”
The West Virginia team is working on a program that will help survivors in shelter programs gain access to education and employment training. They will be providing scholarships to survivors who enroll in criminal justice or substance abuse intervention specialist programs at the local community college. They are also planning to host a regional training for local employment partners on creating safer and more trauma-informed workplaces for everyone.
The Irvine Team brings together a domestic violence program, a job training program, and a beauty school to create a more seamless, effective pathway to economic independence. Additionally, they hope to train students at the beauty school on ways to support any of their beauty clients who may be experiencing violence.
In Boston, the team is building a two-track referral model connecting survivors to either a 12-week Step into Healthcare Training Program or direct job placement services.
Integrated Solutions
Pathways brings teams together to find solutions to the challenges that face survivors, helping them obtain:
- Access to Education and Skills training
- Access to Fair Wage Employment Opportunities
- Wrap-around supportive services (i.e., housing, legal, medical, etc.)
- Protection Against Discrimination and Retaliation, and
- Trauma-informed Workplaces that include flexible scheduling, privacy considerations, safety planning, accommodations, and supervisor training on responding to disclosures and safety concerns with empathy.
Ellen Reilly said that the work she is doing in Nebraska with her Pathways team has helped her strategize for the future, deepen relationships with partners, and ultimately create healthier and safer communities.
“No one organization can meet the complex and unique needs of the survivors, so collaborating to better offer a full continuum of services creates opportunities for an enhanced service model, while also ensuring our partners can understand the experiences of domestic violence survivors and their children,” she said.
“We know that when community partners better understand the dynamics of domestic violence and how to respond, survivors are offered more voice, choice, and opportunities to have a seat at the table. Ultimately, we know when there are more safe places for survivors to engage with, our community thrives.”
For more information about Pathways, email pathways@futureswithoutviolence.org
