CUTV News Radio spotlights Sherrie Schwab of Domestic Abuse Shelter

Marathon Shores, FL – According to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a woman will leave an abusive relationship seven times before she leaves for good. Sometimes it’s for financial reasons. Sometimes they believe their partner when they say they're going to change. Sometimes it's for the children. Sometimes it’s out of pure fear. Leaving is one of the most dangerous times for a victim. When the batterer has lost control of the situation, they accelerate their efforts to regain control.

Sherrie Schwab is the Executive Director of Domestic Abuse Shelter in Monroe County, Florida in the Florida Keys.

A licensed mental health counselor, Schwab is quick to note that she is a survivor of domestic violence herself. 

According to Schwab, people aren’t born batterers; abusive behaviors are learned.

When they call the hotline, advocates determine if they meet the criteria for the shelter or other services, which is simply that they think they're a victim of domestic violence. Once they arrive at the shelter, if that is what they want, we do a little crisis counseling with them. 

“We tell them they’re not alone and we are there to help and support them. And so we have those conversations with them. We find out if there's anything they need. We orient them to the shelter. We talk about the services that we provide. We do a little assessment with the kids if there are any to see if they're OK. We give food if they're hungry. We safety plan with them.

“It’s not just about stopping domestic violence,” says Schwab. “It's really about social change and creating a society that oppresses no one.”

For more information on Sherrie Schwab, visit http://domesticabuseshelter.org.