Before Maya found Project CARE, she was trapped in an abusive relationship and terrified of what leaving would mean for her one-year-old daughter – and for their financial survival. She technically had an apartment in her name, but her partner controlled much of their life. Without safe, reliable childcare, she could not see how she would manage court, work, and rebuild her life on her own. As she put it, “The main reason I was staying in the relationship was because I didn’t know that there was childcare available.” Without childcare, every option looked like a choice between safety and survival: miss work and lose income or stay in danger.
Maya’s turning point came when she chose to file for a Protection from Abuse order and called the domestic violence hotline. From there, a Laurel House advocate connected her to Project CARE. That connection did not “save” her – she was already doing the hard work of leaving – but it removed a critical barrier she had been trying to solve alone: who would care for her daughter while she protected their future.
With that support, Maya secured a trauma-informed early-learning placement for her daughter. As her little one settled into a nurturing classroom, Maya saw big changes. Before, her daughter had been “kind of zoned out” and in survival mode alongside her. Now, she sees a toddler who is thriving – exploring, playing independently, and walking into childcare happy and eager to be there. Because she knew her child was safe, Maya could fully show up for the steps that directly affect her economic stability and independence: keeping her job and showing up reliably for shifts; attending court and legal appointments that secured safer housing and financial protections; going to therapy so she could function at work and at home; and negotiating with landlords and service providers from a calmer, more grounded place.
As she told us, “That this literally made me able to start the healing process. And be more confident in who I am. And as I can, I’m slowly starting to be able to save money for emergencies. And I would not be able to do that if I still had to pay childcare.”
Over time, her daily life began to look very different. Using the stability that child care provided, Maya built a safer economic and emotional foundation for herself and her daughter: an apartment her abuser has never been in, a routine that allows her to work, parent, and heal, and the beginnings of a financial safety net rather than constant crisis.
When asked what she would tell another survivor considering Project CARE, Maya was clear:
“Do it. It’s life changing. And it lifts the burden, so you don’t have to worry.”
Maya’s story shows what becomes possible when a parent’s courage and determination are met with practical, trauma-informed support. Project CARE did not change who she is – it helped create the conditions where her strength, care for her daughter, and determination could finally take root and grow into both safety and economic independence.
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