HopeWorks of Howard County

Don't help... They are bias towards Men and they don't validate the integrity of those who make complaints.. They should be shut down for failure to honor their own mission to help!!!!

I have been a volunteer at HopeWorks for the past three years. As a survivor, my goal was to give back and help others. Not only have I had the opportunity to serve in many capacities as a volunteer, but much to my amazement, I have benefited from the many programs and projects available for survivors.

I never expected to learn more about self-care, wellness, and journaling. I have also participating in creative arts programs and performances. Studies have shown that direct experiences in creative arts greatly enhances trauma recovery.

It has also been my honor to have met so many wonderful people at HopeWorks.
The administrators and staff are outstanding. The opportunity to meet other survivors and volunteers has greatly exceeded my expectations at HopeWorks.

HopeWorks is an organization with powerful and effective outreach and services. I have been a volunteer for them for a number of years and their programs continue to expand and deepen to address the many dimensions of intimate partner and sexual abuse. I applaud the staff for their professionalism and commitment.

HopeWorks is a wonderful organization that serves Howard County. Its staff members are friendly, services are high quality, and they really care about their mission! Upon entering, you are greeted with a friendly atmosphere and a myriad of community events and resources. They are active in the community, and every ounce of care is seen from how they treat their clients and their staff members.

I volunteer with this nonprofit and have been personally impacted by their work. They are an invaluable fixture in the Howard County community.

Wonderful caring staff with top notch services. Always looking to be a leader in prevention and decreased recurrence as well as in their response and rehabilitation services.

HopeWorks provides leadership and support that extends far beyond Howard County. They are role models in policy and program development.

HopeWorks offers amazing resources for its community. My teenage daughter has worked with them through their teen outreach programs. They offer excellent outreach including underserved populations. We are always helped by the kind employees that work there, and we are thankful that they are a resource in our community.

HopeWorks supports those who have been affected by sexual and domestic violence and also offers support to the community through their wellness and prevention initiatives. Our community is stronger, better, and safer thanks to the wonderful work of HopeWorks!

Hopeworks is a wonderful organization. They are highly involved in the county and maintain alliances within surrounding counties in MD. Not only do they support those who were assaulted, or the victim of abuse and rape, but they also have education programs geared towards the public and teens.

Not all nonprofits are the same! HopeWorks epitomizes this fact through their clear, strong, and inspiring presence in our community. Moreover, the staff is not only outstanding and enthused at what they do, but they are genuinely happy and willing to help whenever possible--making them the most important asset in their success of serving and advocating for the underserved community. HopeWorks is a true beacon of hope to all the women, men, and children impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence.

Dr. Samuel Nokuri, MD, MBA, FACP
Director Premier Health Express

I am a survivor who gladly helps HopeWorks do fundraising via events at The Yoga Center of Columbia. Everyone at HopeWorks I've met over the years are consistently open-hearted, fair and kind, and always strive to be able to help all those who need.

Their service and commitment to their clients is outstanding. They are a well run organization, playing a necessary role in the community.

At HopeWorks our mission is to provide support and advocacy for people in Howard County affected by sexual and intimate partner violence and engage the community in creating the change required for prevention.

Change must happen. We are guided by a vision of a world of interconnected people and communities actively working toward a society where all people are safe and valued and where everyone can reach their full potential.

For 40 years HopeWorks has advocated for Howard County residents, I am proud serve on board of a vital community service.

Provides compassionate comprehensive services but also engages the community in healing and working to create change and end domestic and sexual violence.

When we first moved to Howard County, I attended a county gathering where Hopeworks received an award. I was impressed by their importance of their work and the caliber of the individual representing Hopeworks. Since then I have seen how Hopeworks strives in everything they do to reach out to all members of the community through advocacy and education with dignity and respect, with kindness and goodwill. They are devoted to improving the conditions of the individuals whose lives have been shattered by violence as well as committed to breaking the cycles of violence and victimization that exist to help make Howard County safer and healthier for all of us. Kudos to Hopeworks and all that they do!

I have been involved with HopeWorks of Howard County, MD for a few years now. They are fantastic advocates around all the issues of domestic violence, moving to not only deal w the aftermath of violence but moving also in determined ways to stop the cycle of violence at its root causes. In this way, HopeWorks takes a very proactive position in this challenging area of work.
The community outreach program is excellent and its work is very well received by survivors, educators, local organizations and faith communites - all testifying to its powerful impact.
I both give to and am well-served by this organization.

I am a donor, a volunteer and a recipient of the wonderful services offered by HopeWorks of Howard County, MD. My association has been going strong for over 8 years and I know of no other non-profit that has made such a difference to me as an individual, to so many others and to the community at large. The staff is caring, the management involved, the mission current and relevant.

I was sexually abuse as a young child, again in my teens and abused throughout my first marriage. The pain and terror of those events has lasted a lifetime. Through my association with HopeWorks, and a loving husband, I am now able to understand and combat what happened to me, to be happy and at ease. HopeWorks is a "happy place" for me.

In 2013 my coworker handed me a phone number to call when she saw me crying in my office one day. She told me it would help me to escape an abusive relationship in which I felt dangerously trapped. So the next afternoon I called the number for HopeWorks and was very surprised when the counselor immediately informed me, how I could be safe that very day, and told me they truly cared about my safety in the most personal way and would match me with a counselor who specifically fit my needs. I went for my first appointment only a few days later and the cost was relative to my very limited income. I have revisited Hopeworks on several occasions over the years and can honestly say they saved my life. My eyes and heart now perceive life's challenges in a healthy and strong way. I am forever grateful to my counselor Amy and her team which has generously given me HOPE for my future.

Have been on the Board of Directors for several years and each year I have watched the agency continue its good work and continue to add to the ways in which it reaches out to victims of violence. The dedicated staff is one of the great assets the agency has.

They provide extremely valuable support, services and commitment to the community and the individuals they serve.

Hope Works is Howard County’s domestic violence, sexual assault, and human tracking agency. As a board member, I see how the staff work tirelessly on behalf of the clients we serve. The passion to serve is embedded within this agency. The passion to advocate is a part of this agency. Even when the most popular media stories have desensitized, Hope Works will still be in the trenches working to bring awareness, resources, and legislative change.

Hopeworks has been crucial to my healing and learning about the unhealthy dynamics of the abusive relationship that I endured for years. I feel like a new person, better informed and on my journey to heal, and I could NOT have done it without the help and counseling at Hopeworks. They have been respectful and quick when I started and throughout my use of their services.

Great organization. They always find a way to accommodate and help everyone.

HopeWorks of Howard County is an exceptional organization with a competency of programs and staff members that address intimate partner violence and sexual assault issues. I am especially impressed with their range of programs which continue to expand. These programs not only tackle abuse from a variety of perspectives but offer creative ways to participate in expressing and understanding the problem. In addition, there is legal support, child care during counseling sessions, Safe Houses, and extensive training for both adult and young volunteers.

I have been lead organizer for a Howard County, MD anti-human trafficking volunteer group for several years. During this time, HopeWorks has proven to be a model program for serving victims of gender-based violence and has provided emergency shelter to women who have been sex trafficked and referred to them by local law enforcement. Last March, in response to our county's increasing numbers of sex-trafficked victims, HopeWorks hired its first full-time Human Trafficking Coordinator. This person has trained HW staff to better respond to the unique needs of HT survivors, beginning with the first interview that now allows staff to more easily identify these women who many times do not self-identify as victims; they are expanding residential housing, provisioning 10 survivors in 7 months this year compared to 6 in the past 2 years; and in general are using new strategies to respond to the unique and intense needs of these clients. In addition, HopeWorks is working in the community, educating the public about human trafficking and training specialized groups such as medical personnel and are coordinating with local, regional, and state-level anti-trafficking groups. Howard County AGAST members(Advocacy Group Against Slavery & Trafficking) are so very grateful for HopeWorks' commitment to serving survivors of human trafficking.

It’s an honor to serve on the Board of HopeWorks. The HopeWorks team is committed to serving the Howard County, MD area, through the tireless work and support of a great staff, committed to helping people affected by intimate partner and sexual violence. Keep up the great work!

I attended an in-home domestic and sexual violence seminar intended to dispel myths and educate the community about these topics and HopeWorks in general. The seminar was very informative and the organization does amazing work helping victims through both prevention and intervention. All of the staff and volunteers are engaged and dedicated to helping the community.

I attended an in-home training on domestic violence and sexual abuse. The meeting was informative and the setting was very comfortable in a location with people that I knew. The representative from Hopeworks was extremely knowledgeable and professional in her approach to training the group.

Hopeworks offered an in-home training about domestic violence and sexual abuse. It was informative meeting, but also extremely comfortable having it in the home of someone we knew. This is a great way to get their message across and the facilitator was well informed and professional.

I’ve heard about the invaluable services by HopeWorks for many years and am very honored to have the opportunity to serve on the board this year. Being on the board offers me a unique perspective on the organization’s day-to-day operations in serving some of the most vulnerable populations in our society and a chance to get to know the forward-thinking and dedicated leadership team and staff. I support the mission of HopeWorks and look forward to contributing to the wellbeing of my fellow citizens in Howard County.

I support HopeWorks because it offers wide-ranging programs that address the issues of intimate partner violence. I am very impressed with the workshops, volunteer opportunities for young people, outreach programs and two safe houses. I'm so pleased that my community provides such stand-out service.

HopeWorks is a highly, dedicated agency that is very visual in the community. Their outreach is by far the most engaging with its community members, student populations, and survivors. The agency is very dedicated to prevention of IPV, and that is our greatest asset in supporting those who are vulnerable to IPV. In addition, HopeWorks is also dedicated to social change and educating the community about the roots of violence and what the agency and volunteers can do to support their efforts at a grassroots level. I am very greatful and thankful that HopeWorks in working in the Howard County community and being wherever they need to be to affect social change in our society.

Sincerely,

Yvonne

I volunteer for HopeWorks throughout the organization. Whether I'm in my role as a Legal Advocate, Clinical childcare provider, Community Engagement representative, or planning and providing Residential clients and their families special events and activities, I consistently see the dedication and compassion of the entire staff. Each has their specialty or area of focus, but they all work as a team to ensure their clients' varying needs are met. This is most evident when there's a crisis. They respond with an "all hands on deck" attitude. It's amazing to witness. It's not only what they do for a client, it's how they do it. They're kind, gentle, empathetic and compassionate.

Whether it's the Legal, Clinical, Residential, Advocacy, Community Engagement or New Behaviors Department, each individual is knowledgeable and professional is their chosen field.

From the front door to the top of the organization, everyone is dedicated to the same purpose. They're always looking to the future to see how they can better sever their clients. Their latest of which is the growing number of human trafficing victims. I believe this organization is a leader in their field of providing services to victims of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Top-notch all around.

I was sexually abused as a child, in college and again in my first marriage. I thought after years if therapy that I was fine. Fortunately for me, I became a volunteer for HopeWorks and had my heart opened. I volunteered in a variety of positions and the personnel at HopeWorks showed me what real love and caring is about. Not only that, I learned so much about domestic and sexual violence. I learned forgiveness; I learned awareness; I learned a whole new world. And as a bonus, my then college-aged daughter was able to intern at HopeWorks. A great experience.

This organization provides invaluable services to the residents of Howard County and is extremely well-managed. Everyone in this organization -- from staff to the Board -- is deeply committed to the men and women it serves and to finding ways to successfully respond to, and prevent, intimate partner violence.

In 1999, I with my 3-year-old daughter moved to Maryland from California. This was because my then husband/ her father decided that he did not want to have anything to do with us anymore. I think the date was December 3rd, 1999. He dropped us off at the airport, not turning back to look at me or his daughter.

When we came to Maryland all my daughter and I had was the suitcases we brought with us. A friend agreed to let us live with them for a short while. I am forever grateful to them for providing us with a safe roof and food while we found our footing here. We started a new life – from scratch. I first bought a computer so that I could research what bank to use and where to buy a car. After that, I looked for a house for us and a school for my daughter. I was also looking for a job, any job that would give us some income. I feared every second of the day, that my ex-husband would show up at the door to take my daughter away. I could trust no one. He had made many promises in our divorce decree, I knew that any day he could change his mind on the agreements. And in a few months’ time, that is exactly what he did. He cut our child support, fired the mediator, he visited our daughter as and when he wanted. It was as if our divorce agreement did not exist. He knew he could get away with this because he knew that we did not have the money or support to get any legal help.

Would I have appreciated some help or guidance at this time of our life? Someone to give me legal advice? Someone to hold my hand and tell me all will be well? I was always scared and thinking what would happen to my 3-year-old daughter if I happen to get ill or something. I could not always ask that nice family to help us. I felt, like I was taking advantage of them because they did not ask for or deserve to deal with our issues, I am sure they had enough of their own problems. From being in a situation where I was told what to do, overnight, I was in a situation where I had to do the research and make decisions on my own. How does one decide what needed to be done and how to do it, was my first problem.

I am a survivor of intimate partner violence. I have been associated with Hope Works as a volunteer for at least 3 to 4 years. In these years I have helped with childcare, outreach and also helped with workshops. I have had a chance to interact with quite a few employees of Hope Works from various departments. Everyone who works in this organization from the Receptionist to the Director, is passionate about helping women who have experienced sexual assault and/or intimate partner violence. Hope Works does not only help with therapy, temporary shelter, advocacy and the like, they also have workshops on self-care, mindfulness, leadership, writing, etc. I have also participated in workshops where we made arts or crafts. I love the memory box I made one such Saturday afternoon. I have also gone to a wonderful farm that rescues horses. Many different self-development activities are provided for us women. The Therapists here do not just stop at providing talk therapy. I have met a very sweet little dog who visits the Hope Works office to provide therapy. This just tells me that there are people at Hope Works who believe in us and are giving us opportunities to find ourselves.

Hope Works does not just take care of the abused, they provide therapy to the abusers as well. To me, this says that they try to help every aspect of the abusive situation – the abused and the abuser.

Not only this, through Holiday drives, Hope Works also makes sure that each client and their family have a gift and a good meal during the holidays. The pantry here is always stocked with necessities for the whole family. They even help the clients when they are ready to leave the shelter to move into their own home and start a new life.

I do not know of any other organization that does so much with such a healthy attitude to help such a sad cause. I would have been more than grateful and thankfully crying, if I had even a fraction of this help that Hope Works provides to women/ families like me. The work done here, saves so many lives, helping them find the path of their life. It is very significant.

I didn’t know HopeWorks existed until I needed them. I received a brochure while at the police station. I hadn’t intended to have him arrested, but after completing the Lethality Assessment, it was beyond my control. My then husband was arrested on second degree assault charges with a deadly weapon and admitted to a mental health facility. Both the police and staff of the mental health facility encourage me to get a Protective Order. First thing Monday morning, I was calling HopeWorks, within a half-hour I was in the office telling my story to one of the Advocacy Staff Members. She was calm, caring, and patient. After conferring with the Legal Department, she provided me with the forms I needed, instructions on what to do and where to go. She instructed me to talk to the HopeWorks Legal Advocate at the Courthouse. I’d never been in court, so having the Advocate to talk to before going before the judge was extremely helpful. I had my temporary protective order that afternoon. Within a few days, I was back in the office for a Legal Intake Interview. Again, the Legal Intern I spoke with was caring and compassionate. I really didn’t expect them to take on my case because of my financial situation – but they did. This was the beginning of a long year’s journey. The Legal Department is top notch. They were with me at every court hearing. If they weren’t representing me in Protective Order matters, they were accompanying me to the criminal court hearings. They were extremely supportive as I read my Victim Impact Statement in Circuit Court. They patiently answered all my questions, I had many. I consider myself fortunate in that I had family and friends surround me, taking me in for weeks at a time and on short notice. I didn’t need to use HopeWorks’ SafeHouse, but they always offered and assured me I would be safe. I’d receive periodic calls from their Advocacy Department, checking in with me to see if I needed any other services and making sure I was OK. I was able to attend counseling with one of their clinicians. Not surprising, she was compassionate, professional and genuine. HopeWorks is an exceptionally well-run organization filled with truly dedicated professionals – from the front desk, throughout the many departments, to the Executive Staff. I would not have been able to get through that year without them. They gave me the courage and resilience to take my life back.