A Place to Call Our Own: Edith’s Story
Edith’s smile stretched from cheek to cheek as she opened the door to her apartment, welcoming us into her new home. She wasted no time giving us a tour of her new living space, proud of the home she had…
Creating a Community of Belief
Regardless of where you fall on our political spectrum or what you support, we can all agree that the confirmation process of Justice Brett Kavanaugh received wide-spread attention. This may be due to the fact that this year is a year…
What are the Red Flags of Domestic Violence?
What does domestic violence look like? This is not a question we usually ask ourselves when beginning a new relationship. Most abusive relationships do not start out as severe physical violence, as domestic violence is commonly associated with. In fact,…
A Mother’s Love: A Struggle for Reunification
Laughter radiated the halls as Angelique and her roommate walked to their first Personal Empowerment Program (PEP) class together. Evelyn sat comfortably, wearing a vibrant pink dress that matched her personality. Her bubbly manner and frequent jokes temporarily masked the…
Challenging Victim-Blaming
Dear Friends of Radiant Futures, Last week, Shannan Watts, who was 15 weeks pregnant and her two daughters, Bella (age 4), and Celeste (age 3), were reported missing. The following day, Shannan’s husband Chris Watts gave an emotional interview…
Camille Finds Hope in An Unexpected Place
It’s Friday at 9:50 AM and Camille drops her children off in the children’s room on her way to Radiant Futures’s Relapse Prevention Group meeting for the 3rd time this month. This meeting marks the half-way point of her 6-week…
Finding Courage in the Legal Process
Some of the most significant challenges faced by survivors in filing a restraining order is the re-traumatization, anxiety, and worry the court process has on them. For example, survivors are often fearful of facing their abuser in court or having…
Serving as the Interim CEO
Dear Friends of Radiant Futures, I hope everyone survived the extreme heatwave that swept through Southern California in recent weeks! Living in Orange County for the past 25 years, I don’t remember ever feeling that close to the sun, but…
Desiree: A Story of Addiction, Treatment and Recovery
Meet Desiree. Mom of 10. During her struggle with substance abuse and domestic violence, she was referred to Radiant Futures for services during a weekly Case Management Team Meeting with the La Habra Family Resource Center. Like any…
Behind the Screens: Cyberbullying
While we may often perceive bullying to be associated with school-aged children, the dynamics and effects of bullying are far-reaching and can be perpetuated by any individual attempting to establish a relationship of power and control over another person. Bullying…