April is Financial Literacy Month

In April, NYSCADV recognizes Financial Literacy Month and the critical connection between financial literacy, economic empowerment, and domestic violence. Financial abuse is present in the vast majority of abusive relationships—used as a tool to control, isolate, and create long-term dependency.

 

Survivors often face significant barriers to economic independence, including damaged credit, coerced debt, restricted access to income, and housing instability. These barriers are not accidental—they are part of a broader pattern of coercion that can continue even after a survivor has left an abusive relationship.

 

Economic empowerment is a key pathway to safety and long-term stability. By building financial knowledge and access to resources, survivors can reclaim autonomy and begin to rebuild their lives on their own terms.

 

NYSCADV’s Economic Empowerment Project, generously supported by the Allstate Foundation, works to strengthen this pathway by providing training, tools, and technical assistance to advocates across New York State. This work helps advocates better understand financial abuse and support survivors in navigating complex financial systems with confidence.

 

Economic Empowerment Summit

 

Each year, NYSCADV convenes advocates, partners, and national leaders through our Economic Empowerment Summit—an opportunity to deepen knowledge, share strategies, and strengthen our collective response to economic abuse.

 

The Summit centers economic justice as a core component of survivor safety and well-being, exploring topics such as financial literacy, workforce development, housing access, and the intersections between economic stability and mental health.

 

This year’s summit will take place on May 19, 2026, in Queensbury, NY. Learn more about this event and register.

 

Learn more about NYSCADV’s Economic Empowerment initiatives.

 

Featured Resource: Financial Literacy Curriculum

 

The Allstate Foundation, in partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence, developed the Moving Ahead Workbook—a comprehensive financial empowerment program designed specifically for survivors of domestic violence.

 

This curriculum helps survivors:

 

·        Build financial knowledge and confidence

 

·        Set financial goals

 

·        Navigate credit, debt, and savings

 

·        Work toward long-term financial stability

 

 Explore the Moving Ahead Workbook

 

Financial Literacy & Tax Season

 

April 15 marks Tax Day—the deadline for filing federal tax returns. Access to tax credits and refunds can be a critical financial resource for survivors and their families.

 

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), in particular, can significantly improve financial stability for low- to moderate-income households. Research shows that tax refunds are associated with improved financial well-being, reduced stress, and better outcomes for families.

 

Advocates can play an important role in supporting survivors to safely access these resources.

 

Resources for Filing Taxes:

 

 

 

Additional Resources for Survivors and Advocates

·       Foundations of Survivor Centered Economic Advocacy

 

·       Access to Economic Justice eCourse (for advocates but may also be useful for survivors in self-advocacy)

 

·       Compendium on Coerced Debt (to address credit barriers to housing)

 

·       Mapping Equity in Domestic Violence Advocacy at the State-Level (for Statewide Coalitions)