Making Sense of Financial Abuse through Lived Experience Advocacy

1800RESPECT: Making Sense of Financial Abuse through Lived-Experience Advocacy

The Challenge: Financial abuse is a frequently misunderstood form of domestic and family violence. 1800RESPECT required a national educational resource that could clearly define the warning signs, emotional impact, and available pathways for support. The objective was to create a trauma-informed narrative that could resonate with victim-survivors while doubling as a strategic tool for public awareness and professional education.

The Solution: We designed and produced a factual narrative series centered on the lived experiences of three courageous survivors. To ensure the project was both safe and strategically sound, we conducted extensive stakeholder interviews with subject matter experts and participants prior to production. This allowed us to carefully craft narratives that honored personal stories while seamlessly integrating the key strategic indicators of financial abuse. To ensure maximum reach, we also supported 1800RESPECT with the launch of the series, including their social media campaign.

The Impact: These films serve as a critical pillar of 1800RESPECT’s national resource library. By highlighting behavioral red flags through relatable stories, the campaign empowered audiences to identify financial abuse and take actionable steps toward safety. The series successfully bridged the gap between clinical definitions and real-world experience, strengthening the national capacity to respond to this specific form of violence.

“We loved working with Jono and the Venn team. They showed sensitivity and creativity in helping us convey the advocate’s experience of financial abuse in such a powerful way. We at 1800RESPECT are really proud of what was created.”

- Libbi Cunnington, 1800RESPECT