My girls and I are victims of Domestic/child abuse.  My oldest child currently experiences night terrors with sleep walking where she relives the abuse.  She is also in therapy.  We are finally going to trial against their dad, the one that committed this against us, in 2 counties in 2 different states.  He does have a fully protection order against him for my girls and myself.  We also have a no contact order put in place by 2 states.  

I had to leave a very good job in KS to move out of state to keep my girls and I safe on Aug 26th, 2024.  Ever since moving, it took me 2 months to finally find a job.  Wasn't the best job but it paid the bills.  On April 30th, 2025, I was let go from that job with no real reason as to why.  I had not received any write ups or bad evaluations while being there.  I was just let go and they have been trying to prevent me from collecting unemployment.  

I've been trying to find another job, but it's very tough since I'm a single mom of 2 young kids.  Not a lot of places will understand that time off that is needed due to illnesses of the girls and will either not hire me or will fire me once I have to take off because they get sick.  

I have a child support hearing coming up and their dad has done nothing to really comply with the state.  He hasn't filled out anything regarding his income and when we had our first hearing in May, he requested that he could just show up via zoom.  Which was fine because I don't want him anywhere near us.  However, when he did go on zoom he played like he couldn't get his video to work and didn't know how to fix it.  We agreed to have a continuance so I could try to find a lawyer and he was told by the judge that he will be expected to have his video working on zoom for the next hearing.  I have talked to several lawyers and have tried calling legal aid so many times.  I can't afford a lawyer and legal aid never calls you back.  I'm trying to get proof of all his income because he hasn't provided anything again.  I'm having to pull a bunch of forms to file to try and get what I can so OUR kids will be taken care of.  

Due to his history of either nonpayment or only partial payment of child support for his ex-wife and their 3 kids, there is a very good chance he will not pay or help out to financially support our kids.  He didn't waste any time getting another girl pregnant either and now has twins on the way in June 2025 .  I'm sure he will use that as an excuse as to why he can't pay, even though he has more than enough income or assets to cover child support.  

I've been told IF he pays his child support then I will be taken off any state help.  However, if he doesn't pay we will continue to struggle.  He knows I don't have to resources to continually take him back to court so he is just not complying and making me work for every little cent and he knows that the amount will be set too low to really help and he won't be paying anything.  The state also will only fight to have a child support amount set and order someone to cover the insurance on the kids.  That's it!  Everything else such as help with childcare/schooling, medical bills, or whatever else is needed will not be addressed and I will have to figure out how to represent myself to address those concerns.  Then again if I'm able to get those set, there is a very good chance he won't even pay them.  

I feel the system is very broken, which is why I'm on here asking for any help that your heart may let you give.  I would love to just go back to school to get a work from home job, in medical billing and coding.  Then once I graduate with an associates in that, I won't have to worry about my girls being taken care of because I will be the one taking care of them with my own financial means.  This job option would also give me the freedom to attend any school functions with them and be present for any extracurricular activities they may have.  Also, if they are sick, then I can still work and pull my hours around me taking care of them.  

For me to complete my schooling full time, it will take me about 18 months.  I would be asking for help for everything such as rent and bills so I can complete this goal just so I can make sure my kids are taken care of.  If I'm able to go back to school full time and have all bills taken care of while I do that, I would be so blessed and super appreciative of everyones contributions.  I don't know of any other way to be able to financially support my girls, the way they deserve, without getting my degree.  I feel very embarrassed having to go on here to ask for the help, but I don't know any other way.  I've look into literally any other avenue to try to get my girls what they need.  I don't know where else to turn.