Illinois DCFS kicks off The Domestic Violence Co-Location Program in Lake and Winnebago counties in partnership with the Quality Improvement Center on Domestic Violence in Child Welfare

Vernon Hills, IL - The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is joining forces with community partners to improve the safety, permanency and well-being of families experiencing domestic violence who are involved with the child welfare system. DCFS is teaming up with the Quality Improvement Center on Domestic Violence in Child Welfare, Futures Without Violence, Lake County Juvenile Court, Illinois Coalition of Domestic Violence, Ascend Justice, The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence (formerly the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network), A Safe Place and Remedies Renewing Lives to launch The Domestic Violence Co-Location Program.

WHO:  Lonna Davis, Director of Children and Youth Programs, Futures Without Violence
            Sara Block, Senior Attorney, Ascend Justice
            Vicki Smith, CEO/Executive Director, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence
            Amanda Pyron, Executive Director, The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence
            Pat Davenport, CEO, A Safe Place
            Becky Winstead, Vice President of Domestic Violence Services, Remedies Renewing Lives

WHAT:  October is Domestic Violence Month in Illinois. This year, Illinois DCFS announces The Domestic  Violence Co-Location Advocate Program in Lake and Winnebago counties.

WHERE:  Lake County Juvenile Court Depke Center, First Floor, 24647 Milwaukee Ave., 
                Vernon Hills, IL

WHEN:  Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at 11 a.m.

WHY:  The Domestic Violence Co-Location Program (DVCLP) is a partnership between DCFS, domestic violence agencies and other community partners that is funded by a federal Quality Improvement Center grant administered by Futures Without Violence. Under the partnership, domestic violence advocates will be housed in the DCFS Waukegan and Rockford field offices to provide support to child welfare professionals working with families experiencing past or present domestic violence to enhance and strengthen the effectiveness of the child welfare intervention. This partnership specifically targets the shared goals of the domestic community and DCFS to end violence in Illinois families, reduce risk, ensure child safety, enhance the safety of adult survivors of domestic violence, increase offender accountability, support parental strengths and protective capacities, promote sustainable safety, stability and well-being and improve outcomes for children and families experiencing domestic violence. 

About the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS): Founded in 1964, DCFS is responsible for protecting children from abuse or neglect by responding to calls received on the Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873). With the goal of keeping children safe, DCFS strengthens and supports families with a wide range of services. When keeping a child safe means removing them from the home, DCFS makes every effort to reunite them with their family. When the best interest of the child makes this impossible, DCFS is committed to pursuing adoption by loving families to provide children with a safe and permanent home. DCFS is also responsible for licensing and monitoring of all Illinois child welfare agencies.

About A Safe Place: Founded in 1978, A Safe Place is the leading advocate for eliminating domestic violence in northern Illinois, and is Lake County, Illinois' only provider of services exclusively for victims of domestic violence. A Safe Place provides emergency shelter, permanent housing, a 24-hour crisis line (847-249-4450), court and non-legal advocacy, individual, group and children's counseling, art therapy, family visitation services, batterer intervention services, community outreach, prevention education and professional training. The agency's service area includes Lake, McHenry and northern Cook counties in Illinois; however, clients come to A Safe Place from across the state, region and country. For more information about A Safe Place, visit www.asafeplaceforhelp.org.

About Ascend Justice: Ascend Justice is a non-profit legal services organization whose mission is to empower individuals and families impacted by gender-based violence through legal advocacy and system reform. For more information about Ascend Justice, visit www.ascendjustice.org.

About Futures Without Violence (FUTURES): For 40 years, FUTURES has provided groundbreaking programs, policies and campaigns that empower individuals and organizations working to end violence against women and children around the world. Striving to reach new audiences and transform social norms, FUTURES strategically enhances the leadership of diverse professionals such as doctors, nurses, judges and athletic coaches on improving responses to violence and abuse. The organization also works with advocates, policy makers and others to build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships. For more information on FUTURES' work, please go to www.FuturesWithoutViolence.org and sign up to receive alerts.

About the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence: The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence is a 501 (c) 3 membership organization comprised of agencies and individuals supportive of all efforts for the safety of victims of domestic violence and their dependents as well as the accountability of abusers. The administrative office provides advocacy, training and technical assistance to and on behalf of its member agencies and the people they serve.

About The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence: The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence is a collaborative membership organization dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by domestic violence through education, public policy and advocacy; and the connection of community members to direct service providers.
 
About Remedies Renewing Lives: Remedies provides critical and often times lifesaving services to adults struggling with substance abuse and to victims of domestic violence and their children; and works to end the cycle of abuse and addiction through education and community involvement. Remedies is the only domestic violence shelter and advocacy agency in Winnebago and Boone counties. Each year Remedies serves over 1,500 victims of domestic violence, roughly 20% of which are children. Remedies substance abuse programs serve an additional 1,800 adults each year. Remedies provides a safe, supportive environment and critical, client-centered services designed to promote the healing of individuals and families. Remedies is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a voluntary board of directors.