Safe Passage Inc

TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN DEKALB COUNTY

PARTNER ABUSE INTERVENTION PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR. PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE 26 GROUP SESSIONS. STAFF EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ABOUT THE CAUSES AND FORMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; PROVIDE SKILLS FOR HANDLING IMMEDIATE CONFLICT WITHOUT BECOMING ABUSIVE; PROMOTE ATTITUDES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH NON- ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR AND CHALLENGE ATTITUDES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR. THIS PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH VICTIM SERVICES AND IS CERTIFIED BY DHS.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM SERVICES: (1) EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR SURVIVORS AND THEIR VULNERABLE FAMILY MEMBERS: THE EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDES SURVIVORS WITH A SAFE, PROTECTIVE TEMPORARY RESIDENCE AND THE RELATED NECESSITIES SUCH AS FOOD AND CLOTHING. WE HAVE 21 BEDS IN OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER. (2) TRANSITIONAL SHELTER: CLIENTS MAY STAY FOR TWO YEARS DURING WHICH TIME THEY WORK WITH FAMILY ADVOCATES TO DEVELOP AND WORK ON GOALS TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. CLIENTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO ATTEND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND GROUP COUNSELING REGARDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT SAFE PASSAGE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TEN APARTMENTS. (3) 24 HOUR RESPONSE TO CALLS FROM THE HOTLINE: CALLS FROM THE ILLINOIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELP LINE AND WALK-IN SERVICES TO PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION THAT MEETS THE URGENT PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF SURVIVORS. (4) INFORMATION AND REFERRAL: ASSISTS SURVIVORS IN OBTAINING OTHER SERVICES AND RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. (5) COUNSELING SERVICES: WE PROVIDE COUNSELING / PEER SUPPORT AND THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING (INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP) FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. (6) ADVOCACY: WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY (SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO ENSURE RIGHTS AND SAFETY), LEGAL/COURT ADVOCACY (ASSISTING A SURVIVOR IN OBTAINING LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND TO IMPLEMENT THE ILLINOIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT), MEDICAL ADVOCACY AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY (CHANGING AND INFLUENCING SYSTEMS IN WAYS THAT WILL BENEFIT SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE). (7) TRANSPORTATION: WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY OR PROVIDE DIRECT TRANSPORTATION TO SURVIVORS IN FURTHERANCE OF THEIR SERVICE PLAN. (8) OUTREACH AND PREVENTION SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY: THIS SERVICE IS PROVIDED TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE RELATED SERVICES AVAILABLE.

SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM SERVICES: (1) 24 HOUR HOTLINE AND 24 HOUR ACCESS TO CRISIS INTERVENTION: WE RESPOND TO CALLS AND WALK-IN CLIENTS 24 HOURS/DAY 365 DAYS/YEAR. (2) INFORMATION AND REFERRAL: WE ARE A SOURCE FOR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL FOR VICTIMS, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS AND THE PUBLIC ON SEXUAL ASSAULT INCLUDING OTHER RESOURCES. (3) INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL ADVOCACY: WE PROVIDE IN-PERSON SUPPORT AND INFORMATION TO VICTIMS AT MEDICAL FACILITIES 24 HOURS/DAY. (4) INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY: WE PROVIDE 24 HOUR ADVOCACY FOR VICTIMS WITH POLICE, STATE ATTORNEY AND THE COURT SYSTEM. THIS SERVICE PROVIDES THE VICTIM WITH EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND ACCOMPANIMENT THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. (5) INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY: WE PROVIDE ADVOCACY FOR VICTIMS WITH OTHER SYSTEMS, COORDINATING SERVICES AND ENSURING VICTIM'S RIGHTS. (6) IN-PERSON COUNSELING: WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. (7) PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: WE PROVIDE EDUCATION, SKILLS BUILDING AND EVALUATION OF SKILLS TO PREPARE OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO EFFECTIVELY INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS WITH THEIR INSTITUTIONS. (8) EDUCATION: WE PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ORDER TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN PREVENTION AND SOCIAL CHANGE. (9) INSTITUTIONAL ADVOCACY: WE WORK WITH PERSONNEL IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, CHILD PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS ON BEHALF OF ALL SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.