Domestic Violence
Community Education
A Safe Place's extensive and continuing community education is a key component in achieving our goal of eliminating domestic violence in our communities.
Annually, a full calendar of programs informs the public about the dynamics of domestic violence and the toll it exacts on families and on society.
Staff and volunteers from A Safe Place appear before corporate audiences, civic organizations, church congregations and other public forums in an ongoing effort to increase awareness about the issue of domestic violence.
A Safe Place also hosts several 40-hour training workshops each year to educate volunteers and professionals about the issue of domestic violence.
If you would like more information about A Safe Place's community education program, please call us at 847-731-7165 or email us at info@asafeplaceforhelp.org.
Professional Training and Community Education
Current Events:
April 2008:
- April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. In recognition of this, A Safe Place along with other members of the Family Violence Coordinating Council of Lake County are offering a series of free trainings to educators about domestic violence, child abuse, teen dating violence, and the effects of substance abuse on families. Trainings are at CLC in Grayslake on April 8, 15, 22, and 29. Contact Nila Grahl at (847)543-2315 for more information.
- Domestic Violence awareness training and ASP service information provided to women’s group at Gateway Foundation (substance abuse recovery program)
- Annual Officer In-service week-long training, which includes 2 hours of DV training provided by Coordinator of Professional and Prevention Education available to Lake County Law Enforcement
- A Safe Place welcomes Gurnee Firefighter Bill Burkhart to provide CPR/First Aid training to staff. Special thanks to Bill: he is volunteering the time!
- Staff in-service provided by Prairie State Legal Services and National Immigrant Justice Center
- Professional training to be provided to Prairie State Legal Services on Risk Assessment, Safety Planning, and Working with DV Victims and Survivors
- Volunteer Recognition night for A Safe Place volunteers (April 29)
May 2008:
- Professional Training to be provided to the staff at Kids Hope United on domestic violence, the effects on children, and teen dating violence.
- Training offered to volunteers at CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) about the effects of witnessing violence on children and child abuse intervention
- Annual Officer In-service week-long training, which includes 2 hours of DV training provided by A Safe Place available to Lake County Law Enforcement
June 2008:
- 40-hour domestic violence awareness and intervention training program available to new staff, volunteers, and community professionals; will be held on June 16, 17, 18, 19 and 23, 24, 25, and 26 at the College of Lake County. Contact Liz Fales for more information at (847)731-7165 x 102 or Kate Cothell for volunteer info at (847)731-7165 x 108
- Domestic Violence awareness training and ASP service information will be provided to women’s group at Gateway Foundation (substance abuse recovery program)
Professional Training and Community Education
Recent Events:
March 2008:
- Professional training provided to all shifts of Grayslake Fire Dept. along with other members of the Family Violence Coordinating Council of Lake County (FVCC) such as Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, Catholic Charities, and Children’s Advocacy Center – topics ranging from Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, child abuse, substance abuse, and elder abuse
- Domestic Violence awareness training and A Safe Place (ASP) service information presented to Zacharias Center (formerly LaCASA) Volunteers
- 5 officers from Lake Forest Police Department and one officer from Buffalo Grove participated in the Annual Officer In-service week-long training, which includes 2 hours of DV training provided by Coordinator of Professional and Prevention Education
- Domestic Violence awareness training and A Safe Place (ASP) service information presented to women’s survivor group at Holy Family Church in Waukegan (*Spanish-speaking group)
- Participated in Junior League of Chicago 2008 Spring Breakfast Networking Forum
- Domestic Violence awareness training and ASP service information provided to Lake County Women’s Probation Trauma group
- Domestic Violence (DV) awareness, Effects of DV on Children, Teen Dating Violence and ASP service information professional training provided to Arden Shore Family Counseling Center staff of Vernon Hills
- PPE Coordinator met with members of Mundelein Police Dept. (including Chief Rose) and Mundelein school administrators to discuss the organization and implementation of Chicago Foundation for Women grant project, particularly the involvement of prevention education programs and professional training in Mundelein schools (project includes: ride-alongs, follow-up calls, enhanced professional training, community awareness/involvement, and prevention education to Mundelein schools)
- Staff in-service training provided by Nicasa: Gambling Awareness and Domestic Violence
- Staff in-service provided by Lake County Health Department Women’s Residential Services (WRS) Program: WRS services, Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Substance Abuse
February 2008
- 40-hour domestic violence awareness and intervention training program available to new staff, volunteers, and community professionals
- Training to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteers
- Domestic Violence (DV) awareness, Effects of DV on Children, Teen Dating Violence and ASP service information professional training provided to deans and social workers at Grayslake North High School
- 5 officers from Lake Forest Police Department and one officer from a Cook County department (Berwin) participated in the Annual Officer In-service week-long training, which includes 2 hours of DV training
- Co-facilitated group to discuss the effects of domestic violence on children for mom’s group at Mary Pat Maddox, (substance abuse recovery/transitional living program for women at Catholic Charities)
- Professional training follow-up provided to all 3 shifts on Gurnee Fire Department; topic: Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
- Family Violence Coordinating Council School Guidebook training provided to Wauconda schools, presented by ASP and other members of council (including Children’s Advocacy Center, DCFS, and Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office) on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse intervention and prevention
- Domestic Violence awareness training and ASP service information provided to women’s group at Gateway Foundation (substance abuse recovery program)
- Executive Director and PPE Coordinator met with members of Mundelein Police Dept. (including Chief Rose) to discuss the organization and implementation of Chicago Foundation for Women grant project (ride-alongs, follow-up calls, enhanced professional training, community awareness/involvement, and prevention education to Mundelein schools)
- PPE Coordinator continues to meet with Network partners (YWCA, LaCASA/Zacharias Center, local law enforcement, Arden Shore, Catholic Charities, etc.)
- Staff in-service training provided by Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center (formerly LaCASA): Age-Appropriate Sexual Behavior in Children, Warning Signs of Abuse, and services available to families
January 2008
- YWCA Parenting Groups to discuss domestic violence awareness and effects of domestic violence on children
- Mary Pat Maddex Mom’s Group to discuss domestic violence awareness and effects of domestic violence on children, which is a branch of Catholic Charities and transitional living program for women recovering from substance abuse
- Domestic Violence awareness training and A Safe Place (ASP) service information presented to parent group at Red Oak School in Highland Park (*Spanish-speaking parent group)
- 5 officers from Lake Forest Police Department and one officer from Winthrop Harbor participated in the Annual Officer In-service week-long training, which includes 2 hours of DV training provided by Coordinator of Professional and Prevention Education
- Domestic Violence awareness training and ASP service information provided to series of mom’s groups at YWCA (weekly for the month of January)
- Professional training provided to Beach Park Fire Dept. along with other members of the Family Violence Coordinating Council of Lake County (FVCC) such as Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, Catholic Charities, and Children’s Advocacy Center – topics ranging from Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, child abuse, substance abuse, and elder abuse
- Domestic violence education and ASP service info provided at EMS training (paramedic school) at Highland Park hospital
- Meeting held with Grayslake Police Department to discuss professional training opportunities
- Staff In-service provided by Lake County YWCA: Services Available and Daycare Referral Program details
Professional Training and Community Education
On-going Community Involvement:
19th Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council
- Made up of members throughout Lake County from social services agencies, the legal community, the faith community, the health community, educators, and other members of the professional community. There are 5 subcommittees, including health committee, faith committee, education committee, symposium committee, and steering committee, all of which are focused on improving community response to family violence in each of the subcategories.
Lake County Chiefs of Police Association
- Monthly meetings for Lake County Chiefs of Police and the State’s Attorney’s Office to collaborate and discuss upcoming trainings. Social service providers such as A Safe Place (ASP), LaCASA/Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, and Children’s Advocacy Center also participate.
Chicago Area Domestic Violence Providers/Outreach/Training/Volunteer Coordinators Collaborative Committee
- Bi-monthly meetings in Chicago with other area providers to network, share resources, and collaborate for training, etc.
Lake County Domestic Violence Council
- Collaborative meetings with A Safe Place (ASP), Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Abuser Service Providers, Public Defenders Office, Law Enforcement, Judges, and other social service agencies throughout Lake County to address on-going issues related to DV.
Teen Dating Violence Coalition
- Hosted by Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, along with several other local service providers including ASP to raise awareness and address the issues as a community concern.
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