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:
July 2008:
- Staff in-service training featuring Childserv
- Advocate Good Shepard Hospital in Barrington “Lunch and Learn” with hospital staff; topics include A Safe Place services, key indicators of abuse, safety planning and responding to victims of abuse and violence
- A Safe Place will meet with the Grayslake Exchange Club – along with members of the Family Violence Coordinating Council – to discuss domestic violence in the workplace and responding safely to employees who are victims of abuse
- Staff in-service training featuring CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
- Professional training to be provided to OB/GYN of Libertyville staff; topics include A Safe Place services, key indicators of abuse, the risks of pregnancy for victims of intimate partner violence, safety planning, and responding to victims of abuse and violence
August 2008:
- Domestic Violence awareness training and ASP service information will be provided to women’s group at Gateway Foundation (substance abuse recovery program)
- Information will be provided to Paramedic Licensing program at Highland Park Hospital; topics include A Safe Place services, key indicators of abuse, safety planning and responding to victims of abuse and violence
- Staff in-service to be provided by Lake County Adult Probation
September 2008:
- 40-hour domestic violence awareness and intervention training program available to new staff, volunteers, and community professionals; will be held on evenings and weekends from Sept. 4-25 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.
- Friends of A Safe Place luncheon, including domestic violence awareness information
- A Safe Place will participate in a collaborative training with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office geared towards local law enforcement; topics will include working with victims of abuse, including immigrant families, VAWA, and safe responses to violence in the home
Professional Training and Community Education Recent Events:
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)
- Family Violence Coordinating Council School Guidebook training will be provided to the staff of Gurnee Park District, including summer camp counselors, to raise awareness, and address dynamics of abuse and violence, key indicators of abuse, and responding to victims of abuse; A Safe Place will present in collaboration with the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center and DCFS
- Teleconference sponsored by the Chicago Foundation for Women: “Health of Young Women Impacted by the Sex Trade”
- Family Violence Coordinating Council statewide train-the-trainer conference in Springfield: “Firearms and Domestic Violence”
May 2008:
- Professional Training 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
- Hawthorn Woods Women’s Club Spring Luncheon
- Deer Path Middle School Parent Meeting to discuss Prevention Education program and responding to teen dating violence as a parent (Lake Forest)
- Teleconference sponsored by Jewish Women International featuring Lundy Bancroft: “Kids Caught in the Crossfire”
- Staff in-service featuring film and discussion of “Turning a Corner”, which addresses prostitution and the sex trade in the Chicago area
- Domestic Violence Awareness provided to several probation’s groups throughout the months of April and May in both English and Spanish
April 2008:
- April was 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 offered a series of free trainings to educators about domestic violence, child abuse, teen dating violence, and the effects of substance abuse on families. Trainings were at CLC in Grayslake on April 8, 15, 22, and 29 and had excellent turn-out and feedback from participants.
- 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 welcomed Gurnee Firefighter Bill Burkhart to provide CPR/First Aid training to staff. Special thanks to Bill for an excellent training!
- Staff in-service provided by Prairie State Legal Services and National Immigrant Justice Center
- Professional training 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)
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; also participate in the Domestic Violence Services subcommittee.
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