| SAFETY ALERT: Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are in danger, please use a safer computer, call the Violence Prevention Center at (618) 235-0892 and/or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE. |
Program Services of VPCSWI
All services are provided free of charge
Twenty-four
Hour Crisis Hotlines
|
| *Belleville (618) 235-0892 |
| *East St. Louis (618) 875-7970 |
| *Chester (618) 826-5959 |
| *Waterloo (618) 939-8114 |
| TDD (618) 233-0741 Fax 235-9521 |
| *1-800-924-0096 Monroe/Randolph Co. Only* |
Women's Shelter · Children's Services · Walk-In · Prevention · Shelter Shop · Hotline Numbers
E-Mail · Homepage
The Violence Prevention Center of
Southwestern Illinois provides services for anyone who is a victim of domestic violence:
women, men, children and the elderly. Any woman who is being abused/battered may seek
temporary shelter at the VPC; alternative arrangements for safe shelter are made for male
victims. The shelter is equipped with facilities for persons with disabilities. The
shelter primarily serves residents of St. Clair, Monroe and Randolph Counties. These
services include:
Charles T. and Joan Meyer Women's Shelter
Women and their dependent children who are fleeing abusive
relationships may be accepted at the shelter to receive crisis stabilization, self esteem
building, and empowerment and self sufficiency skills.
While staying at the shelter, clients receive:
Individual Counseling
Specially trained staff and volunteers will provide women with support and
information. Counselors provide time for each client to discuss her individual issues and
concerns during her stay at the shelter.
Support Groups
These groups are an important process at the shelter where the women can share
common experiences, fears and hopes. This enables the women to understand that they are not
alone and that they can change their lives for the better.
Art Therapy
This program is a therapeutic art expression process that provides clients with a
medium for enhancing communication skills centered around feelings.
Court Advocacy
Advocates are available to assist women residing at the shelter with obtaining
Orders of Protection within the legal system under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
Medical Services
Registered nurses provide medical assessments for every shelter resident.
Educational Services
A literacy project in coordination with Southwestern Illinois College and Monroe/Randolph
County Regional Office of Education provides clients with educational assistance.
Children's Services
The following programs use creative arts techniques such as play therapy, art
therapy, and garden therapy to assist children in learning how to break the cycle of
domestic violence.
The Peace Place
Offers non-residential counseling
services to children ages 5-17 who have a parent participating in counseling at the
Violence Prevention Center.
Children's Shelter Services
Children are
encouraged to accompany their mothers to the Charles T. and Joan Meyer Women's Shelter.
Boys up to the age of 13 may stay with their mothers at the shelter. If a boy is over 13
years old, a more appropriate emergency shelter will be sought. School age children are
immediately placed in a school appropriate to their age level. Services for children
include:
Individual Counseling
Counselors and Child Advocates at the shelter help
the children cope with the effects of the violence in their homes and advocate for the
child victim.
Group Education
While at the shelter children participate in groups
that teach them to identify and express their feelings, learn life and safety skills,
acquire information on substance and sexual abuse, and how to deal with family changes.
Art Therapy
This program provides the children with a non-verbal
way to express their feelings and experiences, and can open the door to their healing.
Recreation
An indoor playroom and outside playground are
available to the children as part of their recreation/leisure time activity. Field trips
to recreational areas and places of interest are also conducted by the children's program
staff.
Health Assessments
All children staying in the shelter are examined by
the registered nurse.
An important goal of the
Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois is to teach the children, the littlest victims of the
dark family secrets, that violence does not have to happen. We try to teach the children
that they can choose to live without violence among their peers and later in their adult
relationships. Today the child victim of current domestic violence does not have to carry
the violence to their future relationships and children. This generation can stop the
violence if they are taught how.
Counseling and Advocacy
Services
Non-residential services are available for clients who choose not to come to VPCSWI for shelter. These
services are available to battered women, men and their dependent children. Potential
clients are requested to call the hotline for an initial assessment and appointment.
Counseling and Advocacy is offered through the:
| Weidmann Counseling and Advocacy Center |
located in Belleville |
| East St. Louis Violence Prevention Center |
located in the Recruiting Station |
| Randolph County Violence Prevention Center |
located in the First Bank building in Chester |
Monroe County Violence Prevention Center |
located in the Waterloo Courthouse |
Counseling and Advocacy services include:
Individual Counseling
Specially trained staff will give clients support and information, help clients assess the
safety of their children, and assist them with identifying alternatives.
Support Groups
Various groups offer the support of men and women who have experienced abuse.
Court Advocacy
Advocates are available to assist clients, both women and men, in obtaining Orders
of Protection within the legal system under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
Domestic Violence Intervention Law Enforcement Program
Advocates are stationed in eight police stations to work closely with victims of domestic
violence immediately after a domestic violence incident.
- Belleville
- Cahokia
- Centerville
- East St. Louis
- Fairview Heights
- O'Fallon
- St. Clair County Sheriff's Department
- Swansea
Passages to Peace
Passages to Peace helps victims of domestic violence who are also facing addictions to work toward violence-free and substance-free lives.
Prevention Services
For if we plant the seeds of non-violence in the families of today,
we will harvest a new generation of families
that are free from fear and violence.
This
statement is the basis of the Prevention Program at the Violence Prevention Center of
Southwestern Illinois. We at the VPCSWI have always been about the business of saving
families. The Prevention Program carries that goal at its core, for the families of today
and the families of tomorrow.
The Prevention Program at
VPCSWI reaches out to every corner of our service area, providing services to:
Professionals
Domestic Violence detection and response training
Schools
Violence Prevention training for teachers and students
Communities
Basic domestic violence education
Clients
Education groups
Violence Prevention Center Shelter Shop
The Violence Prevention Center Shelter Shop is a resale shop that sells pre-owned clothing, furniture, and household items in good condition. Because the Shelter Shop is operated primarily by volunteers, the proceeds from the shop help to support the programs and services of VPC.
Clients of VPC who are in need of emergency clothing and/or other goods the Shelter Shop has in stock can visit the shop for needed items free of charge.
The Shelter Shop is always in need of volunteers and items for re-sale. Anyone wishing to donate their time or used items in good condition are asked to please call the Shelter Shop West at (618) 234-4704.
The Shelter Shop is located at #2C Bellevue Park Plaza
at the intersection of North Belt West and West Main Street in Belleville.
Store Hours
Monday-Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
(618) 234-4704
Sample items accepted:
Clothing in good condition and in season
Household Items
Books
Small Furniture
Donations of used items will be accepted at the Shelter Shop. Due to the overwhelming donations the hours the Shelter Shop can accept donations have recently been changed until further notice to:
Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
and
Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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Women's Shelter · Children's Services · Walk-In · Prevention · Shelter Shop · Hotline Numbers
E-Mail · Homepage
