Domestic Violence

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*

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:

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.

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.

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.

This program is a therapeutic art expression process that provides clients with a medium for enhancing communication skills centered around feelings.

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.

A literacy project in coordination with Southwestern Illinois College and Monroe/Randolph County Regional Office of Education provides clients with educational assistance.

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.

Offers non-residential counseling services to children ages 5-17 who have a parent participating in counseling at the Violence Prevention Center.

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:

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.

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.

This program provides the children with a non-verbal way to express their feelings and experiences, and can open the door to their healing.

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.

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.

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.

Specially trained staff will give clients support and information, help clients assess the safety of their children, and assist them with identifying alternatives.

Various groups offer the support of men and women who have experienced abuse.

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.

Advocates are stationed in eight police stations to work closely with victims of domestic violence immediately after a domestic violence incident.

Passages to Peace helps victims of domestic violence who are also facing addictions to work toward violence-free and substance-free lives.

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:

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.

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:

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

Program Services of VPCSWI

Twenty-four Hour Crisis Hotlines

Charles T. and Joan Meyer Women's Shelter

Children's Services

Counseling and Advocacy Services

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.

Violence Prevention Center Shelter Shop

Program Services of VPCSWI

Twenty-four Hour Crisis Hotlines

Charles T. and Joan Meyer Women's Shelter

Children's Services

Counseling and Advocacy Services

Prevention Services

For if we plant the seeds of non-violence in the families of today,we will harvest a new generation of familiesthat are free from fear and violence.

Violence Prevention Center Shelter Shop

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.