When people think about domestic violence or sexual violence services, they often picture crisis response—hotlines, shelters, counseling, or court advocacy. Those services are essential, but prevention and healing often begin much earlier. For many survivors, the first person they tell is not an advocate. It may be a coworker, teacher, healthcare provider, pastor, friend, or someone else they trust. Sometimes disclosures are direct, and sometimes they come in the form of ques

When someone chooses to share an experience of abuse, violence, or harm, they are often taking an enormous risk. Many survivors spend days, months, or even years weighing whether it is safe to tell someone. They may fear being blamed, doubted, dismissed, or misunderstood. That’s why our response matters so deeply. At the Violence Prevention Center, we believe survivors. Not because every survivor tells their story perfectly or remembers every detail in order, but because trau

Every year, Give STL Day brings our region together for one powerful purpose: supporting the nonprofits that make St. Louis a safer, stronger, and more connected place to live. This year, Give STL Day takes place on May 7—and early giving is already open. Hosted by the St. Louis Community Foundation, Give STL Day is a 24-hour day of generosity that has raised millions of dollars for local organizations over the past decade. At the Violence Prevention Center, your support dire

For survivors of domestic violence, the first night after escaping is often the hardest. Even when the door finally closes and locks behind them, the body doesn’t immediately understand it’s safe. Survivors tell us about the shaking. The long, sleepless hours. The way they keep their shoes close by—just in case. They talk about fear not as an emotion, but as a sound: a constant hum in the background of their lives. One woman told our staff, “I didn’t realize how loud fear was

It’s a question that too many survivors of domestic violence hear — from friends, family, and sometimes even from themselves: “Why don’t they just leave?” But for those experiencing abuse, leaving is not that simple. In fact, it can be the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship. The Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois works with survivors every day who face a complex web of barriers that make “just leaving” nearly impossible without safety planning and

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) reminds us that behind every statistic is a story—and behind every story is a community that can help rewrite the ending. This year’s theme, Every1KnowsSome1 , is a powerful reminder that domestic violence doesn’t only happen to “other people.” It happens in every neighborhood, across every background, age, and income level. Chances are, someone you know has been affected. What It Really Means When we say “Every1KnowsSome1,” we’re nam

When we think about abuse in relationships, we often picture adults. But unhealthy and abusive patterns can begin much earlier. In fact,...

When people hear the word shelter , they might think of a building or a bed to sleep in for the night. But for survivors of domestic...