When people think about domestic violence, many picture the same story: a woman with visible bruises trying to leave a physically abusive husband. While that certainly happens, it's only part of the picture. Domestic violence affects people of every age, race, religion, income level, gender identity, sexual orientation, profession, and education level. It impacts people living in cities and rural communities. It affects teenagers, retirees, stay-at-home parents, healthcare pr

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

The Violence Prevention Center announces Courtney Kampwerth as the new Executive Director.

A note of gratitude as Darlene Jones begins a new chapter. After 14 years of dedicated service and leadership, Jones retires.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), a time dedicated to shining a light on an issue that too often hides in plain sight. When people hear “dating violence,” they often imagine adults in long-term relationships. But the reality is that unhealthy and abusive dynamics frequently begin much earlier. For many survivors, the first experience of control, manipulation, or harm happens during adolescence. According to national data, nearly 1 in 3 teens in the Un

January has a way of making everything feel urgent. New year. New goals. New habits. A fresh start. But for many people — especially survivors of domestic violence — the idea of “starting over” can feel overwhelming, unrealistic, or even unsafe. Healing doesn’t follow a calendar. And survival doesn’t reset just because the year changes. At the Violence Prevention Center, we want to say this clearly: You don’t have to start over to deserve support. Healing Isn’t Linear — and T

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

Cycles of abuse often begin in the everyday moments where anger, frustration, or stress take over. When children grow up in homes where...

Earlier this month, we shared ways to prioritize your digital safety —practical steps like updating passwords, checking devices, and...

Digital safety is key to survivor safety. Here are a few key steps to staying safe in our digital world