Safe Passage

It is the mission of Safe Passage to reduce and prevent domestic and sexual violence in DeKalb County. To that end, we provide a range of services to victims as well as prevention and activities designed to prevent violence from ever occurring.

Description:
Safe Passage provides a wide range of services to victims of domestic and sexual violence including crisis intervention and medical advocacy; short and long-term housing for victims and their children; counseling; legal advocacy; children and teen services; community education; and a batterer's intervention program.
Our primary service area and the one within which volunteers most often participate is our 24-hour emergency response program. This program includes a 24-hour crisis line, a 24-hour hospital emergency response and 24-hour crisis assistance to residential clients.

History:
Safe Passage is the domestic and sexual violence prevention and intervention agency serving DeKalb County. Incorporated in 1981 as a result of citizen concern that there was no safe place for victims of domestic violence, the agency has continued to expand programs and services to a significantly increased number of clients each year. We provide a range of services 24 hours per day, every day of the year.
In 1990, a satellite office was opened in the southern part of the county, which is approximately 35 miles from the DeKalb site.
In 1992, the agency, in partnership with the DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office, sponsored a domestic violence task force in which 45 community leaders actively worked to develop new Criminal Justice System policies and procedures related to domestic violence. Countywide pro-arrest policies, improved prosecution policies, and a batterer intervention program resulted.
In 1995, Safe Passage developed a Transitional Housing Project, which was a priority need as identified through a city-wide process initiated by the City of DeKalb. The project involved the acquisition and rehabilitation of property to be used for transitional housing.

In 1996, we developed a 24-hour hospital response program in cooperation with Kishwaukee Hospital. Those services were later expanded to include Valley West Hospital in Sandwich.

In 1997, in cooperation with a local Hispanic advocacy organization, we began family education groups for Hispanic women designed to safely provide domestic violence information to a population not ordinarily disposed to seek services. Child care and transportation were provided. This effort substantially increased the number of Hispanic women we were able to reach and was part of a coordinated multi-agency effort. This year, we began providing a group for Spanish speaking men convicted of domestic violence.

In 1998, a program for victims with substance abuse problems was developed and funded. The program is a joint effort between Safe Passage and Ben Gordon Center.
An anger group for women was also developed in order to ensure that victim-sensitive services would be available to women referred by the courts in 1999.

In 1999, the children's program created a specific prevention program for teens and pre-teens, in addition to all regular children's services. This program, locally funded, is designed to help boys choose non-violence in relationships and to help girls avoid becoming involved in violent relationships. This program is also provided to non-English speaking children and to children who attend alternative schools.

In 2000, the children’s program was further expanded to include opportunities for assessment and treatment by licensed psychologists, and individual and group art therapy by licensed art therapists. Safe Passage also implemented a victim advocacy program with law enforcement in a local police district. The program, called DART (Domestic Abuse Response Team), has been very successful.

In 2001, Safe Passage was able to expand our transitional housing project to include a broader, more holistic focus designed to help clients and their children make the transition to independence. In addition, we began a partnership with the county health center to provide on-site medial screenings to our clients. An arrangement with Prairie State Legal Services also made it possible for our clients to have access to an attorney on regularly scheduled weekly visits at the shelter.

In 2002, Safe Passage began working cooperatively with Northern Illinois University on the development of a relationship violence project that is funded through the United States Department of Justice. Additionally, Safe Passage became part of the Steering Committee for the 16th Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council; the Executive Director of Safe Passage chairs the Abuser Services Committee of this council. In addition, Safe Passage was a part of a State-funded project on community policing in domestic violence cases, in order to ensure better services and partnerships with law enforcement.

In 2003, we acquired a sexual assault and abuse services program through an agreement with then Executive Director of Ben Gordon Center. Additionally, we entered into a partnership with the Youth Service Bureau to provide domestic violence and assessment services to adolescents in trouble with the law. In 2004, sexual assault services received state funding for the first time in DeKalb County history.
This past year, we provided services through three major programs: domestic violence victims, sexual assault victims, and services to domestic abusers. The Kishwaukee United way provides funding for the domestic violence victims program.

Services include a 24 hour hotline, 24 hour hospital response, shelter (both short term and long term housing for victims of domestic violence), advocacy including legal advocacy, counseling (both group support and individual counseling), education, information and referrals, children’s activities and groups as well as children’s therapy including art therapy. Services are offered in both English and Spanish wherever possible. A program for perpetrators of domestic violence included groups and assessments, both in English and in Spanish for 190 men last year. Every month, we see approximately 286 people in our domestic violence and sexual assault programs; 57% of those clients come from DeKalb and Sycamore.

We also provide a wide range of prevention services to children and adolescents through area schools. We train professionals such as police, medical personnel, and attorneys and present education and information generally throughout the community. Last year, we provided over 990 presentations to over 9,000 people.

We received a special grant this year to develop and implement an anti-bullying program in the schools. We are beginning the project by partnering with Chesebro where we will train staff, develop a steering committee, make presentations to the students and act as active consultants in the elimination of bullying behaviors at that school.
Safe Passage has continually responded to the changing needs of the DeKalb County community and has worked to ensure that State resources of all kinds are brought to bear on the needs of DeKalb county citizens.

Contact person: Amanda Schrems, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (815) 756-7932

Address:

P.O. Box 621 DeKalb, IL 60115

Web Site: http://www.safepassagedv.org

Last updated on November 5, 2009