Violence Prevention and Intervention
The Violence Prevention & Intervention programs’ objective is to prevent and reduce the trauma of exposure to violence in children, families, individuals and communities.
Casa Central’s Violence Prevention and Intervention services includes two programs. In 1987, the agency opened the doors of its Domestic Violence Intervention program. DVI provides crisis intervention, supportive group and individual counseling, psychoeducation, advocacy, information and referral and safety planning services to adults experiencing domestic violence. The Safe Start program began in 2007, and provides services to children under the age of 6 and their families who have been impacted by exposure to violence in their homes and/or communities.
VPI has three main areas of focus:
- To increase community knowledge about the impact of violence on young children, individuals, families and communities, as well as increase awareness of violence prevention and intervention resources through providing trainings for parents, community members and childhood professionals;
- To provide accessible, culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate supportive and therapeutic services for young children and families exposed to violence, and
- To build and maintain a dynamic coalition comprised of stakeholders in Chicago's west side neighborhoods to collaborate, share resources and establish a coordinated community response to violence.
Staff from the Violence Prevention and Intervention programs also provides community outreach and prevention education in local schools, daycare centers, and other organizations, to raise awareness about domestic violence and the impact of exposure to violence on young children.
Casa Central Chicago Safe Start
For more informationClarissa Benitez |
DV Intervention: Key InformationProgram assistance may include court advocacy, securing an order of protection, and referrals to long-term counseling programs. |
For more informationMary Reynolds |
Chicago Safe Start: Key InformationProgram services include specialized assessments, therapeutic services and community education. |
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