YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE SAUK VALLEY

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM: THE YWCA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM HAS SERVED WHITESIDE AND LEE COUNTIES WITH A FULL RANGE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES SINCE 1982. WE SERVE 600-800 VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE PER YEAR AND PROVIDE OVER 2500 NIGHTS OF SHELTER ANNUALLY (ONE PERSON STAYING ONE NIGHT = ONE NIGHT OF SHELTER). THE PROGRAM ALSO ANNUALLY ASSISTS OVER 200 PEOPLE IN OBTAINING ORDERS OF PROTECTION. OUR CRISIS HOTLINE HAS BOTH STERLING AND DIXON NUMBERS AND IS ANSWERED BY TRAINED STAFF/VOLUNTEERS AT ALL TIMES.THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES COUNSELING FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, 24-HOUR HOTLINE, COURT ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORT GROUPS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. CASEWORKERS ALSO WORK WITH RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS TO ASSIST THEM IN EFFORTS TO BECOME INDEPENDENT AND SUCCESSFUL, BY HELPING THEM MEET NEEDS FOR EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, ETC. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM OFFERS/PROVIDES HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP GROUPS IN AREA HIGH SCHOOLS TO EMPOWER TEENS AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEIR ENTERING VIOLENT RELATIONSHIPS.

SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM: ESTABLISHED IN 1983, THE YWCA SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF RAPE CRISIS SERVICES TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN. SERVICES INCLUDE 24-HOUR CRISIS RESPONSE, COURT AND MEDICAL ADVOCACY, COUNSELING FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE, AND ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAMS IN AREA SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM SERVES 150-200 SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ABUSE PER YEAR, AND PROVIDES ABUSE PREVENTION SERVICES TO OVER 15,000 YOUNG PEOPLE EACH YEAR. THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE HAS BOTH DIXON AND STERLING NUMBERS AND IS ANSWERED BY TRAINED STAFF/VOLUNTEERS AT ALL TIMES.