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Goal
To contribute to the improvement of the family violence legal system and the administration of justice.
The 18th Judicial FVCC serves DuPage County and is led by Chair the Honorable Judge Ann Celine Walsh.
The FVCC provides a forum to share and discuss information to promote a coordinated response to family violence in our county and to improve the justice system’s institutional, professional and community response to intimate partner abuse, child abuse, teen dating violence and persons with disabilities and older adult abuse. The work by multiple committees focuses around 3 pillars:
- Systems change – for needed policy change
- Professional training and education – focusing on law enforcement and criminal justice personnel
- Community awareness – educating the public
Background
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois convened the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council (IFVCC) in 1993 to address child abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse. It is the only judicially led family violence organization in the country that operates at both the local and state levels. Judges convene and chair the local councils and the state council.
Local councils emphasize prevention through strengthened services, comprehensive systems, coordination, protocol development, public education, professional training and information exchange. Members are policy-level and practitioner decision makers representing the many systems that interact with family violence victims and perpetrators.
Accomplishments
- Created and distributed the 18th Judicial Circuit Court Family Violence Roll Call training video to all DuPage County police departments
- Provided family violence training for DuPage County court personnel and EMS personnel
- Presented the “Talking About Stalking” and "Talking About Stalking 2.0 Cyberstalking and Internet Safety" community awareness events in partnership with Benedictine University and many county departments and community organizations
- Provided family violence - persons with disabilities/older adults protocol (PWDA/OA) and domestic violence protocol workshops for law enforcement, prosecutors and victim advocates
- Offered the "Vicarious Trauma in the Work Environment: Strategies for Resilience" training workshop for direct service providers who work with trauma survivors and/or challenging circumstances, in partnership with the 18th Judicial Circuit Court Probation and Court Services Department
- Provided "Strangulation: The Final Warning" training workshop to criminal justice professionals to help them save lives and improve their response to strangulation crimes - the most lethal and serious cases in the context of domestic violence and sexual assault
Resources
