Domestic Violence Outreach

In an emergency, call 911.

Mission

The Archdiocese of Chicago Domestic Violence Outreach (ACDVO) mission is expressed in three words.

Awareness–Services–Prevention

New Items

New Ways to Give
Reflections for Domestic Violence Victims & Survivors (English) (Spanish)
Catholic Charities – Teen Dating Violence and How to Help (PDF)
ACDVO’s Newsletter – Fall 2023 (PDF)

Prevention

Learn about ACDVO’s prevention initiative based on the CDC’s Dating Matters healthy relationships curriculum and hear from teens on their experiences with abuse. Prevention is the only way to eliminate years of abuse and suffering.

Teen Dating Violence in the First Person

Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention Training for Educators is a free, online course developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and available to educators, school personnel, youth mentors, and others dedicated to improving teen health. Follow a school administrator throughout his day as he highlights what teen dating violence is and how to prevent it through graphic novel scenarios, interactive exercises, and information gathered from leading experts. (Link)

Teen Dating Violence and Domestic Violence

Our work and study in domestic violence teaches that dating violence and domestic violence are indistinguishable and that consequences are severe and very often long lasting.
We want to help change the way things are. It is imperative that children learn the dynamics of healthy and unhealthy relationships. The Dating Matters curriculum can help us do so. Dating Matters is evidence based. Dating Matters is effective in changing behavior and thereby helps reduce and prevent teen dating violence.
ACDVO began piloting the Dating Matters Curriculum with one school in October 2020.For the 2023-2024 academic year, the pilot will include eight Catholic schools and seven Chicago Public Schools. Our goal is to establish Dating Matters as an integral element of the academic curriculum in private and public schools in Illinois.

Dating Matters Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships is a comprehensive teen dating violence prevention model developed by the CDC to stop teen dating violence before it starts. Dating Matters is an evidence-based teen dating violence prevention model. It focuses on teaching 11-14-year-olds healthy relationship skills before they start dating and reducing behaviors that increase the risk for dating violence, like substance abuse and sexual risk-taking. (Link)

Awareness

Learn about the dynamics of intimate partner violence (IPV) from abuse survivors, abusers, and experts in the field. Hear from Fr. Chuck Dahm, O.P. and church leadership as they shine a light on IPV and explain how to develop a parish ministry focused on domestic violence.

Mr. Lundy Bancroft
Abusers, Victims and Children

Fr. Chuck Dahm
Homily at Holy Name

Pope Francis
Speaks on Domestic Violence

Bishop Michael Burbidge
Homily on Domestic Violence

Bishop Mark Brennan
Homily on Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence in
Faith Communities

Fr. Chuck Dahm - Homily on Domestic Violence

Homily on Domestic Violence by Father Chuck Dahm – English (PDF) Spanish (PDF) Polish (PDF)

Catholic Bishops’ Position (Link)

Fr. Chuck Dahm – The Catholic Response to Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Traps

“I didn’t know it was abuse.” “I thought I could fix it.” “I didn’t tell anyone.”

Domestic Violence in the First Person

Leslie's Story
Why Domestic Violence
Victims Don't Leave

Felix’s Story
Child Witness of Abuse
Becomes an Abuser

Maria's Story
Cuenta la vida de una mujer valiente
que nos inspira

Victims' Stories
Why We Stayed

Dina’s Analysis
Unmasking the Abuser

Abuse Witnesses’ Stories
Something My Father Would Do

Services

Where can you get help or learn more about IPV? Information on Hotlines, Service Agencies and other support Resources are provided in this section.

For help call the National Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline at 800.799.7233 or 800.787.3224 TTY. Visit www.ndvh.org for more information. Please call if you are a victim, a relative, friend, parish staff or a domestic violence ministry member seeking information.

Hotlines

National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) (Link)
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), 1.800.656.HOPE (4673) (Link)
Love is Respect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 1.866.331.9474, 1.866.331.8453 TTY You can also chat live online with a trained Peer Advocate from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. (CST) daily (Link)
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, 1.877.863.6338 (Link)

Service Agencies

Agencies and Additional Information (PDF)
Agencies Statewide (DOC)

Chicago

Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Services – Various Locations. Please call 1.312.655.7725
The Network – Chicago: Downtown (Link)
Connections for Abused Women and Their Children – Chicago (Link)
Family Rescue – Chicago: Downtown & South Side (Link)
Apna Ghar – Chicago: North Side (Link)
Between Friends – Chicago: North Side (Link)
House of the Good Shepherd – Chicago: North Side (Link)
KAN-WIN – Chicago: North Side & NW Suburbs (Link)
Hope Family Services – Chicago: Pilsen (Link)
Mujeres Latinas en Accion – Chicago: Near South Side & Western Suburbs, (Link)
A New Direction – Chicago: Beverly & Morgan Park (Link)

Suburbs

WINGS – Suburbs & Chicago (Link)
Sarah’s Inn – Oak Park (Link)
Pillars – La Grange, Berwyn, Hickory Hills, Hodgkins, Summit, & Western Springs (Link)
Life Span – Des Plaines (Link)
Barrington Youth and Family Services – Barrington (Link)
A Safe Place – Zion (Link)
House of Peace – Waukegan (Link)
Turning Point – Woodstock (Link)
Crisis Center for South Suburbia – Tinley Park (Link)
South Suburban Family Shelter – South Suburbs (Link)

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Link)
Faith and Trust Institute (Link)
Futures Without Violence (Link)
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (Link)
National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (Link)
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, 1.877.863.6338 (Link)

Human Dignity and Solidarity