Bob Berlin and State's Attorneys Join DuPage's Family Violence Coordinating Council to Paint West Chicago Purple

 
 

WEST CHICAGO - Last night, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert “Bob” Berlin, Assistant State’s Attorneys and support staff from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office (DuPage SAO) joined Judges Ann Celine Walsh and Christina Kye and the Family Violence Coordinating Council (FVCC) in West Chicago for another Paint the Town Purple effort. This initiative brings community partners and volunteers together to raise awareness and make domestic violence resources more visible across DuPage County through our purple DV Resource QR Code Poster.

Since launching Paint the Town Purple last Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the FVCC and its partners (including the DuPage SAO) have expanded the initiative, by visiting four communities and distributing the QR Code posters to more than 260 businesses. Representatives from the 18th Judicial Circuit Court’s Probation Division, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, and Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services were also present.

The event brought together volunteers to raise awareness and make resources visible across DuPage County using the DV Resource QR Code posters. State’s Attorney Berlin was joined by  a large contingent of Assistant State’s Attorneys who donated their personal time to help in the effort. State’s Attorney Berlin is also a member of the FVCC.

 
 

The FVCC’s goal is 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 the Honorable Judge Ann Celine Walsh, serving as Council Chair.

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

Some of the FVCC’s accomplishments include:

  • 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

FVCC Resources for survivors, businesses, and community members:

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Daniel Szczesny