State's Attorneys Join DuPage's Family Violence Coordinating Council to Paint the Town Purple

DOWNERS GROVE - Last Thursday, the 18th Judicial Family Violence Coordinating Council - DuPage County, IL's Paint the Town Purple event was held in Downers Grove.

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 Bob 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.

Thank you to DuPage County Circuit Court Judge Ann Celine Walsh, who serves as Chair of the FVCC and helped to spearhead this event. Also, thank you to Cadence Kitchen & Co. and Co-Owner and Chef Todd Davies, who participated in the event.

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 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

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