Domestic Violence Event Promotes Awareness

[October 09, 2023] 

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness month, The Butterfly Project at Brightpoint and the Community Health Collaborative co-sponsored “In Their Shoes: A Domestic Violence Awareness Event” held at the Lincoln Park District ballroom on October 4. This event offered participants an interactive opportunity to walk through the difficult circumstances and decision-making that an individual experiencing domestic violence must navigate. Participants chose a card at the beginning of the self-paced event with the name and life situation of an individual and then moved from table to table based on the decisions the participant made regarding the best course of action for the individual described on the card.

At each table participants were faced with another challenging situation and tried to figure out the choice that would lead to the best outcome, sometimes when it seemed like there were no good choices available. These situations and choices mirrored the real-life situations and choices that domestic violence survivors must negotiate. It was an enlightening process bringing home the difficulties, dangers, manipulations, and complexities that survivors must labor through to extricate themselves from abusive situations.

April Garcia, clinical supervisor of The Butterfly Project at Brightpoint, explained this event offers an “experience of what a survivor might go through in their journey going through or coming out of domestic violence.”

A domestic violence learning experience such as this is beneficial for any community member to help recognize signs, understand difficulties, and learn about the many resources available. It is especially helpful for those whose occupation puts them in frequent contact with the community such as first responders, educators, hair stylists, judicial staff, veterinary staff, etc.

Garcia said about the response to the event that “People have been really reflective. [There’s been] a lot of emotion.” Participants were made up of “a mix of people from the community and people who come through their employers to make connections with other supportive organizations.” Counselors were on hand to assist participants in processing the event.

The Butterfly Project, co-sponsor of the event, is a counseling program for children exposed to violence serving Logan, McLean, Woodford, Livingston, and Ford counties. Its goal is to work “with children and their safe caregivers to grow their attachment and heal their trauma.” The Butterfly Project provides in-home counseling for children 0-18 who have been exposed to domestic violence, community training to professionals, and case management services for families exposed to domestic violence. For more information about The Butterfly Project contact April Garcia at [phone] or [e-mail].

The Butterfly Project is part of Brightpoint which offers multiple services to those who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence. Brightpoint offers a 24-hour crisis nursery located in Bloomington- Normal for children ages 0-6; gas cards are available for families who need crisis childcare, but live outside Bloomington-Normal. The Family Visitation Center offering supervised visits is also in Bloomington-Normal, but is available to residents of Logan County. Brightpoint operates The Children’s Room at the Law and Justice Center in McLean County and also offers virtual Parents Care and Share support groups. For more information visit their website at www.brightpoint.org.

Another important resource represented at the “In Their Shoes” Domestic Violence Learning Experience was Sojourn Shelter and Services. Located in Springfield, Sojourn offers a shelter and resources for persons of any gender experiencing domestic violence. Sojourn also has an advocate at Logan County courthouse to provide domestic violence survivors with assistance and emotional support during the legal process. More information can be found at www.sojournshelter.org or by calling the Main Office at [phone] or emailing [e-mail].

Sojourn also operates a 24-hour domestic violence hotline at [phone] or 1-866-HELP4DV.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing violence, please reach out to the Sojourn hotline. Those in crisis may also call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

[Stephanie Hall]