09/02/2026
Did you know that Ascend Justice helped create and helps administer the Illinois Domestic Violence Co-Location Program (DVCLP)? The DVCLP is a partnership between the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and domestic violence agencies across the state. It places domestic violence advocates directly in DCFS offices to build the systemic capacity of child welfare workers to more effectively meet the needs of families experiencing domestic violence so that families experiencing domestic violence have access to coordinated, trauma-informed support.
As part of their ongoing work with the DVCLP, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence recently hosted two trainings facilitated by Futures Without Violence in both Chicago and Springfield. Over 100 participants from DCFS, the domestic violence community, and other stakeholders attended across the two sites. The training focused on how to "create stronger pathways to healing for survivors and children and pathways to accountability for people who use violence." Rather than focusing solely on the risk and impact of domestic violence, the trainings highlighted five protective factors that expand options for helping families in crisis and promote healing for survivors: "Resilience and a growth mindset, Social connections, Nurturing parent-child interactions, Safer and more stable conditions, and Social and emotional abilities."
The co-located advocates who work in DCFS offices help families strengthen these protective factors by working directly with adult and child survivors of domestic violence, as well as the parent using coercive control and violence, and linking families to services and concrete supports. Stay tuned for our DVCLP impact report highlighting our work over the past year - coming soon!
