Are you concerned that a friend or family may be in an abusive relationship or would you like to know more about what is considered domestic violence? If so, please join us during Domestic Violence Awareness Month for a virtual informational session to learn the basics of domestic violence and how to help a person you care about who may be experiencing abuse.
The 2020 Census deadline has been extended to October 31st and representation matters! We want all the voices possible fighting for our communities at every level. Help ensure your voice by completing the #2020Census at https://my2020census.gov and registering to vote https://ova.elections.il.gov & voting! #MpoweredFamiliesCount #MpoweredtoVote
Please give a warm welcome to Haley Robichaud who started as the new full time Safe Home Advocate on September 8, 2020. Haley graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Health and Human Services, with a minor in Addiction Studies from Northern Illinois University. She comes to us already with experience working in a domestic violence shelter as a case manager.
Outside of FSS, Haley is a part of Camp Kesem. Camp Kesem is a non-profit that sends to kids whose parents are impacted by cancer for free. She was part of this organization for two years while at NIU and this year she is joining as an alum. She is also a HUGE Chicago Cubs fan and she has played the violin for 9 years and currently learning the piano.
We are very excited to have Haley join our shelter team!
“I always thought if anyone ever put their hands on me, I would immediately leave,” said Michelle. “But we had this new baby, and he had these issues that he hadn’t dealt with from his own childhood. Looking back, I can’t believe how easily the abuse kind of became normal for me.” If you are experiencing intimate partner abuse, please call our 24/7 hotline at (630) 469-5650.
THETRACE.ORG
As COVID Spread, Her Abuser Got a Gun. Now She’s Terrified.
We are very excited to announce that Mark Marroquin has accepted the position of Safe Children Specialist with FSS of MFSD!
Some of you may remember Mark from his internship placement in the Safe Children program at FSS during the last school year 2019-2020. Mark has a BA in Psychology from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ and is currently working towards his MA in Social Work from Dominican University. Mark spent 5 years in the U.S. Air Force as an Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist stationed in South Korea where he also volunteered at a local orphanage and tutoring program. In his free time, Mark enjoys exercising, hiking and fishing! Especially since quarantine, he has really used these methods for self-care and staying energized.
Mark is excited to officially be joining the FSS of MFSD as an employee and to continue his work with domestic violence survivors and children.
Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage's Program Supervisor Alexandra Milkent is featured in this Naperville Community Television (NCTV17) story on the increase in domestic violence in DuPage County during the pandemic. If you feel that you are in an unsafe relationship please call our 24/7 hotline at (630) 469-5650. We're here to listen, to support and to help.
NCTV17.COM
Domestic Violence Crimes Are Up In DuPage County | Naperville NCTV17
Thank you DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin and County Board Member Tim Elliott for inviting Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage's Executive Director Nicole Cameron to accept a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We are proud to partner with you to assist victims of domestic violence and are grateful for your continued support! #DVAM2020
DuPage County Board
October 13 at 10:40 AM ·
Chairman Dan Cronin and County Board member Tim Elliott invited Nicole Cameron, Executive Director of Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage to accept a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Naperville, like all other communities in DuPage County, is not immune to domestic abuse. Thank you to The Naperville Sun for featuring tonight's free Friends and Family Zoom Presentation on domestic abuse signs and how to support friends, loved ones or colleagues who may be in an abusive relationship. Please email Betsy Carlson at carlsonb@metrofamily.org to register. #DVAM2020
CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Naperville not immune to domestic violence, so learn how to help if you suspect something, educator says
Our senior prevention educator Anisha Bhatia & prevention educator Amy Leisten sat down for an interview with Benedictine University's Violence Prevention Team hosted by BU Peer Team Educator Layan Abdelhadi last week. If you are interested in healthy relationships with boundaries or are concerned someone you know is an abusive relationship, this interview is incredibly informative. #DVAM2020
VIMEO.COM
Interview with Family Shelter Service
We are so happy that Therese continues to receive recognition and accolades for developing a college sexual assault database for Illinois. Our senior prevention educator, Anisha Bhatia, who worked to facilitate and develop the database with Therese says ". It's been wonderful to see this project grow and flourish!" Well done all!
CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Project Dandelion exposes sexual assault crimes on Illinois college campuses. It was created by a high schooler.
The FSS of MFSD Safe Children team is preparing for another drive-up for our clients! The Falling into Fun drive-up will include self-care kits for adults and teens and children will receive a fall fun bag. Supplies include witch’s slime, harvest paint sets, fall travel mugs, scented lotions and more!! We are so happy to provide our clients and families with another fun and exciting drive-up for the Fall season!
The Naperville Family Shelter Service Resale Shop supports our clients in a variety of ways. It is a one stop shop for our clients, many of whom flee their homes with nothing, to select clothing for themselves and their kids. The revenue derived from Resale Shop sales also funds our domestic abuse programs and services. If you are looking for a great volunteer opportunity please consider working with us. Call (630) 955-9599 to learn more.
FAMILY SHELTER SERVICE OF METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES DUPAGE
Sales
The Power and Control Wheel is a useful tool that helps explain the different ways an abusive partner can use power and control to manipulate a relationship.
We are excited to welcome new team member Adriana Delgado. Adriana graduated from North Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s in Social work and since has been working in the field for the last 10 years with a goal of obtaining her Master’s in Social Work soon. Adriana says the best thing about working in the field of social work is getting to learn more from my clients as I interact with them.
Adriana is mother to a 9-year-old boy and together they enjoy watching the Masked Singer and baking shows. She says, "I am excited to start this new journey of my life with an amazing team and a great organization. Things have drastically changed for many of us at this time but, I am grateful to be able to continue to provide such essential services."
According to the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, from March 8 through October 1 of last year there were 391 domestic incidents. In that same time frame this year there have been 579 cases, which is a 48% increase. If you feel unsafe in a relationship please call our 24/7 hotline at (630) 469-5650 to speak with a trained advocate. We're here to listen, support and help. #DVAM
NCTV17.COM
Domestic Violence Crimes Are Up In DuPage County | Naperville NCTV17
Metropolitan Family Services' Director of Domestic Abuse Services Amy Milligan was a featured participant on the State of Domestic Violence in Chicago 2020 panel hosted by Jewish Women International Chicago. Check it out!
DROPBOX.COM
Chicago DVAM 2020 Program.mp4
Thank you Kie&Kate Couture for opening your doors to educate community members about domestic abuse in DuPage County and to support Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage's work.
Thanks to the efforts of Mark Thoman, Supervisor of Downers Grove Township, Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage received much needed CARES Act funding support for domestic violence services. We are grateful to be one of the organizations in the area that received financial assistance to help recover from #COVID19 expenses we couldn’t anticipate.
"The Downers Grove Township has always supported our shelter and the survivors of domestic violence, but Mark's extra efforts to ensure agencies like Metropolitan Family Services DuPage received CARES Act funding in this challenging year was critical,” says Executive Director Nikki Cameron.
Continued congratulations to Therese Malinowski who, with the help of Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage's Prevention Education Team, developed Project Dandelion, the only database in Illinois that records sexual assaults on IL college campuses.
https://twitter.com/Sherylmrobinson/status/1344736457009864706
TWITTER.COM
Sheryl Robinson on Twitter
Happy holidays from the Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage family. Stay safe and healthy!
We are truly grateful to The Rotary Club of Naperville for distributing funds raised during their immensely successful Jazz Quilt Concert. Rotary has been a Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage supporter and partner for over 20 years. We applaud their mission to end childhood and domestic abuse and we look forward to working together in the years to come. Thank you Rotarians!
These wonderful Santa’s helpers rallied together to make sure these amazing donated Wilton Cake Decorating gingerbread houses reached our clients and their families. The Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services holiday dream team rocks!
Thank you with all of our hearts to Wilton Cake Decorating for donating hundreds of gingerbread house kits for our clients and their families. We are excited to build and decorate them together! #merryandbright
A deepfake is a fabricated image or video of someone that is morphed with content from different images or videos. This type of editing can replace faces, body parts, and positioning that ultimately changes the context of the original content.
A target of deepfakes may feel that they have to comply with the perpetrator's demands for fear of damage to their reputation, employment, school status, and other aspects of life.
In this article, you will read/watch about a parent who created deepfakes of their child's cheermates in order to have them kicked off the cheer team. This current event paints the picture of how this tactic is used and the harm it can inflict on its intended target.
If you or someone you know is a victim of deepfakes call our hotline today for support and resources. 630-469-5650
WGNTV.COM
Cheerleader’s mom accused of making ‘deepfakes’ of daughter’s rivals, including fake nudes
Family Shelter Service is happy to provide the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Training for Salon Professionals FREE OF CHARGE over Zoom. To register, email Prevention Educator Rose Murphy, MA, ICDVP at murphyr@metrofamily.org stating the date you'd like to attend the training as well as your cosmetology license number. To receive a certificate of completion, participants must have their video on throughout the entire presentation to ensure attendance. The certificates will be emailed out to participants after the training is complete.
We are really excited about the 20th Annual DuPage Gala that will honor longtime Metropolitan Family Services #DuPage Board Member and Naperville resident Mike Skarr. Registration is free and the evening will feature an early childhood education panel moderated by ABC 7 Chicago's Alan Kreshesky. Proceeds will benefit Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage too!
FRI, MAY 7 AT 4:30 PM CDT
20th Annual DuPage Gala
JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores has once again overwhelmed us in the very best way with their donation of 125+ boxes of kids crafts, fabric and home decor. JOANN's is sparking creativity in hundreds of children, helping to inspire a whole new generation of crafters, and helping to brighten the homes of our clients and their families.
Today we celebrate all women and appreciate their myriad contributions to our history and our world. Let's continue to #ChooseToChallenge by calling out gender bias and inequality. #IWD2021 #EachforEqual