Lynn Johnson, JD
Nancy Kluth, MA, CADC
Melissa Meade, MS, LPC
Southwest Women Working Together
4051 W. 63rd Street
Chicago, Illinois 60629
(773) 582-0550
swwt@megsinet.net
This panel presentation and discussion focuses on techniques for a holistic approach to crisis intervention for survivors of
domestic violence and/or sexual trauma. The authors represent various programs at a not-for-profit, community based
women's organization, which serves women primarily from the southwest side of Chicago. Presenters begin with an overall
summary of the services offered at Southwest Women; namely, domestic violence/sexual assault/sexual abuse crisis
counseling, general counseling, subsidized housing, job training and placement, family support, community organizing and
advocacy, community education, and homeless and domestic violence shelter.
Next, the presenters detail key interventions for domestic violence housing, such as The Domestic Violence Emergency
Response Network (DVERN) This 24-hour help-line provides crisis intervention information, referrals, transportation, and
immediate placement for women fleeing violence, is described in detail. DVERN is supplemented by Courage Homes, safe
and confidential scattered-site apartments designated for battered women and their children. Located at Southwest
Women's homeless shelter, these programs allow for in-depth case-management and intra-agency service provision.
The panel also delineates the integrated services offered at Southwest Women through the women and children's
counseling program. Rather than offering only crisis-oriented domestic violence counseling, counselors conduct detailed
assessments and offer long- or short-term psychotherapy at little to no cost. Counselors are trained to address the multitude
of issues presented by this population, such as sexual assault, prostitution, childhood sexual abuse, depression,
post-traumatic stress, and drug and alcohol dependency. The Counseling Program offers individual as well as group and
family therapy.
Through an overview of service integration, the panel examines a system through which individuals in crisis are supported
at intake, provided with follow-up programming, and encouraged to follow through with interventions designed to prevent
future crises. Presentations are followed by discussion, questions and answers, and audience participation in the sharing of
successful examples of service integration as crisis prevention.
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