A Safe Place provides supportive services to Survivors of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking, empowering them to rebuild their lives and overcome the challenges they face after these experiences.

Mission

A Safe Place is the leading advocate for eliminating domestic violence & human trafficking in northern Illinois.

Vision

We will lead the nation in breaking the cycle of violence, thus creating safe and healthy communities.

Philosophy

A Safe Place provides a 24-hour crisis line, case management, legal advocacy, emergency shelter, individual and group therapy, art therapy, affordable transitional and permanent housing, scattered site housing, outreach and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence & human trafficking and their children, mentoring for adolescent boys, supervised custody exchanges, supervised family visitations, education for teens on healthy relationships, community and professional education, and intervention services for abusers to learn accountability for their choices and actions. Our mission-focused work is guided by our philosophy.

A Safe Place operates with these beliefs: 

Everyone has the right to a violence-free, safe and healthy life.

Domestic Violence is a crime defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.

Eliminating sex role stereotyping leads to a society that equally values each individual.

Violence in intimate relationships is a chosen behavior to exert power and control over another.

Violence can be a learned behavior. Through intervention and treatment, alternatives to abusive behavior also can be learned.

Children from violent homes experience trauma, suffer psychologically, physically, emotionally and socially. A Safe Place recognizes child witnesses as primary victims of domestic violence.

Early intervention, prevention education, domestic violence & human trafficking education, and community awareness can interrupt the intergenerational cycle of violence and reduce the social acceptance of domestic violence & human trafficking.

Survivors are traumatized, suffer from low self-esteem and have limited access to resources; all of which keep them trapped in violent relationships. With safety, counseling, and supportive services, survivors of domestic violence experience healing and empowerment, and decide for themselves to live free of violence.

A Safe Place must address domestic violence & human trafficking on a local, state, and national level. Legislative and institutional mandates and appropriate responses by police, prosecutors and judges are essential in eliminating domestic violence.

Every individual in our community must become more aware of how to prevent, intervene and be less tolerant of domestic violence & human trafficking. Our society must hold individuals responsible for their abusive behavior. A Safe Place strives to create a community where violence is not tolerated or hidden

A Safe Place is a recognized 501(c)3 listed under Lake County Crisis Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Domestic Violence Inc.