People need somewhere to trade stories, discuss strategies, exchange information and make alliances. That's an important role - and that's what ICVP does for Illinois. --ICVP Donor

As the only organization of its kind in the nation, ICVP has been looked to as a violence prevention leader.  ICVP's special projects are the result of our track record of successful advocacy, systems change, and collaborative initiatives.

One of ICVP's strengths is its comprehensive approach in implementing violence prevention strategies. Since its founding, ICVP has been committed to bringing an array of voices to decision-making tables, including youth, community leaders, representatives of faith-based organizations, legislators, corporations, and health care providers. In our approach to issues of violence, we employ a multi-level approach to achieve long-term change.

For example, ICVP's work to prevent youth violence occurs on many levels.  First of all, we work with the government and service systems that impact young men and women to ensure that they support legislation and strategies that ultimately benefit youth. Then, through our grassroots efforts with youth in communities, training providers on best practices in youth programming, advocating for legislation that promotes youth interests, and creating opportunities for youth voices to be heard, we can most effectively impact youth violence prevention in the long-term.

The overarching purpose of ICVP's special projects is to generate, develop, and increase the implementation of high quality, effective strategies to prevent violence and to disseminate information about these emerging best practices in the field.

Elder Abuse Prevention
ICVP is developing a statewide effort to bridge the elder abuse and domestic violence systems to ultimately reach greater numbers of older women who may be vulnerable to abuse, neglect or financially exploitation by their spouses, partners, adult children or grandchildren or by the people on whom they depend for care.

StandUp
Launched from the concern of ICVP supports, StandUp is a group of men and women working together to end men's violence against women. The group is grassroots in nature and represents individuals who have been working on this important issue for many years and those new to the issue. The organic nature of the group has led them to develop some initial strategies that include publishing a newspaper ad in the Chicago Tribune's RedEye newspaper that will bring awareness to the issue and call for men to join this effort. To view the draft Ad click here. To join StandUp or find out more click here.