When you’re in crisis, you need a helping hand. That is especially true for someone affected by domestic violence.
In October, the country will mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In the Homewood-Flossmoor area, Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse is the agency that works to end the cycle of domestic violence through a range of programs.
For the first six months of 2024, Anew’s hotline handled about 700 calls.
“Every call may not be for domestic violence, it may be for shelter,” said Kris Scott, chief advancement officer. “We’re able to connect them with other community services. Sometimes the caller needs transportation or counseling” and Anew’s staff works to connect them to appropriate services.
Anew, based in Homewood, is marking 44 years of assistance for women, men and children who find themselves in abusive situations. Originally known as South Suburban Family Shelter, the agency took a new name that emphasizes its ongoing efforts to get people to a better place not only by assisting those in need, but also educating the community – from preschoolers through adults – on how to handle stressful situations, tone down the rhetoric and reduce the anger.
Scott said the program “Hands Are Not for Hitting” is geared to younger children to help them understand their emotions and how to develop nonviolent behaviors. The high school program focuses on teen dating violence and learning what the boundaries are in developing healthy relationships.
Anew also hosts “Boys Respecting Themselves and Others,” a violence prevention program that involves school counselors who “may recognize a young man who’s experienced trauma.”
At the Cook County Circuit Court 6th District Courthouse in Markham, Anew has a staff member who can help with civil and criminal orders of protection.
The staff member also works directly with judges who may recognize an abuser who could benefit from participation in the Partner Abuse Intervention Program. The abusers learn how their actions have affected their relationships with others, and they learn how to modify their behaviors, Scott said. Classes are in English and Spanish.
The education programs are in addition to the work Anew’s staff does for the domestic violence victim by providing housing, financial literacy and case management. Scott said some women and children are given free housing to give them time to heal and become ready to move forward on their own.
“It is most important for them to be safe and to be stable so they don’t have to return to an abusive environment just because they can’t afford to be in an environment on their own. That’s the ultimate goal,” Scott said.
Anew also offers a Domestic Violence 101 program on the first Saturday of the month. Discussion focuses on recognizing the signs of domestic abuse and steps that an individual can take to support a victim. Call the Anew office at 708-794-2140. Space is limited.
As a not-for-profit organization, Anew relies on state and federal grants, support from foundations and donations from the community.
Its major fundraiser, Sneaker Ball, will be Saturday, Oct. 19, at Olympia Fields Country Club. Dinner and dancing, with a silent auction and raffle will help increase Anew’s coffers. Tickets are $85 and can be ordered online at anewdv.org/kda.