A nonprofit human service agency in Peoria reintroduced a program that was previously suspended, due to the state budget impasse.
The Center for Prevention of Abuse announced this week it’s bringing back the initiative called “Safe from the Start.” It provides services for children age 0-5 who have been abused. The Illinois Criminal Justice information Authority awarded a $121,500 grant for the program.
Director of Domestic Violence Family Centered Services Sara Dillefeld says the Safe from the Start program is essential because it seeks to improve a child’s wellbeing, both in the short and long terms. Abuse can impede a child’s development and ability to function as an adult later in life.
There are currently nine sites in the state of Illinois that offer Safe from the Start, mostly in the Chicago area. Services include child and family therapy, comprehensive case management, confidential consultation for professionals, and professional trainings.
Safe from the Start was initiated at The Center in 2001, but went on hiatus in 2016 due to the lack of funds from the state.