October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Established in 1978, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) works to educate lawmakers, professional industries and the public about the challenges domestic violence survivors face when trying to get help.

As a membership-based organization with over 50 members, ICADV works to eliminate domestic violence and provide support and direct service to survivors and their dependent children. In 1982, ICADV helped to write and pass the landmark Illinois Domestic Violence Act, twelve years prior to the first federal Violence Against Women Act in 1994.

Today, ICADV continues their work to create a statewide community committed to exposing the root causes of domestic abuse and ensuring safety for families by supporting the voices of all survivors.

More information on how the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence is working to prevent domestic violence and support survivors can be found on their website.

If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic violence, call the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at (877) 863-6338 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 for anonymous support and resources.