Committees of the Family Violence Prevention Council

The Council

The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council's work is primarily accomplished through committees. Information on each committee is listed below. Meeting dates are located on the Calendar of Events page. If you would like to join a particular committee, click here to download a hard-copy of the Council check-off list for your convenience.

More information can be downloading by clicking here.

Executive Committee

Chair - Margaret Morrison (ADV & SAS).
Chief Judge James Lunati appointed Circuit Judge Cynthia Raccuglia and Associate Judge James Brusatte to co-chair the Council.
Judge Raccuglia and Judge Brusatte have appointed five persons to serve on the Executive Committee.
Members of the Executive Committee are Connie Doran, Dave McClure, Margeret Morrison, William Pfalzgraf and Sheldon Sobol. The Executive Committee oversees all of the activities of the Council including, but not limited to, the goals and direction of the Council, annual work plans, and Full Council meetings. In addition, the Executive Committee reviews all protocols for consistency.

Data Committee

Chair - Sherri Mathews (Grundy County Circuit Clerk's Office).
The Data Committee exists to determine what local interpersonal violence data is available, obtain relevant accessible data, and serve as a repository for said data.
The Data Committee prepares annual reports using local interpersonal violence data.

Safe to Live

Chair - Margaret Morrison (ADV & SAS).
The FVPC received a grant (through ADV & SAS) from the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority in January of 2003 to develop and implement a strategic plan to prevent interpersonal violence in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Through Safe to Live, FVPC is working with area agencies to decrease crimes against children, youth dating violence and suicide. This has included bringing American Humane Association's Front Porch Project® to this area (the first site in the Midwest), developing a social marketing campaign to address Shaken Baby Syndrome, and training community members on suicide prevention.

Safe Havens

In October of 2003, FVPC (through the County of LaSalle and ADV & SAS) received funding from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women to develop a plan to begin supervised visitation and exchange services in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. In October 2006, the area began receiving funding to provide such services when visitation is between parents and there is a history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, stalking, or child abuse. Services are provided through Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley. FVPC oversees the Consulting Committee.

Elder Abuse

The FVPC (through ADV & SAS) began receiving funding in October of 2006 to develop a multi-disciplinary team to provide education on elder abuse and neglect to law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges. Funding is through the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women.

Bureau County Committee

Chair - Connie Doran (Freedom House).
The Bureau County Committee exists to identify Bureau County concerns that are related to interpersonal violence, evaluate possible solutions, and make suggestions on how solutions can be integrated into a Circuit-wide strategy. In addition, the Bureau County Committee is responsible for community awareness and community education in Bureau County.

The Committee suggests solutions and proposes community awareness events to the Executive Committee. Once the Executive Committee approves an action, the Bureau County Committee implements the strategies and keeps the rest of the Council informed of outcomes.

Grundy County Committee

Co-Chairs - Sheldon Sobol (Grundy County State's Attorney) and Debra Walden (Big Brothers Big Sisters).
The Grundy County Committee exists to identify Grundy County concerns that are related to interpersonal violence, evaluate possible solutions, and make suggestions on how solutions can be integrated into a Circuit-wide strategy. In addition, the Grundy County Committee is responsible for community awareness and community education in Grundy County.

The Committee suggests solutions and proposes community awareness events to the Executive Committee. Once the Executive and Committee approves an action, the Grundy County Committee implements the strategies and keeps the rest of the Council informed of outcomes.

LaSalle County Committee

Chair - Diane Carr (Chief Judge's Office).
The LaSalle County Committee exists to identify LaSalle County concerns that are related to interpersonal violence, evaluate possible solutions, and make suggestions on how solutions can be integrated into a Circuit-wide strategy. In addition, the LaSalle County Committee is responsible for community awareness and community education in LaSalle County.

The LaSalle County Committee has developed the following subcommittees: Batterers' Services, Community Awareness (chaired by Leslie Dougherty), Faith Community (chaired by Rev. Phil Peterson), Fatality Prevention, and Schools (chaired by Rich Myers, Regional Office of Education).

The Committee suggests solutions and proposes community awareness events to the Executive Committee. Once the Executive and Committee approves an action, the LaSalle County Committee implements the strategies and keeps the rest of the Council informed of outcomes.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Council, contact us at 13fvpc@mchsi.com.