Center For Prevention Of Abuse

Are you or someone you care about a victim of abuse? We're here to help you.

The Center for Prevention of Abuse is the only agency in the State of Illinois to provide combined services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault/abuse, and elder abuse. The Center also reaches students age pre-K through college with violence prevention education, as well as abusers with an abuser re-education program.

Do you need help now?

* Call our Crisis Line at 1-800-559-SAFE (7233)
* Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233
* Contact us at:


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To learn about abuse and the services available to you through the Center for Prevention of Abuse, use the menu above.



Our History
The Center for Prevention of Abuse began in 1975 as a rape crisis line providing hotline service and counseling to victims of sexual assault. The need for similar services for domestic violence victims soon became apparent and the agency widened its focus to include programs for both subpopulations. A safe shelter was also made available.

In 1978, The Center changed its name to Tri-County WomenStrength, continuing to grow and add new programming designed to assist women in crisis. In 1985, a third program, designed to provide assistance to elder victims of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation was added to The Center's services. During that same year, The Center completed a capital campaign and funded the construction of a safe shelter, which was able to house up to 35 victims of violence and their children. At its construction, The Center's shelter was one of only four buildings in the nation build specifically to be a shelter for battered women and children.

In the Spring of 1993, another name change took place, with the agency officially becoming The Center for Prevention of Abuse. This change signaled the agency's focus on prevention of violence as the key to breaking the cycle of violence, while maintaining services to unique subpopulations of victims (domestic violence, sexual violence/abuse, and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation).