In The News
Violence Prevention Programming in Full Swing at Three Oak Park/River Forest Schools
In 2009, Sarah’s Inn partnered with Oak Park River Forest High School (OPRF) to offer an innovative and intensive 9-week program to prevent violence and help teens develop skills for healthy relationships. The program is mandatory for all freshmen male students. The early results of the gender-specific curriculum, entitled “Step-Back,” have been uniformly positive. The agency has received many thank you letters from parents based on the positive behavioral impact on their children, a first for this type of program for Sarah’s Inn.
Based in part on the success of this program, but more on their identified need for dating violence prevention programming at a younger age, educators at Brooks Middle School and Julian Middle School reached out to Sarah’s Inn in Summer 2010 to start foundational programming with their seventh and eighth graders. This request was consistent with trends in relevant research, particularly in the recent three-year United Way analysis, that the 11-14 age group is the most strategic age group for programs focused in any way on ensuring the successfulness of youth. Staff at Sarah’s Inn also recognized the great opportunity for bridging middle school programs with the current programming at OPRF High School and strengthening the foundational elements of the program, particularly as teens are becoming engaged in dating relationships at younger ages.
Read more about our Violence Prevention Programming in the Oak Leaves.
Reunion Event
Sarah's Inn invited nearly 30 years of volunteers, fomer staff and board members to join us on Thursday, Septemeber 23 for a reunion event. Attendees represented all three decades of service as we celebrated together the history of Sarah's Inn. We also recognized a few key figures who had a great impact on the organization.
For pictures of the event by Stephen Green Photography click here: http://www.sgreenphoto.com/galleries/Sarahs_Inn_Gallery/index.html
4th Annual "Walk with Therese"
This year's Walk with Therese to End Domestic Violence was held on Saturday, August 14, at Keystone Park in River Forest. Many joined us to honor the memory of Therese Pender and raise support and awareness against domestic violence in our community. Read More>>>
"Art for Good" in Oak Park
Join us on Friday June 18 from 6 -9 PM at Marion Street Gallery in Oak Park for a free night out with live music, appetizers and art for sale. Proceeds from art sales will benefit Sarah's Inn. Read More >>>
Sarah's Inn Rocked Berwyn!
Thursday May 13
Sarah's Inn supporters rocked the house at Fitzgerald's with guest artists Peter Nyberg & Michael Nutt and The Conctractors to raise nearly $5,000 in support! Read More >>>
Domestic Violence Counts 2009
On September 15, 2009 Sarah’s Inn was one of 1,648 nationwide programs (an 83% participation rate) and one of 62 Illinois programs (a 91% participation rate) to complete a 24-hour survey of services . . . Read More >>>
Anna's Story
Anna’s story is, unfortunately, common to the advocates at Sarah’s Inn. She is an immigrant from Mexico who speaks little English. When Anna realized that the domestic violence she was enduring at the hands of her partner could be fatal . . . Read More >>>
Excerpt from “I Closed My Eyes: Revelations of A Battered Woman” by Michele Weldon (Hazelden Publishing, 1999)
“At Sarah’s Inn, we listened to each other and cried, trusting each other with our secrets, developing friendships, as if this was as commonplace as a book club or volunteer group. Read More >>>