History of Agency
Since 1975, CFPA has changed locations, added departments, programs, services, and directors with one goal in mind: to better serve the needs of our community.
1975 – Establish agency as Rape Crisis Hotline to serve people in crisis from sexual assault and set up hotline at Allied Agencies.
1976 – Add Domestic Violence Services, including safe shelter rooms at the Peoria YWCA.
1978 – Agency name changes to Tri-County WomenStrength.
1979 – Move emergency shelter to an old house on Monroe Street and several years later to an old house on Bestor Street.
1984 – Add Elder Abuse services along with “Better Safe Than Sorry” sexual abuse prevention education for elementary school children. CFPA begins offering services to male victims of domestic violence.
1985 – Build a new emergency shelter at 720 Joan Court in Peoria with the support of a community capital campaign.
1989 – Establish Order of Protection office at the Peoria County Courthouse.
Launch first Duck Race which continues to be the agency’s signature fundraiser.
1990 – State of Illinois passes the Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Act and contracts with the agency to investigate all cases within a six county area.
1991 – Establish Order of Protection office at the Tazewell County Courthouse along with a counseling office.
1993 – Agency name changed to The Center for Prevention of Abuse.
1994 – Implement Family Violence Intervention Program, a batterer’s re-education program.
Host first Partners in Peace Awards Luncheon.
2001 – Add Long Term Care Ombudsman Program to protect rights and safety of residents in licensed long-term care facilities.
2001 – Launch $4.2M campaign to centralize and expand programming at 720 Joan Court.
2004 – Campaign results in building two additions to the emergency shelter at Joan Court – a building for counseling, education, and administration, and an apartment building called Next Step Transitional Housing.
2011 – Acquire Carol House of Hope, a domestic violence shelter in Pekin.
2012 – Launch “A Million Ways to Prevent Abuse” campaign to expand prevention education.
2013 – Programming for Elder Abuse expands to Adult Protective Services.
2017 – Re-introduce Safe From the Start, a program for children ages 0-5 years who have been victims of or witnessed an act of violence at home or in the community.
2018 – Add Human Trafficking Services department.
All victim services are free and confidential.