Rockford Sun

Thanks to Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity grant funding, there will be additional resources for victims of strangulation or domestic abuse in the emergency department at UW Health in northern Illinois. 

"Domestic violence accounts for nearly 50% of violent crime in Rockford," stated Jennifer Cacciapaglia, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention. "This is an urgent issue for our community, one that requires significant attention and resources."

The grant will enable UW Health to hire two additional staff members to provide support and resources to domestic abuse victims in the emergency department. It will also support educational and training opportunities for staff, awareness campaigns in the community, and additional resources for patients.

"Identifying victims of strangulation in domestic abuse situations is particularly urgent," Cacciapaglia emphasized. "More than 50% of survivors seeking services at the Family Peace Center have been strangled, and experiencing strangulation increases a survivor’s risk of homicide by 700%."

Kim Wolgast, registered nurse and operational supervisor in the emergency department at UW Health, highlighted the importance of their role in supporting the Rockford community. "We’re often at the front lines of the worst days in our patients’ lives," she said. "With that unique perspective, we want to do everything we can to prevent a repeat of those traumatic experiences and enable healthier futures for our patients."

Illinois State Sen. Steve Stadelman expressed his support for the initiative, stating, "I'm pleased to be able to support this latest effort by the City of Rockford, not only to better assist survivors of domestic violence but also to intervene against repeat violence."

Travis Andersen, CEO of UW Health in northern Illinois, emphasized the organization's commitment to the community, stating, "We’re here to care for everyone who needs us. The identified need is clear, and with these additional resources, we can be an important part of a collaborative solution to meet this need. We are ready to lead this much-needed work to make our community healthier and safer."