About the Services Guidelines for Domestic Violence Service Providers
The Illinois Services Guidelines for Domestic Violence Service providers is a comprehensive compilation of minimum and encouraged practices for survivor centered service providers. These guidelines cover requirements, policies and samples related to administrative functions, counseling, advocacy, adult and child services, shelter, prevention and more. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) are dedicated to helping individuals live free from domestic and sexual violence by promoting prevention and by working in partnership with communities to advance safety, equality, and respect for all.
Toward that end, IDHS and ICADV fund the comprehensive, community-based domestic violence services described in this manual. These services include 24-hour crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, and related intervention and prevention services such as information and referral, transportation, and community outreach. All services are provided in a manner that seeks to ensure the safety of the domestic violence survivor and any unsafe family members. To assure the protection, health, safety, and well-being of persons receiving domestic violence services through IDHS or ICADV funding, program and service requirements have been established with which all funded programs must comply. The purpose of these minimum requirements is to ensure the quality and consistency of domestic violence services across the state, while also allowing for individuality, flexibility and creativity in program services. The requirements are listed in each chapter of this manual under the heading of Minimum Requirements in Services or Minimum Requirements in Administration for the service or administration area described.
In addition to the minimum requirements outlined in this manual, programs must also comply with any other state and federal regulations applying to their programs and services. Programs must consult with staff attorneys or other legal counsel regarding legal obligations, whether or not they are included herein. They are reviewed periodically for necessary updates with the most recent revision being adopted in summer 2021.