One very “untraditional” ministry that the BVM sisters support is the Riverview Center, Inc.—an organization that assists victims of sexual abuse in two Illinois and three Iowa counties.

Riverview began as an all-volunteer program in 1992 when three abuse survivors could not find any help. Using a $50 dollar donation from Galena ( Ill. ) United Methodist Women, volunteers purchased a roll of stamps and paid for a post office box.

The program, operated only by volunteers for the first two years, now has a staff of 16 full-time professionals as well as many volunteers.

BVM administrative assistant Judith Sheahan, BVM says that, though many BVM grants focus on non-violence, the Riverview grant is the only one assisting a program that addresses sexual abuse.

According to Stacie Speirs-Pfeiffer, assistant director of Riverview, the centers provide assistance to victims four years of age and older as well as to their non-offending significant others.

In 2006, Riverview assisted 264 new clients, provided more than 2000 hours of counseling as well as 791 hours of advocacy, 256 hours of crisis intervention, and 1154 hours of preventive programs.

In addition to helping fund many of these services, the BVM grant provides materials (pens, pencils, highlighters, coloring books, etc.) to children, making them and their parents aware of the program.

Riverview maintains a 24 hour crisis hot-line. It works with hospitals and the justice system to ensure that victims' rights remain protected, and the centers provide personal and institutional advocacy seeking compassionate treatment of victims.

Staff offers preventative and professional training to community and educational groups, professionals, law enforcement, social service and medical personnel as well as to the prosecuting attorney's office. The BVM grant assists in purchasing materials for this component of the program (see photo).

Volunteers remain a vital part of the program and are rigorously prepared. After initial screening, each volunteer is given 40 hours of training followed by in-service training and on-going supervision.

Riverview is also funded by federal, state and local monies for its four offices. Its Galena site was purchased with the help of a low interest loan from the BVM congregation's Community Development Fund.

Stacie says that Riverview offers people “a safe place to explore the sexual violence that they or a loved one have experienced…the goal of our services is to restore people to the level of functioning they were at prior to the abuse.”

The program is “proactive” because it empowers victims to seek help. Most women, Stacie says, receive services for about a year. In addition to the other services, support groups help women realize they aren't alone.

One woman who has received help from Riverview for several years describes her experience: “The staff at Riverview helped me understand I wasn't to blame. I was a victim. They have helped me love myself again and slowly put the past behind me. The staff has also allowed my daughter to talk with them about her feelings about my leaving her dad, brothers and school. They encourage her to do arts and crafts to help her let her feelings out.

“The staff has always been very warm, caring, understanding and non-judgmental. They have always validated my feelings and believed in me—something I wasn't used to doing.”

About the author: Jeanne Harrington is a BVM Associate and a member of the Communications Advisory Committee.

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© 2007 Sisters of Charity, BVM