New COVID Effects on Clients

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Perhaps you’ve seen us write about the impact COVID has had on our clients, and what we’ve done about that thanks to your support.

Just this month, COVID impacted our clients in two new ways:

1) Abusers have cashed COVID stimulus checks that are meant for clients and their children Life Span attorneys help clients to retrieve this through court or petition with the IRS.

2) Abusers, exercising their power and control, decide to refuse to become vaccinated, putting family members at risk while demanding joint custody of a child.

So while vaccine availability and stimulus checks are certainly good news, they do not come without a fight for many of our clients.

What continues to be the biggest issue we see in our client survivors? Survivors in need of financial assistance: help with the rent, utilities, childcare, and basic necessities. Wherever possible, we help clients navigate government covid assistance programs,

When all else fails, we tap our emergency client assistance fund. If you are able, please consider donating to it today.

Life Span by the Numbers

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Despite transitioning to serving remotely as COVID-19 hit, Life Span grew to serve more clients in 2020 than we did the year before.

Our legal, counseling, advocacy, immigration, and sexual assault teams care more about the quality of our service rather than numbers, but we’re pleased to report on how many lives were impacted, all thanks to your support.

Jim DeRogatis, Light to Life Honoree, September 25, 2019

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Life Span’s 2nd Annual Light to Life Benefit

Life Span’s second annual Light to Life benefit event, speaker and honoree is Jim DeRogatis, writer, author, and renowned Chicago Public Radio, WBEZ  91.5 FM Sound Opinions co-host!

Jim’s new book is Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly.

Please join us:

Galleria Marchetti  825 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60642

September 25, 2019  6:00 PM

Tickets and sponsorships:   weblink.donorperfect.com/lighttolife2019 
Thank you to our generous sponsors: 
 
      

Wieland & Company, Inc.

Rice Insurance Agency

Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska

OverNorth

Mutual of America

Anne Kohler

Future of Counseling

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The Future of Counseling at Life Span

New Director of Counseling, Laura Valiukenas, with outgoing Director of Counseling, Margaret Luft.

Peggy Luft turns over the reins of Director of Counseling to Life Span’s Senior Counselor, Laura Valiukenas.

Laura joined Life Span in 2012. She was first stationed at Chicago’s Domestic Violence Courthouse, advocating for survivors in criminal court against their abusers.

Peggy began mentoring Laura shortly after she started; Peggy was Laura’s clinical supervisor as Laura earned her LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) credential.

In 2015, Laura began to focus on growing Life Span’s high school counseling program. “This was something my friends and I could have needed when we were in high school,” Laura explained, “I knew Life Span could fill that role.”

Laura recalls Peggy’s support: “Let’s try growing it and see how it goes! But be careful not to do too much…watch out for yourself!” advised Peggy at the time.

Laura listened, yet managed to grow Life Span’s services quickly from a program in just one school to services for 17 schools.

As Director of Counseling, Laura plans to continue to support her staff’s initiatives, as Peggy did for her. She also plans to continue Peggy’s emphasis on caring for co-workers as people: “She cares about staff personally. She gave assistance in processing things in our clients’ lives and went beyond that to care about us as people too,” explains Laura.

Life Span’s Position on Separation of Families Executive Order

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Life Span released their statement on the family separation executive order.

Life Span Executive Director on the Ben Joravsky Show – May 15, 2017

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Denice Wolf Markham, Executive Director of Life Span was on the Ben Joravsky Show, WCPT 820 AM.  The topic of discussion was the impact of the Illinois Budget Crisis on domestic violence agencies and victims of domestic violence. Click on the image below to listen to the segment.

Denice Wolf Markham, Executive Director of Life Span & guest on the Ben Joravsky Show, WCPT 820 AM Radio 6/2/17.