STEPPING STONES
TO A SAFER COMMUNITY
Expanding and Enhancing Access to McLean County’s Sexual Assault Crisis Center
ESSENTIALS
YWCA Stepping Stones, McLean County’s sexual assault crisis center, provides 24-hour assistance for survivors of sexual assault and abuse, and their loved ones. Stepping Stones serves as the only central sexual assault resource center in McLean County with a 24-hour crisis hotline available 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our free, confidential services provide medical and legal advocacy, prevention education, counseling, support groups and much more. We seek to empower survivors, families, and friends on their journey towards healing. Together, through advocacy, education, and access to services, we are
ADVOCACY
LEGAL
Stepping Stones staff advocates for survivors with police, the state’s attorney office, and the court system. We also assist with civil no contact orders, stalking no contact orders, crime victim’s compensation, automated victim notification (AVN), VINELink, and other crime victim-related programs.
EDUCATION
MEDICAL
Stepping Stones staff and volunteers accompany survivors to the hospital to provide advocacy and support. A medical advocate acts as a liaison between the survivor and healthcare professionals to ensure that needs are met and the survivor is treated with dignity and respect. We are there to provide information about survivors’ concerns and right to treatment as well as any other needs that might arise. Medical advocacy continues after the initial medical contact to ensure survivors’ rights are being kept intact, and to handle any medical bills or other issues.
As part of YWCA Stepping Stones, we know an important piece to the elimination of sexual abuse and assault is through education beginning at a young age. To that end, we are on a mission to provide education throughout McLean County to children starting in pre-kindergarten through high school and college-age students, as well as civic groups and employers.
In fulfillment of Erin’s Law, or Illinois Public Act 097-1147, requires public schools to provide child sexual abuse prevention education for children in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As part of Erin’s Law, YWCA Stepping Stones Prevention Educators visit classrooms multiple times throughout each school year to lead an age-appropriate Healthy Relationships curriculum. Together, we can help children establish boundaries, recognize unsafe behavior, and create safe spaces for these important conversations to occur.
COUNSELING
Stepping Stones provides free, survivor-centered counseling to all survivors of sexual assault, regardless of when the assault occurred. To make an appointment, please call (309) 585-3618.
If you are in crisis and need to speak with someone immediately, please call our 24-hour hotline (309) 556-7000
We offer:
• Individual counseling (age 3 and up)
• Family counseling
• Significant other counseling
• Support groups
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1990
YWCA McLean County undergoes its first renovation, adding more than 17,000 square feet to the facility. New areas include the Community Room, 2 additional gym courts, fitness rooms and Young Wonders classrooms.
1975
Established in 1908, YWCA McLean County moves into its current-day Hershey Road location.
2002
Stepping Stones takes its first hotline call.
2000
The Hershey Road facility undergoes its second renovation, adding another 10,904 square feet in the form of 3 Young Wonders classrooms and 2 fitness rooms.
2013
Erin’s Law goes into effect, requiring all public K-12 schools implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. Stepping Stones hires additional staff to accomodate this legislation.
2011
YWCA McLean County ceases to provide health & fitness services. Lifeguard offices and breakrooms become Stepping Stones advocate offices and counseling rooms and locker rooms become our hotline center.
2023
Stepping Stones launches a campaign for a critical expansion. After doing the best we can with the space we have for as long as possible, additional centrally located space is necessary as counselors do not have space to take walk-ins and noise machines sit outside doors to increase confidentiality.
2022
Stepping Stones opens counseling offices on the west side of Bloomington, increasing accessiblity to our services.
Patrick Hoban Bloomington-Normal Economic Development CouncilCEO,
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Stepping Stones provides services to all survivors regardless of gender identity, income or health insurance status, with staff available via hotline 24 hours/day. The services create a more effective, efficient, and supportive network for survivors, giving them the best chance possible to be successful in their professional and personal lives...
LOOKING AHEAD
For more than 20 years, YWCA McLean County Stepping Stones has met the needs of our community by establishing strong foundations with community partners and utilizing all resources available – large and small. By turning unused health and fitness spaces into offices, volunteer training centers, and counseling rooms, our reach continues to evolve.
This expansion will create critically needed space for Stepping Stones clients and their loved ones. With the continued growth of the program, staff, and increasing number of survivors seeking healing, a larger, renovated space is essential for the continuity of our services. This expansion brings increased confidentially, program privacy, and the opportunity for all to operate in a comfortable, functional environment.
ACCESS
With this expansion, Stepping Stones has the capability to provide greater accessibility to our services here in McLean County. As our counselors and volunteers begin to move into new, secure program areas, our team will be able to serve an even greater number of survivors on their journey toward healing. Growth of our program coincides directly with the introduction of new rooms in a central location that is entirely personal to the Stepping Stones program. With equal access and the potential to grow our team and volunteers in order to serve more clients across McLean County, we are creating stepping stones to a safer community.
SECURITY
When our clients arrive at YWCA McLean County, we want them to rest assured that they are in a comfortable environment that is built with their safety and well-being at the forefront. YWCA’s building was not originally designed with Stepping Stones’ services in mind - there is no survivor-specific waiting room, sound-proof counseling spaces, or central facilities. In this expanded center, clients will have all of their needs met in one secure location.
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Colleen Kannaday President, Carle BroMenn Medical Center & Carle Eureka Hospitals
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One of the incredibly unique and impactful services that YWCA provides is Stepping Stones, which is a critical program for our community meeting a need that is not filled by any other organization. Carle BroMenn Medical Center values the important services provided by the Stepping Stones team and we value their partnership, especially in providing medical advocacy for survivors.
EXPANSION HIGHLIGHTS:
• Double the total available counseling space, with six private counseling rooms, and one group counseling room and conference room both of which can double as counseling spaces
• An exculsive reception area for maximum privacy when checking in
• A confidential, peaceful waiting area for clients and loved ones
• A dedicated, inclusive space for all staff and volunteers assisting with the 24-hour hotline
• Centrally located bathroom, meaning clients do not have to leave the Stepping Stones space
2022 BY THE NUMBERS
Waitlist reduced from 40 to 0
10 Clients supported through criminal justice advocacy
105 Clients supported through medical advocacy
287 Crisis intervention calls received
296 Recurring clients
1,150 Hours of prevention education services
3,194 Hours of counseling and advocacy services
8,570 McLean County K-12 students received prevention education
JOIN US
Join us in making this critical expansion a reality for survivors and their loved ones in McLean County. Your financial investment represents more than bricks and mortar, it represents hope. Together, we can make positive, lasting change.
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