Growing Strong is a helping hand you can always count on.

What is Growing Strong?

Growing Strong is a local sexual assault center in Decatur and the surrounding counties. 

Growing Strong serves Macon, Moultrie, Shelby, Piatt, and DeWitt counties. They were established in 1985, and all services they offer are free and confidential to ensure the safety and comfort of all who ask for help.

Growing Strong offers many services and support to those who need it. 

“We are a part of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, which is out of Springfield,” Cathy Byers, the Executive Director at Growing Strong, said. 

In this coalition there are 31 rape crisis centers, which all offer support to those in need. 

Growing Strong offers counseling to both survivors and their families. This counseling is offered in many ways, such as play therapy, sand therapy, art therapy, and talk therapy.

Growing Strong has advocates who help survivors if their offender is charged. This advocate may work with the Police Department and the State Attorney’s office, but they can also go with survivors to their trial to help them in the courtroom and guide them through their testimony.

This allows someone who went through this violence to focus on themselves and their own healing. 

These advocates also go to the hospital to help people who have been sexually assaulted, to ensure that if they need a test or need to be questioned, they have someone to help them through it.

“Our advocate’s role there is to support them, to let them know what’s about to happen, and let them know what their rights are,” Byers said.

The organization also helps people who were assaulted find housing, pay for food and bills, and even helps them take time off from their job if needed. This allows them time to recover and improve their mental health before they worry about anything else.

Growing Strong has a prevention education service where they send representatives into local schools to inform students about their bodily autonomy, consent, and protecting themselves and others from sexual abuse.

“They’re talking about body safety, who to tell, [and] how to tell if someone has inappropriately touched them,” Byers said.

These services help children and teens know how to spot signs of any violence toward them and also know when and how to stand up for themselves.

Growing Strong accepts donations for new clothing, hygiene products, and comfort items. There is a list on their website under the Support Survivors tab.

They also have a 24-hour hotline where they are always available to listen to anyone who wants to discuss their options with a case or has a report of sexual assault.

How Can They Help Students?

Growing Strong offers many important resources for students to know and use if needed. They are a well-known presence on campus, and their services are offered to any student in need.

If something happens to students while on campus, knowing what their Title IX rights are is important.

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits any kind of sex-based discrimination and is a protective measure against any kind of sexual violence.

This is put in place so that students have a written rule against sexual assault and harassment to help them get as much recognition

Growing Strong offers and accepts help and would like to make Millikin’s community as safe as possible.

“It takes all of you to help us with this mission of ending sexual violence,” Byers said.

Growing Strong accepts volunteers who are interested in helping out, as well as training anyone who is interested. This extends to students who would like to help out in their community.

“Any student [who] has an interest in helping this agency or being more of an activist on campus, reach out to us,” Byers said.

Growing Strong is a great resource for anyone who has been sexually abused in any way or anyone who wants to lend a hand to their community.

Hotline number: (217) 428-0770.

Visit their website for more information: https://growingstrongcenter.org/