In 1992, Vickie Gratton, the Galena Police Department Nurse, and Faye Clarke, a mental health therapist, witnessed gaps in the services available to sexual assault survivors in Jo Daviess County, resulting in a lack in prosecution and blatant disrespect. To provide better options for those in need, Vickie and Faye founded the basis for what was to become Riverview Center.
In June of 1992, a board of directors was formed with the guidance of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA). The board voted to provide services in Jo Daviess County as Riverview Center. Between 1996 and 2005, Riverview Center’s services were expanded into Carroll County, Illinois, Dubuque, Iowa, and Delaware and Buchanan Counties to provide these crucial services for sexual assault survivors.
In 2010, Riverview Center was approached by CHOICES, the domestic violence services provider for Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, to merge the two agencies’ operations. Riverview Center’s and CHOICES’ staff worked together as one agency to ensure continuity of services for domestic violence survivors in Northwest Illinois.
As of July 1, 2013, the state of Iowa shifted to a six-region model for the provision of sexual assault prevention and intervention services. Riverview Center was chosen to serve 11 additional counties in Northeast Iowa, including Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Jones, Linn, and Winneshiek Counties.
As an agency, Riverview Center is unique in that we are the only agency in the 14 county Northeast Region of Iowa providing sexual assault services, and we are the only agency providing either sexual or domestic violence services in Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties in Illinois.
Our services are free regardless of biological sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, immigration status, English proficiency, race and/or ethnicity, incarceration status, disability or background. Riverview Center is a safe space. Our services are available to anyone affected by these crimes and their non-offending family members.
