Our friends at Change Reaction are matching up to $20,000 worth of donations through the end of the year, so your contributions to the work we do at VIP are worth double! Your tax-deductible donation goes towards VIP's mission to protect and treat all victims of family violence and sexual assault, a mission that has been executed and expanding for 40-years.

Prior to 1984, the Los Angeles area was a very different place for a child who had been physically or sexually abused. Victims were “diagnosed” as having been abused, and were then tossed into the child welfare system with few resources or support. Families were in distress, children were broken, and lives frankly crumbled under the emotional trauma that had occurred.

After witnessing patient after patient go down the same unfortunate path, Dr. Astrid Heppenstall Heger, a USC pediatrician trained in child abuse, decided she wanted to dedicate her efforts to creating a better outcome and brighter future for children experiencing abuse. With that decision, the Violence Intervention Program was created, determined to provide better outcomes for victims and the families that support them.

In a humble clinic space roughly the size of a child’s bedroom, and with a couple of part-time staff, Dr. Heger began to see patients. Inspired by the personal stories of her clients, V.I.P. began to take shape.

You hear it all the time - "Children are our future." That's not good enough. At VIP, we believe children are our past, present, AND future. Be exceptional with us.