Bullying and Abuse Prevention Resources
Healing Hurt People Chicago (HHPC) is a hospital-based, youth advocacy program for violence recovery. HHPC services begin in the hospital and include crisis intervention, mental health care, medical advocacy, team support support and patient advocacy. The program also connects participants to supports and a community where they can continue to grow, thrive and break the cycle of violence once they leave the hospital.
HHPC programs and resources for individuals, families and loved ones recovering from trauma also include:
- Information about trauma and the SELF (Safety, Emotion, Loss, and Future) model
- Stories of healing
- Strategies for coping
- Resources for families
- Resources for providers
The Housing Authority of Joliet provides low-income individuals and families with access to affordable housing assistance and support services designed to maximize independence and promote self-sufficiency. The Housing Authority of Joliet’s website includes information about each program, application requirements and information for tenants and landlords.
Its website also offers information on service agencies that can help people facing challenges, including emergency housing, employment and job training, legal assistance, mental health, mobility assistance, parenting skills, substance abuse and more.
For questions, please contact the Housing Authority of Joliet at (815) 727-0611 or (800) 545-1833, ext. 878 (relay service).
How to Teach Children About Disabilities and Inclusion
Inclusion is the law, but it takes more than legal compliance to create an environment where all children feel included and valued. Educating children about disability and inclusion can protect vulnerable students from bullying and encourage empathy and kindness among students.
Baylor University’s “How to Teach Children About Disabilities and Inclusion” outlines age-appropriate ways to teach children about disabilities and strategies for fostering empathy and understanding in school or any social environment.
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) provides plain-language, 24/7 tools in three languages so families can understand and assert their legal rights. ILAO helps people who are unable to find or afford attorneys open opportunities for justice. Its resources can help with crises such as eviction, debt, food insecurity, domestic abuse, deportation and divorce.
The ILAO also provides resources to help with guardianship, education, health and benefits and more.
Illinois Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call, text or chat live with the Illinois Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at (877) 863-6338 (877-TO END DV).
The Hotline provides crisis intervention and referrals to an emergency situation and support services to victims who are in an abusive relationship. In addition, Hotline advocates can provide information and resources to concerned family and friends.
The Hotline is confidential, available 24 hours a day and can help you no matter what language you speak. More information about the hotline and other Illinois resources is available on the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence website.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)’s Resiliency Toolkit is a collection of resources designed to foster safe and healthy school climates. In response to the growing mental health challenges that Illinois youth face, this toolkit offers developmentally appropriate tools to help students, parents, caregivers and school personnel build the resilience necessary to thrive.
ISBE’s Resiliency Toolkit topics include:
- Mental health
- Discrimination and harassment
- Preventing and addressing bullying
- Substance use prevention and more
The Kids Wish Network provides programs to help inspire hope, create happy memories, share comfort and reach kids in life-altering situations. The organization grants wishes and provides programs across the country to children between the ages of 3 and 18 who are facing extraordinary challenges due to illness, hospitalization, homelessness, and abuse. Anyone can refer a child.
Kids Wish Network services include:
- Lifetime Wishes – grants customized wishes to children who are battling a life-threatening medical condition
- A Child Forever – comforts families devastated by the loss of a child by offering funeral assistance and ensuring a proper end-of-life ceremony
- Holiday of Hope – brings holiday happiness to children facing poverty, addiction, homelessness and life-altering situations
- Hero Wishes – helps brave kid-warriors who have survived tough and often tragic life circumstances
- Project Toy Drop – delivers gifts and laughter to at-risk youth and kids of American servicemen or women
La Rabida Children’s Advocacy Center
La Rabida Children’s Advocacy Center (LRCAC) aims to provide a safe and child-friendly environment where children and adolescents receive supportive services following allegations of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, other forms of child maltreatment or exposure to violent crime.
The LRCAC’s mission is to reduce trauma and provide supportive services to children and families involved in investigations of child abuse and violent crime using a multidisciplinary team approach that combines efforts of law enforcement, child protection investigators, prosecutors, medical personnel and mental health providers.
LRCAC provides forensic interviewing, advocacy, and follow up services at no cost to children and families living in the south suburbs of Cook County.
Legal Advice Line for Victims of Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault
Prairie State Legal Services (PSLS) offers the Legal Advice Line for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. The Legal Advice Line is available in certain counties served by PSLS.
For a list of counties served, the hours the advice line is open and more information on the services offered, click here for their flyer in English or Spanish.
Legal Aid Chicago provides free legal assistance in civil cases to people living in Chicago and suburban Cook County with limited income or special legal needs. It focuses on helping in the following key areas:
- Family and safety – where personal safety and financial stability are at risk
- House and apartment – protecting safe and affordable housing for tenants and homeowners
- Money and debt – protecting income and assets from unfair collections and fraud
- Work and employment rights – protecting the rights and benefits of workers and reducing barriers to employment
- Health, disability and basic needs – accessing and protecting benefits for basic human needs
- Immigration – obtaining protected status for victims of crime, including U-visa, VAWA (for victims of domestic violence) and T-visa (for victims of human trafficking)