Bullying and Abuse Prevention Resources
The Chicago Child Trauma Center (CCTC) serves Chicago-area children ages 1 to 18 affected by traumatic events, including physical and sexual abuse, witnessing violence, and complex trauma. The center aims to provide expert-level trauma care to children and their families and address social justice issues.
CCTC clinicians include psychologists, social workers, counselors and case managers who have specialized training and expertise in trauma assessment and treatment models. Care includes case management, advocacy and collaboration with outside providers.
If you are seeking services for a child who has been exposed to trauma and is in need of therapeutic services, contact CCTC’s intake coordinator at (773) 374-3748, ext. 2221, to determine if these services would be a good fit.
Chicago Coordinated Entry System for Housing
The Coordinated Entry System for Chicago (CES) connects people experiencing homelessness to housing opportunities in Chicago. CES can refer youth, individuals and families to housing. Its website includes information for individuals and service providers on finding housing, walk-in locations for assessments and updates, and more. The website also includes resources for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.
For more information, email ces@chicagococ.org or leave a voicemail at (872) 296- 5004.
Anyone who needs emergency shelter should call 311.
The Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) provides a wide range of programs to support families and connect people who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing. Its services include:
- Hearing evaluations and assistive technologies
- Free American Sign Language (ASL) family classes in English and Spanish
- ASL in-person and online youth classes
- ASL Adult in-person and virtual classes
- Community outreach and youth programs
- Interpreter services and captioning
For more information, call CHS:
- Main Number: (773) 248-9121
- Videophone: (773) 904-0154
Chicago Survivors (CS) provides crime victim services and support to family members of Chicago homicide victims. Services are free, voluntary and open to all. Services include a crisis helpline and response services, protecting victims’ rights and compensation assistance, funeral planning, counseling, wellness kits, support groups and more. Help is available in Spanish and English. Real-time translation services for other languages is also available.
The Chicago Survivors Crisis Helpline is open 24/7 at (877) 863-6338.
Chicago Survivors resources and services also include:
- Counseling for youth and adults
- Comprehensive referral services (e.g., grief counseling, legal aid, housing, utilities)
- Protecting victims’ rights and compensation assistance
- Court advocacy and unsolved case assistance
- Community of Survivors adult and youth workshops, events and groups
Child Welfare Information Gateway
The Child Welfare Information Gateway aims to provide free and trusted resources to service providers, family members and parents working to bring children home from foster care. It helps equip individuals with the resources needed to support positive outcomes for all children, youth and families. The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to the following:
- Publications
- Research
- Laws and policies
- Databases covering a wide range of topics, including prevention, child abuse and neglect, adoption, search and reunion.
For questions, call 1 (800) 394-3366 or email info@childwelfare.gov.
Connections for Abused Women and their Children
Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) is a Chicago-based nonprofit committed to ending domestic violence. Using a self-help, empowerment approach, CAWC provides a shelter for adults and children, counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. Contact the hotline at (773) 278-4566 for immediate help.
Contact Ministries in Springfield
Contact Ministries is a non-profit, faith-based, social service organization serving the greater Springfield community. It provides free on-site support services and emergency shelter to single women, women with children, families and individuals in poverty.
Contact Ministries provides:
- Referrals
- Food and clothing
- Emergency shelter and transitional housing
- Financial assistance and other programs
Call Contact Ministries at (217) 753-3939.
Darkness to Light empowers adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse through awareness, education and the reduction of stigma. It offers evidence-informed training on the education and prevention of child sexual abuse, other forms of abuse and mandated reporting. Darkness to Light’s website also offers resources for parents and families to help protect the children in their lives.
For more information, email info@d2L.org or call (843) 965-5444.
Digital Safety Resources from the Illinois Attorney General
Digital safety encompasses a wide variety of issues related to the use of computers, tablets, cell phones, games, apps and social media. The Illinois Attorney General’s “Online Safe, Online Smart” website provides resources for children, teenagers, parents and educators seeking information about digital safety.
Kids, teens, parents and teachers coping with cyberbullying and internet safety issues may also contact an Internet Safety Specialist at:
Disability Information and Access Locator
The Disability Information and Access Locator (DIAL) helps people with disabilities connect to local community resources that support independent living. DIAL provides information on essential services such as housing support, disability rights and more.
The DIAL database includes:
- Centers for Independent Living
- Protection and Advocacy Systems
- Assistive Technology Programs
- University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
- State Developmental Disabilities Councils