Bullying and Abuse Prevention Resources
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
For questions, please contact ISBE’s Wellness and Student Care Department at (217) 782-5270.
La Rabida Children’s Advocacy Center
La Rabida Children’s Advocacy Center (LRCAC) provides a safe and child-friendly environment where children and adolescents can 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.
For questions, please call the LRCAC at (708) 481-9799. Call are taken Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Latino Resources Institute in Chicago
The Latino Resource Institute of Illinois (LRII) provides case management, advocacy, community outreach, counseling and other services to individuals and families in the south side of Chicago and suburban Cook County. LRII also offers:
- Coaching and mentoring
- Work readiness, life skills/empowerment training
- Court advocacy
For questions, please visit LRII contact page or call (773) 356 – 5923.
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)
For questions, visit the Contact Us page on Legal Aid Chicago’s website.
Love is Respect – Teen Dating and Healthy Relationships for Young Adults
Love is Respect, a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, offers information, support and advocacy to young people between the ages of 13 and 26 who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships. Free, confidential services are available anytime via:
- Live chat
- Call (866) 331-9474 or TTY (800) 787-3224
- Text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522
Services for the deaf and hard of hearing are also available:
- Videophone (855) 812-1001
- Instant messenger at DeafHotline
- Email nationdeafhotline@adwas.org
Love is Respect also provides help for parents supporting a child who is, or you suspect is, dealing with dating abuse.
Mid Central Community Action (MCCA) provides support, advocacy, and education for individuals and families in McLean and Livingston Counties. MCCA works to eliminate domestic violence, combat homelessness, and create a community hub for financial stability.
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health
The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health provides a survivor’s resource list that includes:
- State, national and Chicago-based domestic violence organizations
- Mental health recovery and peer support resources
- State mental health departments
- Disability rights organizations
- Resources on trauma
- Resources on child trauma
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.
Contacts to The Hotline can expect highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education and referral services in over 200 languages.
Call (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or (800) 787-3224 (TTY). You can also text “START” to 88788 or chat live on The Hotline website.
Nourishing Hope helps individuals and families in Chicago by meeting them where they are to overcome barriers. Help includes food programs, trauma-informed mental health counseling in multiple languages, domestic violence support and a wide range of social services. Nourishing Hope offers a choice-based food distribution program that also includes:
- Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickups through five different food access programs.
- A home delivery services for people with disabilities, older adults and homebound neighbors.
- Life-changing social services such as case management, job search support, domestic violence intervention and public benefits assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, healthcare, government forms).
For more information, contact Nourishing Hope online.