Every child has the right to live in a safe environment. Our role is to nurture and support child witnesses of domestic violence by providing them with a safe place to play and learn. If you are interested in any of the services listed below, please contact the Community Crisis Center at 847-697-2380.
Services Available
Advocacy
Advocacy services for a child client includes: the intake process, assessing for special needs and creating a plan for the child. We also provide referrals to other agencies such as DCFS, social service agencies, mental and medical facilities and schools.
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling can be provided when requested by the mother or when staff identifies specific needs during an assessment or observation of the child. Counseling can address domestic violence related issues such as: identifying the cycle of violence, creating a safety plan, identifying appropriate feelings and expressions and learning new skills to live a healthy non-violent life.
Support Groups
Domestic violence support groups for children meet weekly, focusing on a specific topic each week. Topics can include: identifying the cycle of violence, safety plans, identifying appropriate feelings and expressions, bullying, listening, conflict resolution skills and learning new skills to live a healthy non-violent life. Dating violence and safety are also included for teenage girls.
Play Groups
Play groups provide the opportunity for children in the shelter to play in a safe environment, practice new behaviors and experience age appropriate play without the responsibilities for younger siblings. Pre-school age play groups are provided in the mornings and school-aged play groups in the afternoon and evening.
Homework Groups
Homework groups occur weekday afternoons for school-aged children. The group is facilitated by staff and high school volunteers. They provide individual help with homework and computer projects.
Parenting Groups
Parenting groups provide mothers with the opportunity to improve their parenting stills, support each other as single parents and identify the strengths they have. Weekly topics include: feelings, self-esteem, conflict resolution, discipline, communication skills, effects of domestic violence on children and the cycle of violence.
Shelter
Children typically have a rough time transitioning into a new environment with new people and the temporary loss of the significant people in their lives. We provide children a safe environment to participate in age appropriate play opportunities to help support, future and encourage them during this time.