Advancing Healing, Safety, and Belonging

We provide comprehensive counseling services to individuals impacted by all forms of violence, including gender-based and community-based violence, and also promote community wellness and equal access to healthcare resources.

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Sexual Assault Education & Training

The YWCA offers prevention education services to schools, youth-focused agencies and professionals. Prevention education services prepare students, teachers, parents and professionals to recognize and prevent abusive behaviors. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago also instructs parents and teachers about the dynamics surrounding violence and provides support if an incident of violence occurs.

Where
Chicago and suburbs

Who’s Eligible
Cook County, DuPage and South Suburban schools (all ages), community organizations, businesses and professionals

Costs
Please call for more information

Additional Resources
40-hr Crisis Intervention Training

Contact
Cook County – SWEducationServicesCook@ywcachicago.org 
DuPage County – SWEducationServicesDuPage@ywcachicago.org 

Wellness Network

The steps you take today can empower your overall health and wellness tomorrow. Wellness Network therapists and case managers can assist you in taking steps in your health and wellness journey.

  • Are old wounds still affecting you today?

  • Are you experiencing overwhelming stress, anxiety or depression?

  • Do you need a judgement-free zone—a place for healing and someone to talk with?

  • Do you just want to feel better?

  • Do you need help finding and accessing community resources like healthcare, childcare, employment, and housing?

Who
Children (3 and above), Adolescents and Adults

Cost
No cost to clients

Where
Laura Parks & Mildred Francis Center, 6600 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, IL 60637

When
Daytime and Evening Hours
In-person and Online Sessions

Call
773-302-2049

Email
wellnessnetwork@ywcachicago.org

Calls and emails will be returned within 48 business hours. Click here to download the flier.

This program is made possible with funding from the Chicago Department of Public Health’s Building a Network of Trauma Informed Centers of Care.

Health Services Program

Our Health Promotion and Navigation promotes health and wellness by providing educational workshops year round and assisting with screenings, referrals, navigation, interpretation, and transportation. Our education topics include cancer, cardiovascular disease, nutrition, osteoporosis, mental health, pre/post-natal care, nutrition, CPR, and sexually transmitted infections.

Please visit our events calendar for free educational and screening events throughout the year.

If you are interested in joining one of our free education sessions or health screenings, please contact our team at 847-662-4247. 

Signature Events

No One Fights Alone/Nadie Lucha Solo (10/5/2023)
Hope. Love. Walk. 5k (10/28/2023)

Health Trainings

  • Did you know that the best prevention is early detection? 

    Join us as we discuss risk factors, prevention methods, symptoms and the importance of age-appropriate screenings. Each workshop covers one cancer that affects the human population. Cancer workshops are held in English and Spanish. Please visit our calendar for an upcoming event. 

  • Learn the relationship between health, diet, and diseases. Nutrition courses offer insights into eating nutritious and balanced meals. Our Nutrition Workshop is offered in English and Spanish. Check our calendar for an upcoming event. 

    Visit our blog for nutritious recipes in the comfort of your home.

  • Learn the risk factors and prevention methods at our Osteoporosis Workshop and free screening event. Our Osteoporosis workshop is offered in English and Spanish. Check our calendar for an upcoming workshop.

  • Our Cardiovascular Disease Workshop discusses risk-factor control and lifestyle modification to prevent heart disease. Our workshop is offered in English and Spanish.

    Check our calendar for an upcoming event. 

  • Safe sex practices are as important as diet and exercise. Join us as we discuss STI risk factors and treatments. The workshop is held in Spanish and English. Please visit our calendar for upcoming events. 

  • From conception to birth, pregnancy is a journey. Join us to discover the changes that are associated with pregnancy and birth. This four-week workshop covers development, post-natal care and common pregnancy symptoms.

    Visit our calendar for upcoming workshops.  

  • Brought to you by the National Council for Mental Well-being, Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. This training helps you identify, understand, and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses, and connect individuals to the necessary resources for recovery.

    Please visit our calendar for upcoming training events.

  • Basic Life Support (BLS) course options teach the American Heart Association science-based skills and result in an AHA BLS Course Completion Card. 

    BLS is geared towards prehospital providers, like EMTs, paramedics, fire fighters, and in-facility hospital providers. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a course completion card, valid for two years. Please contact your employer to ensure that you are selecting the correct course.

    Please visit our calendar for upcoming training events.  

For more information, contact:
847-662-4247
womenshealth@ywcachicago.org

Professional Trainings

The YWCA offers a variety of professional training for mental health, medical and social service providers. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is licensed as a Continuing Education Sponsor for Social Workers by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, License #159001272. If you experience any issues with the registration process, contact SWProfessionalTraining@ywcachicago.org.

Current Training(s):
Click here to learn more about the 40-hr Crisis Intervention Training.

Available Training(s):
Meaning-Making: The Ethics and Practice of Using Art Therapy with Trauma Survivors
This workshop is best suited for Expressive Art Therapists and Counselors/Social Workers who work with trauma survivors.

Playing Through Trauma
This workshop is best suited for Therapists/Counselors who would like to gain an understanding of working with victims of trauma and utilizing Play Therapy. There will also be a brief overview of what Play Therapy is and why it is beneficial to use with the clients you work with.
CEU’s: 2.0

Case Management

In Person and Virtual Sessions Available

Where:

Who’s Eligible:
Survivors of sexual violence ages 3 and above and their impacted non-offending significant others (spouses, partners, parents/legal guardians, siblings)

Costs:
Free

Contact:
312.733.2102 (Chicago)
630.790.6600 (West Suburbs)
708.754.0486 (South Suburbs)

Case Management Services

Case management services are available to help survivors of sexual violence and their family members identify and access community resources. Case management is a collaborative process of identifying, planning, and facilitating access to resources and services to meet the needs of individuals and families.

Sexual Assault Counseling

Groups and Client Workshops

In Person and Virtual Sessions Available

Where:

Who’s Eligible:
Survivors of sexual violence ages 3 and above and their impacted non-offending significant others (spouses, partners, parents/legal guardians, siblings)

Costs:
Free

Contact:
312.733.2102 (Chicago)
630.790.6600 (West Suburbs)
708.754.0486 (South Suburbs)

Counseling

Caring, professional counselors provide confidential individual, family and group counseling to survivors of sexual violence and their non-offending family members. Services are offered to women, children and men who have been victims of assault. In providing trauma-informed services, counselors understand the dynamics of sexual violence and the effect trauma has on the lives of survivors and their family members.

Services are provided to survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and sexual harassment, ages 3 and above. Counselors support each survivor through their healing journey by utilizing a variety of methods including traditional “talk” therapy and expressive therapies (Art Therapy, Play Therapy, Dance Movement Therapy, and Sand Tray Therapy).

As the disclosure of sexual abuse/assault frequently impacts a survivor’s loved ones and family members, counseling is also available to non-offending siblings, parents, partners and spouses. Counselors support significant others as they explore their experiences of secondary trauma and work to build a support system for the survivor.

General Counseling

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago utilizes a strengths-based, empowerment, and client-centered approach in providing psychotherapy. Counselors involve clients in every stage of the therapeutic process; goals for counseling are set collaboratively and counselors seek ongoing feedback from clients to ensure services are meeting their needs.

Counselors are available to assist clients in addressing a variety of issue areas and concerns including parenting, relationships, life transitions, depression, anxiety, PTSD, overwhelm, sex & intimacy, and family dynamics.

Counselors possess a variety of skills training, areas of expertise, and clinical orientations.

Services are provided at our offices in Chicago (UIC/Medical District), Greater Grand Crossing/Woodlawn, and Logan Square and in the south and west suburbs in Chicago Heights and Addison. Counseling is available to children, adolescents, and adults and includes individual, family, and couple counseling. Groups and client workshops are also offered. Services are available in English and Spanish.

Most of our counselors are able to bill Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) of Illinois PPO as “In-Network Providers”. Many of our counselors can also provide clients with a monthly statement that may be submitted to their insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement based on their coverage policy.

Clients may be able to use Flexible Healthcare Spending Accounts to pay for counseling services; please verify your healthcare plan’s rules and policies.

Service fees are $150 for an initial assessment (typically 1.5 hours) and $120 for ongoing individual, couple and family counseling (typically 50 minutes). Group counseling is $25 per session (typically 1.5 hours).

We offer reduced fees for ongoing individual, couple, and family counseling (typically 50 minutes). Service fees are $35 for a Masters-Level social work/counseling Interns.

For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, click here.

Where:
Chicago (UIC/Medical District)
Laura Parks and Mildred Francis Center (Greater Grand Crossing/Woodlawn)
Cynthia B. Lafuente Center (Logan Square)
DuPage County (Addison)
Suburban Cook County (Chicago Heights)

Who:
Individuals, Couples & Families

When:
Monday through Friday, day and evening availability

Cost:
$150 Initial Assessment Interview
$120 Individual, Family & Couple Counseling Session
$25 Group Session (per person)

Insurance:
BCBS PPO

Contact:
Chicago/Laura Parks & Mildred Francis Center/Cynthia B. Lafuente Center 312-733-2102
Suburban Cook/DuPage Counties 630-790-6600 x1407

40-hr Crisis Intervention Training

Are you or your organization in need of professional development to enhance your knowledge of sexual assault education? Does your employer require this training as a Confidential Advisor or Mandated Reporter?

Are you a student, retiree, or survivor, seeking a fulfilling Volunteer Opportunity in Sexual Violence Support Services? Would you like to acquire knowledge of crisis intervention and sexual assault in order to develop and better understand survivors and significant others of sexual assault?

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago offers a comprehensive State of Illinois recognized 40-hr Crisis Intervention Training Certification several times throughout the year. Both professionals, interns, and volunteers are included as our attendees.

40-hr Crisis Intervention Training includes:

  • Illinois state-recognized certification

  • Basic Crisis Intervention Skills facilitated by expert and licensed trainers

  • Comprehensive understanding of sexual violence and rape culture

  • Learn appropriate response techniques for hospital emergency room calls and crisis hotline calls

  • Hands-on training with real hospital rape kits facilitated by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)

  • Up to date information, facts, videos and resources to increase knowledge and awareness

Application

  • Click here to begin the application process for volunteers.

  • Click here to begin the application process for professionals.

  • Click here to begin the application process for internships.

Cost

  • Professionals (non-group) $285

  • Volunteers Discounted to $65

The Sexual Violence Support Serviced Department facilitate trainings ongoing several times throughout the year at our various locations:

Interested in learning more or registering for the 40-hr Crisis Intervention Training? Contact 40HourTraining@ywcachicago.org . View the current volunteer opportunities by clicking here.

Rape Crisis Hotline

Call 888-293-2080 for Chicago Region

Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Rape Crisis Hotline provide survivors of sexual violence and their significant others immediate support, crisis intervention and referrals for the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The volunteers and staff at the hotline have received extensive training in sexual assault crisis intervention.

The Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline is also the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) affiliate for the city of Chicago.

Text and chat services available: Monday-Friday, 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm CST. To use the English chat, users must be 13 years or older. No cost to user, only standard messaging rates apply.

Servicios de Texto y Chat disponibles: Lunes a Viernes, 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm (CST). Para utilizar el chat en español, los usuarios deben tener 13 años o más. Sin costo para el usuario, solo se aplican tarifas de mensajería estándar.

Where:
Chicago and suburbs

Who’s Eligible:
Anyone. There is no typical rape survivor—women, men, and children from all walks of life can be victims of a sexual assault.

Costs:
Free

Interested in volunteering for the hotline? Click here for more information.

Servicios de Apoyo La Violencia Comunitaria

Si el español es su idioma principal y ha sido víctima/testigo de un crimen violento en su comunidad, nuestros Servicios de apoyo a la violencia comunitaria pueden ayudarle.

¿Ha experimentado un crimen violento como disparos desde un vehículo, asalto sexual, violencia doméstica, asalto físico, tráfico, homicidio/asesinato, crimen de odio, golpe y fuga, etc.?

  • ¿Se siente inseguro, aislado, deprimido o tiene otros sentimientos no deseados?

  • ¿Tiene dificultades para satisfacer sus necesidades de alimentos, empleo, servicios legales, cuidado infantil, atención médica o necesita ayuda para navegar por el sistema de justicia penal o hablar con la policía?

Quién es elegible:
Supervivientes hispanohablantes de violencia comunitaria de 17 años o más que residen en Bremen Township. Bremen Township incluye Oak Forest, Midlothian, Posen, Blue Island, Robbins, Homewood, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Crestwood, Hazel Crest, Markham, Country Club Hills y Harvey.

Nuestros servicios:
Ofrecemos servicios de asesoramiento y gestión de casos para ayudar y apoyar a las víctimas/testigos de violencia comunitaria.

Nuestros centros:
Suburbios del sur – Chicago Heights
Chicago – Roseland

Nuestros compañeros:
South Suburban Family Shelter
Legal Aid Chicago
Pillars Community Health

Contacto para servicios de gestión de casos:
312-762-2776

Contacto para servicios de asesoramiento:
312-762-2732