Sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime to humanity, especially to children. Its repercussions lead to lifelong traumas and dire mental and interpersonal issues. But, victims and survivors should know that help is available. Apart from the support of family, friends, and the State, victims and survivors are also provided the following assistance:
- Illinois Rape Crisis Center. Each center has a 24-hour hotline with staff and volunteers trained to counsel and educate victims, survivors, and their families. You may visit the site to check the nearest center in your area.
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Hotlines. CSA victims may contact a number of hotlines to get immediate or long-term assistance. Among these hotlines are:
- DCFS 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-252-2873 or TTY 1-800-358-5117. The DCFS advises calling 911 first if the child is in immediate danger.
- Trauma Abuse Treatment You may talk to a trained counselor about trauma abuse at 866-612-7506.
- Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Service (SACIS) at 217-348-5033 or 888-345-2846.
- Resilience Programs and Services. Resilience is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping sexual assault survivors. They provide free trauma therapy services, medical advocates (24-hour on-call for in-person crisis support for victims and survivors at 17 Chicago hospitals), and education and training (in recognizing elements of rape culture, reducing risk factors, and becoming agents of change in the community).
- Crime Victims Compensation. The State of Illinois offers financial compensation of up to $27,000 for crime victims provided you meet certain criteria. The Office of the Illinois Attorney General encourages victims and survivors to call the toll-free Crime Victims Assistance Line at 1-800-228-3368 (Voice) 1-877-398-1130 (TTY) and for information about compensation and other statewide victim services.
While the list seems limited, you may try reaching out to the provided numbers to get more information about their programs and services. It’s important for victims and survivors to know that help is always available, especially for child victims who are in dire need of accessible medical assistance.
If you or anyone you know has been abused, know that you’re entitled to know about your legal options. Our sexual abuse attorneys here at America’s Consumer Lawyer are dedicated to cultivating a space supportive of information, transparency, and privacy. We’re committed to bringing abusers accountable; whether that’s a person or an institution.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at what we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at America’s Consumer Lawyer, we put people first.
