Mission Statement
The purpose of this website is to support survivors and their advocates in identifying survivor rights and survivor-relevant policies that specify supports available in the aftermath of violent harm. The website is not a resource list. Over the last decade, especially during COVID, there were considerable fluctuations in the availability of social services. Survivors are often let down and frustrated by being referred to programs and agencies that no longer exist, or that no longer provide a specific service. The rights of survivors, however, are less susceptible to such dramatic change. The information provided can also serve as an advocacy guide: all survivors of violence deserve safety, protection, healing, and support. A survivor of violence should be able to have these basic needs met within their community regardless of their race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or national origin.
An Illinois Policy Guide for Survivors and Their Advocates
Get the help you need...
Review Your Rights
As a survivor of violence in Illinois, these are your rights on both a state and federal level.
What Do You Need?
Eligibility and Access
Policies outlining rights and services afforded to crime victims often involve definitions of who is considered a victim and what they must do to access services. Read through this section to better understand how to navigate policies intended to support survivors.