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Resources and Support for the Victims in Highland Park, Illinois

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OVC staff extend our heartfelt sympathy to victims impacted by the shooting during an Independence Day Parade in Highland Park, Illinois on Monday, July 4, 2022.

We offer the below resources that may help victims, their families, and the community during this difficult time.

Resources for victim service providers, law enforcement, first responders, and community and faith leaders responding to this tragedy are also listed.

Victim Helplines

Red Cross

Community members seeking support may contact the Red Cross(link is external) (Chicago and Northern Illinois) at 312-729-6258. The Red Cross offers services such as mental health assistance, financial assistance, and health services.

VictimConnect

VictimConnect(link is external) is an OVC-funded service that offers confidential assistance to victims of crime. Trained specialists are available to help you locate services in your area, including mental health counseling, legal services, and more. Contact VictimConnect, Monday-Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time at:

Phone: 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846)
Chat: https://victimconnect.org/get-help/victimconnect-chat(link is external)
Dial 711 and VictimConnect staff can provide services through an interpreter in more than 200 languages, and to hearing- and speech-impaired individuals.

Disaster Distress Helpline

The Disaster Distress Helpline, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling.

This 24/7 toll free, multilingual, crisis support service is available to residents in the United States and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including incidents of mass violence. Call or text the hotline at 800-985-5990.

Victim Compensation

Illinois’ Crime Victims’ Compensation Program(link is external), funded in part through the OVC-administered Crime Victims Fund, may help offset a victim’s financial burden related to funeral, mental health, medical, and other expenses. Following is contact information for this program:

Office of the Illinois Attorney General
Crime Victims Services Bureau
Phone: 800-228-3368
TTY: 877-398-1130

 

Date Published: July 5, 2022