SHELTER
(773) 722-0005

Neopolitan Lighthouse’s 25-bed domestic violence shelter offers services to women and children fleeing from abusive relationships 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To ensure the safety of our clients, Neopolitan Lighthouse’s shelter facility is housed at a confidential location. The shelter offers comfortable accommodations for women and children who reside in a communal atmosphere. Women and children are able to stay at the shelter facility for up to 90 days. During this time, shelter residents are provided with an array of services which include individual and group counseling, case management, advocacy, and Illinois Domestic Violence Act or legal advocacy. The shelter facility affords its residents a safe and supportive environment where they can begin to regain control over their lives.

If you or someone you know is in need of shelter, please do not hesitate to call our 24-hour crisis line at (773) 722-0005 for more information. If you do not reside in the Chicago area, you may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 to locate a domestic violence shelter and/or program near you.

Shelter Services

Counseling:
Neopolitan Lighthouse offers emotional support, individual, and group counseling to abused women and children residing at the shelter. Daily support groups include discussions on the dynamics of domestic violence, maintaining safe and healthy relationships, positive parenting skills, and legal advocacy issues.

The support group format encourages survivors to discuss their experiences in a supportive environment while at the same time offering that support to other women through their experiences. Many residents participating in our support groups will have had very different experiences and may be at different stages in their relationships and in the healing process. This is also a chance for survivors to ask questions of other survivors and for counselors to aid in minimizing feelings of isolation and blame as often experienced by survivors of abuse.

Counselors and case managers also conduct individual counseling sessions where residents can speak confidentially with a counselor and personalize their sessions to meet their own needs and goals.

Neopolitan Lighthouse staff recognize the importance of counseling and encourage women and children to begin identifying the feelings associated with the violence they have experienced. If necessary, counselors are also available to assist women and children to locate more long-term counseling and therapy options.

Case Management:
Within the first 48 hours of entering Neopolitan Lighthouse’s shelter facility, each resident is assigned and will meet with a case manager. Together with her case manager, each woman will discuss and identify her individual needs and goals in order to achieve independent living after leaving the shelter. The case manager meets with each resident on a weekly basis to discuss options for meeting those goals. Case managers assist residents with locating resources for housing, employment, childcare, education, and financial assistance. Case managers also help residents create resumes and obtain job training and readiness skills. The specific services given to each client are determined by an assessment of the individual and family’s needs as well as the client’s specific wishes.

Legal Advocacy:
Neopolitan Lighthouse understands that a vital part of a survivor’s recovery process includes ensuring her and her children’s physical safety and well-being. The agency’s legal advocate meets with every woman upon her entry into the shelter. The advocate discusses with each client her legal rights under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 and her legal options including information on obtaining an order of protection. Legal groups are held twice a week with the women in the shelter to discuss the legal issues pertaining to domestic violence. The legal advocate is also available to accompany women to both civil and criminal court to provide assistance and emotional support when filing for orders of protection or appearing for any related court cases. The legal advocate can also assist and provide referrals for divorce and child support cases. Often it is difficult for women to face their abusers in court and the judicial process is sometimes intimidating. The legal advocate is there to answer any questions that the survivor may have about domestic violence and her legal recourse.

On-Site Collaborative Health Care Services:

Medical Check-ups/Physical Examinations:
Neopolitan Lighthouse, in collaboration with Illinois Masonic Medical Center, offers on-site health care to shelter residents. A nurse practitioner from Illinois Masonic Medical Center is on-site at the shelter facility weekly to provide health care services to women and children. Services include conducting physical examinations and health check-ups for residents, including TB tests, and assisting residents to administer already prescribed medications. The nurse practitioner is also available to provide school physicals for school-age children.

STD and HIV/AIDS Services:
Neopolitan Lighthouse, in collaboration with the Bobby E. Wright Mental Health Center, provides STD and HIV/AIDS testing, counseling, education, and referral information for shelter residents. A trained counselor is on-site bi-monthly to conduct an educational group for shelter residents on the prevention, transmission, and/or health risks associated with sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. The counselor is also available to perform STD and HIV/AIDS tests for residents and to provide individual counseling where appropriate.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling:
Neopolitan Lighthouse recognizes the strong connection between mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Many women residing at our shelter are hampered by unmet emotional needs. Many women have resorted to substance abuse as a means of self-medicating the pain of physical and/or sexual abuse. Providing an opportunity for shelter residents to rehabilitate is critical to improving the quality of life for them and their children. To address these needs, Neopolitan Lighthouse has contracted with a Licensed Psychologist to provide mental health and/or substance abuse counseling to shelter residents. Available services include individual assessments, brief counseling, and referral for long-term care. Counseling focuses on motivating women for treatment and addressing the issues of denial and treatment readiness.

Computer Work Center:
Neopolitan Lighthouse has established a computer work center to allow women residing at the shelter the opportunity to gain current computer and software experience in order to enable them to enter the job market competitively. Women can access the computer center to design resumes and cover letters, and to practice their software skills. Children may also use the computer center to gain computer knowledge that is appropriate to their age and classroom level or to gain initial exposure and comfort with computers.

Children’s Program
(773) 722-0005

 
Neopolitan Lighthouse recognizes the devastating effects domestic violence can have on children. An extensive children’s program was created to assist the smallest victims of domestic violence with their healing processes.

Counseling:
Children residing at Neopolitan Lighthouse’s shelter facility receive individual and group counseling, conflict resolution skills, and advocacy services to help them learn to identify and reconcile their feelings associated with the abuse they witnessed or experienced directly. Examples of group topics and activities include safety, arts, feelings, field trips, peaceful conflict resolution, family interaction, structured and non-structured play, etc.

Educational Services:
Neopolitan Lighthouse is also committed to ensuring that children do not fall behind academically due to their transition into a shelter facility. Children are required to be enrolled in either their original or neighborhood school within 72 hours of their arrival at Neopolitan Lighthouse. Children’s counselors assist with the school enrollment of all school-aged children residing at the shelter. The on-site nurse practitioner assures that each child receives an appropriate school physical. The children’s counselors provide after-school tutoring and meet with teachers to discuss how the children are doing in their new environment.

To help children adjust to the classroom and become more comfortable with classroom computer use, Neopolitan Lighthouse developed a computer work center to allow children to gain technological skills to help them achieve in the classroom.

Mental Health Services:
Children who witness violence may become traumatized and suffer from a variety of psychological symptoms. To address the needs of children experiencing behavioral difficulties, Neopolitan Lighthouse has contracted with a Licensed Psychologist to provide mental health services for children at the shelter facility. Services available to children consist of individual psychological assessments and therapy. The Psychologist also consults with parents to address parent concernd and to assist parents in providing support for their child.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Walk-in Counseling for Women, Teens, and Children
(773) 638-0228

Neopolitan Lighthouse’s walk-in counseling program provides domestic violence victims with supportive counseling. Free individual and group counseling is available at the administrative office for women, teens and children. The walk-in counseling program is designed to assist women, teens, and children who are in need of domestic violence support services, but for whom shelter is either not needed, appropriate or the option of choice. The walk-in counseling program provides the opportunity for women to receive support in an individual setting where they feel safe. Counselors are available to assist women in examining their situations and exploring possible options. The walk-in counseling program also assists women who are fulfilling their court mandated domestic violence counseling requirements for the court system and/or the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

Walk-in counseling services are also available to former shelter residents who are now living independently. Neopolitan Lighthouse recognizes how difficult the transition from shelter life to independent living can be for some survivors, and how crucial it is for women to receive ongoing support during this time. The Walk-in counseling program, therefore, provides an opportunity for women to receive support as they begin to break the cycles of violence which have affected their lives.

Walk-in counseling services are also available for children and teens. The Walk-in counseling program is a place where children can begin to identify and reconcile their feelings regarding the abuse. Counselors are available to work with children of all ages in an individual setting where children can feel safe and secure. Counselors use age appropriate games and activities to assist children in discussing their feelings and learning conflict resolution skills. Counselors work with teens to help them recognize abuse in their families and in their own dating relationships. Counselors use interactive discussions and activities to help teens foster healthy relationships and understand their own rights.

The individual and group counseling services described above are free for survivors of domestic violence. For more information or to make an appointment, please contact us at (773) 638-0228.

Legal Advocacy
(773) 638-0228

Neopolitan Lighthouse provides legal advocacy outreach services to women in the community who need legal assistance. The legal advocate is available to speak with victims of domestic violence about their legal rights and options and to provide them with information about the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.

Neopolitan Lighthouse’s legal advocate helps victims of domestic violence to successfully navigate the legal and criminal justice systems. The legal advocate is available to accompany women to their local police station to assist them in filing a police report. The legal advocate will also accompany women to both civil and criminal court to provide assistance and emotional support when filing for orders of protection or appearing for any related court cases.

Neopolitan Lighthouse’s legal advocate does NOT provide legal advice and is NOT an attorney. The legal advocate is there to provide information and support. The legal advocate is also available to provide individual and group counseling, as well as presentations to the community including local police stations.

If you or someone you know needs legal assistance, please contact our legal advocate at (773) 638-0228 . For more information on orders of protection see our web site page under "Getting Help" entitled, "Legal Assistance."

Remember: Domestic Violence IS a crime.

Medical Advocacy
(773) 638-0228

Hospital Intervention Program at Advocate Bethany Hospital:
Because a hospital may be the first place a victim of domestic violence turns for help, Neopolitan Lighthouse recognizes this unique opportunity to intervene. Neopolitan Lighthouse in collaboration with Advocate Bethany Hospital has implemented a Hospital Intervention Program designed to provide domestic violence support services directly to victims of domestic violence at health care sites. A domestic violence medical advocate is stationed at Advocate Bethany Hospital twice a week to provide on-site domestic violence assessments, crisis intervention, legal advocacy, individual counseling, advocacy, educational information, and referrals. The medical advocates are stationed in the emergency department where they screen each woman entering the ED for possible signs of domestic abuse and provide educational/referral information. The medical advocate provides follow-up counseling through the walk-up program. The medical advocate is also available to speak with patients who have been admitted to departments throughout the hospital who are suspected by medical staff of presenting with injuries related to domestic violence.

The medical advocate also provides training for hospital staff on methods for identifying, treating, and referring victims of abuse and serves as a consultant on hospital policies and procedures regarding domestic violence.

Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Clinical Program:
Neopolitan Lighthouse, in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Public Health, has collaborated to bring domestic violence support services directly to women at local Women, Infant and Children (WIC) clinics. A medical advocate is stationed three days a week at local WIC clinics. The medical advocate provides women with domestic violence assessments, crisis intervention, individual counseling, legal advocacy, information and referral . Follow-up counseling is available to WIC clients through Neopolitan Lighthouse’s Walk-in Counseling Program.

General Medical Advocacy Services:
The medical advocate is available to provide individual and group counseling and staff training on domestic violence issues at area wide medical facilities including hospitals, medical clinics, pregnancy centers, women’s clinics, and substance abuse treatment centers. For more information about our medical advocacy program please call (773) 638-0228 .

Youth Violence Prevention Initiative

Neopolitan Lighthouse’s Youth Violence Prevention Initiative was designed in response to the lack of available domestic violence support services for adolescents seeking assistance on their own behalves. Whether it is the effects of being raised in an abusive household where a parent or family member is a victim of domestic violence or being involved in an abusive dating relationship, youth are impacted in many ways by domestic violence. Neopolitan Lighthouse’s youth advocate provides teens with dating and domestic violence counseling, education and referral information as needed.

School Intervention Project:
Neopolitan Lighthouse’s youth advocate works with local schools to educate students about dating violence. The youth advocate provides educational programs to increase awareness about dating and family violence to students at local middle schools and high schools. The project reaches students in grades 6-12. Neopolitan Lighthouse’s educational programs include information on the dynamics of domestic violence, achieving healthy relationships, and peaceful conflict resolution skills. The students participate in several violence prevention sessions which incorporate the use of lectures, discussions, games, small group activities, and role playing techniques. The students also consider how violence is portrayed in the media, through magazines, television, movies, music, etc., contributes to domestic and societal violence.

Other Youth Programs:
Neopolitan Lighthouse’s youth advocate also conducts violence prevention programs at local area youth centers, teen parenting programs, and church youth groups. For more information about our youth programs, please contact Neopolitan Lighthouse at (773) 638-0228 .

Other Outreach Projects

(773) 638-0228
Neopolitan Lighthouse’s Outreach Program was designed and implemented to address the need for increased awareness and knowledge about domestic violence within the community. Through the outreach program, Neopolitan Lighthouse’s advocates collaborate with neighborhood institutions to provide educational presentations and professional training programs on domestic violence, teen dating violence, anger management, and conflict resolution skills.

Advocates are also available to work directly with women and teens in the community who may be affected by domestic violence. Advocates will provide individual and group counseling, on-site crisis intervention services, legal advocacy, education, and referral information to victims of domestic violence at local sites.

Neopolitan Lighthouse’s on-site advocacy program will place a domestic violence advocate on-site at program facilities on a weekly or monthly basis where there are large numbers of individuals affected by domestic violence. The advocate would be available to conduct domestic violence screening and provide educational information and intervention services to women and teens affected by domestic violence.

Neopolitan Lighthouse’s advocates are also available to speak to community organizations, schools, medical facilities, and religious and civic organizations on domestic violence issues. For more information about our educational programs, please contact Neopolitan Lighthouse at (773) 638-0228.