Hillary Douin

Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), is committed to ending domestic violence. Using a self-help, empowerment approach, we provide a shelter for women and children, and counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. We work for social change through education, service collaboration and institutional advocacy. CAWC helps victims of abuse and their children in the Chicago metropolitan area through four its four main programs: Greenhouse Shelter provides that important safe refuge and support to help women and their children take those first brave steps to ending abuse. The shelter provides core domestic violence services including: a 24-hour crisis phone line (hotline) and counseling services; safe refuge; safety planning; court advocacy; individual and group counseling for women and children; life skills development and referrals. Humboldt Park Outreach Program (HPOP) is a community-based counseling outreach program for victims of domestic violence who have either left shelter and begun independent living or have not yet made the decision to leave their abuser. A team of professionals provides advocacy and support services including but not limited to crisis intervention, counseling, safety planning, information and referral and legal advocacy on an individual as well as group basis. The Hospital Crisis Intervention Project (HCIP) services are critical to empowering victims to begin to take control of their lives. HCIP, housed at John Stroger Hospital, provides quality direct services to female and male victims of domestic violence at the critical time in which they seek health care. Domestic Violence Services at Haymarket Center (a Comprehensive Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program) are an important resource for victims of domestic violence with active alcohol and chemical addictions so that they can overcome these serious issues simultaneously.