SERVICES
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Medical Advocacy
Highly trained medical advocates provide 24 hour in person support and information to sexual assault survivors at medical hospitals located within the Metro East area.
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Medical Advocates:
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Provide crisis intervention
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Provide information regarding medical forensic exams and evidence collection process.
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Provide information regarding legal rights and options
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Help communicate with hospital staff and police
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Assist with immediate needs such as transportation, shelter referrals, or clothing
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Help connect to other services
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Assist in accessing follow up medical services
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Assist in resolving hospital bills you may have received for emergency treatment
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*survivors should never be billed for an emergency room visit following a sexual assault*
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Please reach out to our 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline (618-397-0975) to request to speakwith an available counselor.
Legal Advocacy
Metro East Every Survivor Counts (Metro East ESC) is here to support survivors throughout the criminal justice and/or civil justice processes. Our agency supports all sexual assault survivors whether or not they want to report the crime to law enforcement.
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Legal Advocates:
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Provide information about legal rights and options, including information about relevant Illinois laws (Metro East ESC legal advocates do not provide legal advice)
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Accompany survivors to file a police report and/or meet with law enforcement
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Help file for Crime Victims Compensation
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Assist in filing a petition for a protective order against the person who perpetrated the harm
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Provide referrals and support for services
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Please reach out to our 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline (618-397-0975) to request to speak with an available advocate.
Counseling
All counseling services at Metro East Every Survivor Counts (Metro East ESC) are free, confidential and culturally inclusive. Our agency provides counseling services for survivors ages 4 and older and their non-offending loved ones. Youth ages 12-17 can receive a limited amount of counseling sessions without guardian consent.
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Services Include:
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Individual Counseling
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Group Counseling
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Family Counseling
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School-Based Counseling (upon request)
Please reach out to our 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline (618-397-0975) to request to speak
with an available counselor.
Prevention Education
& Professional Training
Professional Trainings:
Metro East ESC provides in-depth education, and skill building to effectively intervene on behalf of survivors of sexual violence within their institutions. Trainings are offered to emergency room workers, criminal justice personnel, social workers, and others.
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Prevention Education:
Metro East ESC provides evidence-based, culturally inclusive, prevention education directed towards schools, colleges, social service organizations and other community institutions. The goals of these strategies are to make individuals and communities aware of sexual violence in all its forms and to engage the community in primary prevention of sexual violence.
Please reach out to our 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline (618-397-0975) to request to speak
with an available preventionist.
Information and Referral
& Crisis Intervention
Information and Referral:
Our agency provides assistance to survivors and their non-offending loved ones with locating
resources. Our advocates and staff work one-on-one with the survivor to identify their needs
and utilize the resources that are in their local community.
Some examples of assisting clients and community members
with locating resources within their local community are:
• Assisting with scheduling appointments
• Assisting with setting up and planning transportation, including routes
• Assisting with filling out documents or job applications
• Assisting with finding shelter and/or housing
• Assisting with locating rental and/or utility assistance
• Providing direct referral to any other needed service within the agency or outside the
agency, if and when necessary.
Crisis Intervention:
Metro East ESC provides compassionate, confidential crisis intervention services for survivors of sexual assault of all ages, as well as individuals impacted by sexual violence in their lives. We understand that sexual assault affects not only survivors, but also parents, caregivers, partners, friends, and loved ones who may be seeking guidance on how to offer support. Our 24/7 sexual assault crisis hotline is available at any time, day or night, for anyone in need of immediate support, whether the assault was recent or occurred in the past.
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When you contact our hotline, you will be connected with a trained advocate or counselor who will listen with care, without judgment, and with respect for your experience. You are not required to share more than you feel comfortable with, and you remain in control of the conversation and any choices moving forward. Our services are confidential, and you may choose to remain anonymous.
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We serve children, teens, adults, and older adults, as well as family members and loved ones supporting a survivor. Advocates and Counselors can provide emotional support, crisis intervention, education, and information about available options and resources. Our goal is to help survivors and those who care about them feel supported, informed, and empowered as they navigate the healing journey together.
Please reach out to our 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline (618-397-0975) to request to speak
with available staff.
