Written by: Susan P (Community and Professional Training Manager) Talking with the young people and children in your life about healthy relationships, dating, sex, boundaries, consent, and their bodies can be intimidating and can feel uncomfortable or even controversial. Many of us fear that if we mention sex, we might ...

Have you heard of the Safe Homes Act?    It is an Illinois Law that helps survivors stay safe where they live.  If you or someone who you live with is experiencing domestic violence and you fear that you are not safe where you live, you can end your lease early ...

Have you heard of VESSA?  Most people have not heard of this law, but it provides important on-the-job safety protections for survivors of domestic or sexual violence. VESSA stands for “Victim Economic Security and Safety Act”. It is an Illinois law passed in 2003 and amended and strengthened over the ...

At Between Friends, our programs focus on survivors’ needs, empowerment, and self-determination. As part of the healing process, our goal is to provide information and support to clients so that they can make their own choices for themselves and their families in order to keep themselves safe. We regularly tell ...

May is Trauma Awareness Month! In our work with survivors and community members, we have learned the significance of understanding what happens in our brains and bodies when we experience something traumatic. We have witnessed how understanding this process can clear pathways for survivors to heal and deepen their self-compassion. ...

Did you know that April is Child Abuse Awareness Month? This is a time to reflect on how harm in our relationships may directly and indirectly impact our kids. It is no surprise that domestic violence does impact them in many profound ways. There is a lot of information establishing ...