Confidential Resources

Here For You

Individuals affected by sexual harassment who do not want their experiences shared with the Title IX Coordinator or otherwise addressed through GovState’s Title IX compliance program, are encouraged to make use of any relevant on-campus/GovState-provided or off-campus/community-based Confidential Resource that can help.

On-Campus/GovState Resources

GovState has made the following Confidential Resources available for students and/or employees wishing to talk about sexual harassment without a report being made to the Title IX Coordinator:

    Confidential Advisors provide emergency and ongoing support to student and employee survivors of sexual violence and relationship violence. A Confidential Advisor will provide confidential services and have privileged and confidential communications with survivors. They will inform the survivor of possible next steps regarding reporting options and possible outcomes, will notify the survivor of resources and services available on campus and in the community, and will inform the survivor of their rights and GovState’s responsibilities to enforce orders of protection and no contact orders. If requested by the survivor, a Confidential Advisor will liaise with the appropriate University personnel to secure supportive measures (as described in Policy 78), and will liaise with appropriate University personnel, law enforcement, and community resources to assist the survivor with making contact and/or reporting an incident. Confidential Advisor services are provided to students and employees by:

    YWCA Metropolitan Chicago 
    320 West 202nd St.
    Chicago Heights, IL 60411
    General Telephone: 708.754.0486 
    General Website 
    Rape Crisis Hotline: 888.293.2080 
    Hotline Webpage 

    GovState’s CWC provides individual counseling, support, and resources to students who have experienced sexual harassment or other forms of sex discrimination. Speaking with a licensed counselor at the CWC may be helpful for complainants or survivors trying to decide how to proceed. Because of the privileged nature of these conversations, the CWC will not share information about a patient/client (including whether that individual has received services) with the Title IX Coordinator or any other employee of the University without that patient/client’s express written permission. The CWC may submit, however, non-identifying information about the incident for purposes of making a statistical report under the Clery Act.  The CWC can be accessed as follows:

    Campus Location: Room A1120 
    Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM 
    Telephone: 708-235-7334 
    Email: studentcounseling@govst.edu
    CWC Webpage

    The GovState Health Center, which is part of the CWC, can provide students with non-emergency or follow-up medical services, including testing for pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections, and provide an opportunity to discuss any health care concerns related to the incident in a confidential medical setting. The Health Center is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all patient/client health information. All patient interactions with the Health Center are considered strictly confidential.

    Campus Location: Room A1120 
    Hours: Mondays - Thursdays, 9:00 PM – 4:00 PM; Fridays, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    Telephone: 708-235-2114 
    CWC Health Center Webpage 

    The EAP is a free, voluntary, and confidential program available to GovState employees that provides a valuable resource for support and information during difficult times, including problem identification, counseling, and referral services for employees regardless of the health plan chosen by the employee.  Through the EAP, employees will be directed to counseling services to assist them with a variety of concerns, including, but not limited to sexual violence and domestic violence, conflict at work, and stress.  Any employees who access these services should be sure to identify themselves as an employee of the State of Illinois. 

    More information is available from the Illinois Department of Central Management Services website

    Off-Campus/Community Resources

    Individuals affected by sexual harassment, especially (but not limited to) survivors of sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, have options for reporting their experiences to off-campus agencies and groups that may be able to provide supportive services as part of their work in local communities.

      Local medical care providers can provide emergency and/or follow-up medical services beyond what is available on campus and provide an opportunity to discuss any health care concerns related to an incident in a confidential medical setting. Local emergency medical care providers include:  

      Advocate South Suburban Hospital

      Location: 17800 S. Kedzie Ave., Hazel Crest, IL 60429 
      General Telephone: 708-799-8000 
      General Website  
      Sexual Assault Treatment Center (staffed with trained medical professionals and equipped to conduct sexual assault forensic examinations free of charge)
      Center Telephone: 708-213-4611 
      Center Webpage  

      Franciscan Health Emergency Medicine

      Location: 20201 S. Crawford Ave., Olympia Fields, IL 60461 
      General Telephone: 708-679-2222 
      General Website
      Center of Hope (Sexual Assault Treatment) (staffed with trained medical professionals and equipped to conduct sexual assault forensic examinations free of charge) 
      Center Webpage 

      Multiple community-based sexual assault crisis centers provide services to survivors in Cook, Will, and Kankakee Counties, including: 

      YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

      Location: 320 West 202nd St., Chicago Heights, IL 60411 
      General Telephone: 708-754-0486 
      General Website
      Rape Crisis Hotline: 888.293.2080 
      Hotline Webpage 

      Guardian Angel Community Services

      Main Office: 168 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, IL 60432 
      General Telephone: 815-729-0930 
      General Website  
      24-Hr. Sexual Assault Hotline: 815.730.8984 

      Clove Alliance

      Main Office: 1440 W. Court St., Kankakee, IL 60901 
      General Telephone: 815-932-7273 
      General Website  
      24-Hr. Crisis Hotline: 815.932.3322

      Services provided by community-based sexual assault crisis centers are confidential, and information involving a complainant is not reported back to the University without a request from the complainant. 

      Multiple community-based domestic violence agencies provide services to survivors in Cook and Will Counties, including: 

      Crisis Center for South Suburbia (CCSS Center)

      Mailing Address: P.O. Box 39, Tinley Park, IL 60477 
      General Website  
      24-Hr. Hotline: 708.429.SAFE (7233) 

      Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse

      Mailing Address: P.O. Box 937, Homewood, IL 60430 
      General Telephone: 708-794-2140 
      General Website 
      Client Services: 708-798-7737 
      Hotline: 708.335.3028

      Guardian Angel Community Services

      Main Office: 168 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, IL 60432 
      General Telephone: 815-729-0930 
      General Website  
      24-Hr. Domestic Violence Hotline: 815.729.1228

      Services provided by community-based domestic violence agencies are confidential, and information involving a complainant is not reported back to the University without a request from the complainant. 

      Whether or not an individual affected by sexual harassment chooses to make a report to the University, they are urged to seek appropriate help. There are numerous resources available in this region and nationally in addition to the ones listed above. Each resource can assist a person in accessing the full range of services available.

       Apna Ghar (community-based gender violence agency)

      Office: 4350 N. Broadway, 2nd Fl., Chicago, IL 60613 
      General Telephone: 773-883-4663 
      General Website
      24-Hr. Crisis Line: 773.334.4663 (talk) 773.899.1041 (text) 

      Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE)

      Office: 307 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1020, Chicago, IL 60601 
      General Telephone: 773-244-2230 
      General Website  

      Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA)

      Main Office: 100 North 16th Street, Springfield, IL 62703
      General Telephone: 217-753-4117
      General Website 

      RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) 

      General Website

      National Sexual Assault Hotline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) 
      Talk: 800.656.HOPE (4613) 
      Online chat 
      Hotline Information Webpage  

      National Domestic Violence Hotline

      Talk: 800.799.SAFE (7233) 
      Text: text “START” to 88788 
      Online chat is available through the general website.

      National Sexual Violence Resource Center

      General Website

      Get More Information

      • Kaitlyn Wild, Title IX Coordinator
      • Governors State University
      • 1 University Parkway G-328, University Park, IL 60484
      • 708-534-4846
      • titleixofficer@govst.edu