Clinical Services
All counseling services are free and confidential.
SHALVA provides the following services for the Jewish community:
- 24-hour crisis line (773-583-HOPE)
- Individual and group counseling
- Legal information and court support
- Rabbinical and community advocacy
- Interest-free loans
- Appropriate information and referral services
- Case management
SHALVA’s clinical counseling services, provided by Jewish Masters’ level therapists, are available to all women in the Chicago metropolitan area who self-identify as Jewish and who are currently or have been victims of domestic abuse. Individual and group counseling provide a safe place for women to gain insight, explore options and break free of their isolation.
SHALVA therapists provide education, guidance and support so that women can make informed decisions. Therapists do not offer advice, but rather offer empowerment, options and hope. Women experiencing domestic abuse feel fear, shame and self doubt. SHALVA’s therapists believe that she is the expert in her own life and respect her right to go at her own pace.
Making a decision of what to do is not an event but a process.
Many Jewish families have unique religious and cultural needs that often require specialized expertise. SHALVA addresses these unique needs in conjunction with secular needs faced by all domestic abuse survivors. SHALVA’s culturally sensitive approach ensures that women are able to focus on what is most critically important – their safety and the safety of their children.
SHALVA is the only, independent Jewish agency in the Chicago metropolitan area specifically certified by the State of Illinois to provide domestic violence counseling.
Legal Liaison Program - Pilot Program
SHALVA has initiated a new pilot program for legal services available to current/existing SHALVA clients. The program started Fall 2008, clients were first seen in January 2009.
For Legal Liaison statistics January-May 2009, click here
The goal of the Legal Liaison Program is to create a separate vehicle, outside the therapy session, to assist SHALVA’s clients in dealing with their legal questions. This program will enhance clients’ ability to focus more on their domestic abuseissues, rather than their legal issues, during their therapy sessions.
In the past, SHALVA has addressed clients’legal needs through referrals, education and support services. With the addition of the Legal Liaison, SHALVA’s staff will be able to address a wider spectrum of client needs. Legal issues are the fastest-growing need facing SHALVA’s clients.
- FYE 05: 47 clients out of 271 clients (17%) had legal issues addressed by SHALVA
- FYE 06: 78 clients out of 263 (30%) had legal issues addressed by SHALVA
- FYE 07: 95 clients out of 286 (33%) had legal issues addressed by SHALVA
- FYE 08: 95 clients out of 260 clients (37%) had legal issues addressed by SHALVA
- FYE 09: 100 clients of 266 clients (38) had legal issues addressed by SHALVA
*SHALVA’s annual fiscal year is from June 1st through May 31st
This program is a new and innovative model that differs from the other legal aid programs in the area. SHALVA will have an attorney (Legal Liaison) on staff to assist existing clients with legal issues and provide legal advice. The SHALVA Legal Liaison will not directly represent clients or handle cases. Rather, they will serve as a liaison assisting clients by working with the attorneys who represent them.
The Legal Liaison is also available to provide educational programming in the legal community and will cultivate relationships with volunteer attorneys.