Here at Teamsters Local 700, our hearts go out to all victims of Mass Shootings locally and across the country. We imagine you are dealing with a tremendous amount of pain and distress.

Please know you not only have the support of Teamsters Local 700, but of law enforcement and supporters across this entire nation.

The resources listed below provide a full range of crisis assistance for all affected citizens and families:

1. The Family Assistance Center at Highland Park High School

   • Victims and any community members affected by the tragedy can speak to a mental health professional and pick up any belongings that may have been left along the parade route.

   • Victims are not just those physically injured by the recent shooting, but also those experiencing emotional distress.

   • English and Spanish bilingual services available

   • Organized by FBI and American Red Cross

   • Highland Park High School (433 Vine Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035)

   • Hours of Operation: As Needed

2. VictimConnect

   • VictimConnect is an OVC-funded service that offers confidential assistance to victims of crime. Trained specialists are available to help you locate services in your area, including mental health counseling, legal services, and more. Contact VictimConnect from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time at: 
     - Phone: 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846) 
     - Chat: https://chat.victimsofcrime.org/victim-connect 

   • Dial 711 and VictimConnect staff can provide services through an interpreter in more than 200 languages, and to hearing- and speech-impaired individuals. 

3. Disaster Distress Helpline 

   • The Disaster Distress Helpline, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. 

   • This 24/7 toll-free, multilingual crisis support service is available to residents in the United States and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including incidents of mass violence.  

   • Call or text the hotline at 800-985-5990. 

4. Mental Health Resources

   • Lake County Crisis Line - 

     • Call 847-377-8088 for resources or support if someone close to you is experiencing a crisis.

   • Lake County Text a Tip Line - 

     • Consider sharing a text with Text a Tip as a resource for students or residents when an adult or counselor is not available. The counselors are in Lake Bluff and they know what has been going on. The details below. You can also share on CTAD's Facebook and Twitter. They will be posting frequently over the next week.

5. Family Service of Lake County

   • Expanded Hours: They are open 9am – 7pm for counseling sessions for any member of the community who needs professional assistance 

   • Leadership on trauma conversations: They provided guidance to city leadership on a critical conversation with city staff and stakeholders debriefing the tragedy. They will be leading a few debriefs with city staff and stakeholders later this week 

   • Free Counseling: They will be offering free 20-30 minute sessions at no charge for those in the community with a need for professional assistance 

   • If you or a loved one are in crisis, please reach out to the Lake County crisis hotline at 847-377-8088.

6. NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Lake County

   • In response to the events of July 4th in Highland Park, IL, NAMI in Illinois is adding trauma response support groups to address the impact this has had on mental health.  

   • SPECIALIZED NAMI CONNECTIONS GROUP -

     • For those living with a mental health condition who feel impacted by the emotional aftermath of this incident   https://namiillinois.org/online-support-group-registration-information/connections-recovery-support-group-registration/  

   • ONLINE TRAUMA RESPONSE GROUP (NON-CONNECTION) -

     • For those not living with a mental health condition who feel impacted by the emotional aftermath of this incident.   https://namiillinois.org/online-support-group-registration-information/family-support-group-registration/   

7. Resources to Help Families/ Community Members Coping After a Mass Shooting

   • Mass Violence/Community Violence

   • Improving Community Preparedness to Assist Victims of Mass Violence and Domestic Terrorism

   • Survivors and Witnesses After Traumatic Events

   • Psychological Impact of Mass Violence

   • Transcend (mobile app to assist with recovery after mass violence)

   • Media Guidelines for Homicide Family Survivors

   • Resources for children

   • Resources for adolescents

   • Resources about children and disaster

   • Resources about adolescents and disaster

   • Children and Disasters 

   • Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers

   • Understanding Child Trauma

   • SchoolSafety.gov

   • Helping Your Child Cope With Media Coverage of Disasters: A Fact Sheet for Parents | Spanish version

   • Recovery From Large-Scale Crises: Guidelines for Crisis Teams and Administrators

   • Resilience and Coping Intervention (RCI)

   • Responding to Stressful Events: Helping Children Cope

   • Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers (En Español)

   • Parent Tips for Helping Preschoolers (En Español)

   • Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children (En Español)

   • Parent Tips for Helping Adolescents (En Español)

   • Tips for Adults (En Español)

   • Tips For Survivors: Coping With Grief After A Disaster Or Traumatic Event via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | Read here. 

   • Managing Distress: Grounding Tips For Crime Victims, Survivors And Family Members Of Mass Violence Incidents (MVIs) | Read here. 

   • How to Identify an Experienced Trauma-Focused Therapist | Read here.  

   • Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas, via NCTSN | Read here

   • Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Mass Shooting, via NCTSN | Read in English | Read in Spanish

   • Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief – Tips for Caregivers, via NCTSN | Read here

   • Tips for Talking with and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Teachers and Caregivers, via SAMHSA | Read here

   • For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence, via NCTSN | Read in English | Read in Spanish

   • Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery: Recommendations Before, During and Following a Mass Violence Incident | Read here.  

   • Tips for Community Leaders: Rebuilding Your Community | Resources here. 

8. Donation Opportunities 

   • Highland Park Community Foundation's July 4 Shooting Response Fund  

     • Donations support individual victims and families directly impacted by the shooting.

   • The Lake County Community Foundation Crisis Relief Fund  

     • This serves as a permanent countywide funding resource in times of emergencies.They are currently raising funds to support crisis relief efforts in the wake of the Highland Park shooting. Funds will be granted to support emergency response needs, mental health counseling services, downtown repair and revitalization, violence prevention and education and other urgent needs as they arise in the aftermath of this tragedy.  

   • NorthShore University Health Systems is still seeking blood donations for the victims of the shooting. Donations can be made through Vitalant or directly to NorthShore Hospital by appointment: DonateBlood@northshore.org, 847-570-2242.