Middle Matters-Community Resources

The Loft at Eight Corners, Teen Wellness Center provides valuable resources and services for students between 12 and 18 years of age. The Loft is open 7 days a week. https://loft8corners.org/

Crisis Text Line, which is available by texting "HELLO" to 741741 is a reliable service that offers students access to immediate crisis support from trained counselors for free 24/7.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988

Compass is offering a free Parent and Family University. Workshop One: Understanding and Supporting Your Child or Adolescent’s Anxiety.

Here is the REGISTRATION link.

SMART Hephzibah provides supplemental math instruction for students in 6th grade, and financial aid is available to all who request it. SMART Hephzibah offers both “regular” and “advanced” classes. The regular classes will focus on strengthening knowledge of grade-level material and the advanced classes will go beyond the grade-level curriculum. For additional information, contact Amy O’Rourke, LCSW at aorourke@hephzibahhome.org

SUPPORT4U is a mental health resource for our students to anonymously text licensed mental health clinicians any time of the day for assistance or guidance. Students can text for any issue; typical reasons might include social issues, anxiety, depression, substance use, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, bullying, abuse, or any other mental health-related topic. The clinician’s goal is to steer the student to available resources in the school and community. To use, students just need to go to Support4U.live on their phone, click on the Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School logo and hit send. Help is just a text away.

PHONE-BASED COUNSELING

Thrive is offering phone-based counseling, 24/7 crisis intervention services, medication management and, a free Thrive Check-In phone support line (Ext. 8) to address our community’s needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Call us at (708)383-7500. Our Front Desk team is also ready to assist you Monday-Friday, 9am to 2pm, with requests for referrals or new services and to reschedule or cancel an appointment.

Mental Health Resource, "Call4Calm"

Thrive is also a proud partner of the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service. Text “TALK” TO 552020 (or “HABLAR) for Spanish. The Illinois Call4Calm Text Line is not a crisis hotline, but is a source of support for anyone experiencing stress and in need of a listening ear.

And we know the COVID-19 pandemic can wear on every resource—from food and shelter to our emotional bandwidth and mental health. Fortunately, the Illinois Department of Human Services has launched a support line called Call4Calm that is reachable via text. Individuals who want to speak with a mental health professional can text the word “TALK” or “HABLAR” (for Spanish speakers) to 552-020. Within 24 hours, that individual will receive a call from a mental health professional employed by a local community health center.

People can also text other terms, like “unemployment” or “food” or “shelter” to the same number to receive information on how to navigate and access supports and services. Call4Calm is free, and individuals who use it can remain anonymous. We encourage you to share this resource with your students, families, and staff.