Our Programs & Services

At Sisterhood Sanctuary, everything we do is rooted in healing, faith, and empowerment. We walk alongside survivors as they rebuild their lives — offering safety, support, and the tools to thrive again. Our programs are designed to meet women and children exactly where they are, with compassion, confidentiality, and care.

SHSDV Programs

The Southland Community Outreach Program (SCOP)

Our Southland Community Outreach Program focuses on empowering women and children throughout the South Suburbs. We provide a full range of domestic violence services — whether you’re still in a relationship, have left an abusive environment, or are beginning your healing journey.

SCOP is built on the belief that every survivor deserves access to safety, guidance, and hope.

We offer:

Crisis Intervention: Immediate support and stabilization for survivors in crisis.
Safety Planning: Personalized strategies to keep you and your children safe.
Counseling & Support: Trauma-informed therapy for women and children, both individually and in groups.
Information & Referrals: Connections to legal, housing, and community resources.
Legal Advocacy: Guidance through Orders of Protection and court processes.
Enhanced Child Services: Therapy, safety planning, and education to help children heal and understand their experiences.

All services are free and confidential, offered in a safe, nonjudgmental environment.

Emergency Housing & Housing Assistance

We provide emergency housing and relocation support for women and families escaping domestic violence.

Our housing team helps survivors find safety — whether that means a short-term stay, hotel placement, or assistance locating long-term housing.

Services include:

Emergency shelter placement for survivors and their children
Housing assistance and advocacy with landlords
Support navigating local housing programs and emergency funds
Safety-focused relocation planning

Because we believe no woman should ever have to choose between her safety and having a place to sleep.

More Info

Court & Legal Advocacy

Navigating the court system can be overwhelming, especially during trauma. Our advocates walk beside survivors every step of the way — explaining legal rights, attending hearings, and helping file for Orders of Protection.

We offer:

Court accompaniment and advocacy
Assistance filing and enforcing Orders of Protection
Help accessing victim compensation funds
Referrals to pro bono and legal aid partners

More Info

Job Readiness & Economic Empowerment

We believe financial independence is key to long-term safety. Through our job readiness programs, we help survivors rebuild confidence, strengthen skills, and prepare for sustainable employment.

Our services include:

Resume and interview preparation
Career workshops and training
Financial literacy education
Pathways to employment through community partnerships

More Info

Counseling & Emotional Wellness

Healing from trauma requires support, compassion, and time. Our trauma-informed counseling and peer support programs help survivors process their experiences and rebuild self-worth.

We provide:

• Individual and group counseling

• Support circles for survivors

• Parenting support for mothers rebuilding stability

• Emotional wellness and self-care workshops

More Info

How We Can Help

At The Sisterhood Sanctuary, we offer a wide range of services to support individuals affected by domestic violence. From mental health counseling and HIV health services to support groups and housing & employment counseling, we are here to provide the help you need to rebuild your life.

Children’s Healing & Family Support

We know that children experience domestic violence in unique and lasting ways. Our children’s programs help young survivors process emotions, build confidence, and feel safe again.

Our services include:

Child-centered counseling and play therapy
Family therapy and parent-child healing sessions
School partnership support and educational advocacy
Safety planning designed for children

Financial Literacy & Education

Financial independence is one of the most powerful steps a survivor can take toward long-term freedom and stability. At Sisterhood Sanctuary, we help women rebuild confidence in managing their finances, setting goals, and creating sustainable plans for the future.

Our Financial Literacy & Education Program provides:

Budgeting & Money Management Workshops – Learn how to budget effectively, rebuild credit, and plan for financial security.
Understanding Credit & Debt – Support with improving credit scores, managing debt, and setting up achievable savings plans.
Employment & Income Planning – One-on-one coaching to connect financial goals with career opportunities and income stability.
Pathways to Homeownership – Guidance on navigating renter rights, saving for housing, and exploring first-time homeowner resources.
Financial Healing Circles – Group sessions where survivors can discuss challenges, share strategies, and learn in a supportive environment.

We believe that financial literacy is more than numbers — it’s about restoring control, confidence, and freedom. Every workshop and coaching session is designed to empower women to make informed, confident financial decisions for themselves and their families.

Safety Planning

Your safety matters — and it starts with a plan. At Sisterhood Sanctuary, we walk beside each survivor to create a personalized Safety Plan that meets her unique needs and situation. Whether you’re preparing to leave an abusive relationship, still living with your partner, or rebuilding independence, our advocates help you think through every detail to stay protected.

A Safety Plan may include:

Identifying safe places to go during a crisis
Planning how to leave quickly and safely if needed
Creating a code word for family or friends to signal for help
Packing a “go bag” with important documents, medications, and essentials
Securing copies of IDs, court papers, and protective orders
Setting up safe communication — including private phone numbers, emails, or social media boundaries
Developing a safety strategy for children or loved ones involved
Connecting with local law enforcement or shelter partners for emergency response

Our team helps survivors plan before, during, and after leaving an abusive situation — ensuring that no one has to make those decisions alone.

We believe that preparation is empowerment. A safety plan is more than steps on paper — it’s a lifeline, a sense of control, and a reminder that you are not alone.

Education, Training & Community Healing

Empowerment starts with education. We’re committed to breaking the cycle of abuse through community awareness and prevention training.

Our team provides:

Domestic Violence 101 & Trauma-Informed Care trainings
Healthy Relationships and Prevention workshops
Faith-based and community outreach sessions
Sisterhood Circle Support Groups and community healing events

Food Pantry & Essentials Closet

No one should have to choose between safety and survival. At Sisterhood Sanctuary, we know that healing begins when basic needs are met — that’s why we offer access to food, hygiene, and essential household supplies for survivors and their families.

Our Food Pantry & Essentials Closet provides:

Nutritious groceries and meals for women and children rebuilding their lives
Hygiene and personal care items including feminine care, toiletries, and baby supplies
Household essentials such as cleaning products and small items for women transitioning to independent housing
Emergency grocery cards for families in immediate crisis

We believe that food is more than nourishment — it’s dignity, stability, and hope. Every item distributed through our pantry represents compassion in action and a reminder that no survivor is ever alone in her journey toward healing.

Hours of Operation: Coming soon

Eligibility: Open to women and families impacted by domestic violence

All services are free and confidential

FLOW TO FLOURISH: Empowering Young Black Girls to Rise

At Sisterhood Sanctuary, we believe that prevention begins with empowerment — and that healing starts early. Our FLOW TO FLOURISH program is designed to nurture, educate, and inspire young Black girls ages 9–16 to embrace their identity, build confidence, and lead with purpose.

This isn’t just another after-school program — it’s a safe and sacred space where girls learn to navigate life with grace, power, and pride. Through 60–90 minute sessions, our mentors guide participants through hands-on activities, open dialogue, and affirming group circles that focus on self-worth, leadership, and emotional growth.

Each weekly session begins with FLOW Circle Time, a moment of reflection and sisterhood where girls can share their thoughts, challenges, and victories in a judgment-free zone. From there, participants engage in wellness lessons, skill-building projects, and goal-setting exercises that help them turn their dreams into action.

Our curriculum covers key themes every young girl needs to explore:

Authentic Me: Embracing self-identity and emotional awareness
Friendship Power: Building and maintaining healthy relationships
Body Image & Changes: Understanding and loving their growing bodies
Valuing Yourself & Others: Developing respect, empathy, and self-esteem
Positive Self-Talk: Reframing inner dialogue to build confidence
Decision-Making: Practicing responsible, value-based choices
Self-Care & Resilience: Prioritizing mental and emotional well-being
Leading Others Wisely: Cultivating leadership and community impact

FLOW TO FLOURISH is not just a program — it’s a movement. It’s where representation meets empowerment, where young Black girls see themselves reflected in leadership, and where they learn that their voices matter.

Through mentorship, sisterhood, and education, we are shaping the next generation of confident, compassionate, and courageous young women — ready to lead, love, and flourish.

Initiatives, Advocacy & Policy

At Sisterhood Sanctuary, advocacy is more than awareness — it’s action.

We’re not just responding to domestic violence; we’re reshaping how systems respond to survivors.

Our advocacy initiatives focus on influencing real change in how law enforcement, courts, schools, and healthcare systems treat survivors of abuse. We champion survivor-led solutions, trauma-informed policies, and the right for women and children to be heard, believed, and protected.

Through community coalitions, state advocacy days, and partnerships with local officials, we push for stronger housing protections, accessible counseling services, and equitable funding for survivor programs.

Our policy work centers on:

Expanding safe housing and emergency relocation funding
Ensuring trauma-informed training for first responders and educators
Advancing workplace protections for survivors
Building cross-sector crisis response models that center survivor safety

We believe that healing and justice must coexist — and that advocacy belongs to everyone, from boardrooms to classrooms.

Every policy we influence, every system we challenge, and every voice we uplift brings us one step closer to a world where survivors are not just surviving — they’re thriving. 💜

Food Security

“No one should have to choose between safety and a meal. Every bag of food we give is a reminder that healing starts with nourishment.”

— Sisterhood Sanctuary

“Feeding the body feeds the soul — because hope grows stronger on a full stomach.”

Resources & Support Services

Every resource we share is a lifeline — proof that no woman has to face survival alone.”

“We meet women where they are, and walk beside them until they remember their own power.”

Shelter & Emergency Housing

A safe place is more than four walls — it’s the first breath of peace after chaos.”

— Sisterhood Sanctuary

“Here, survivors don’t just find shelter — they find strength, dignity, and a chance to begin again.”

Legal Advocacy

Justice is not just a system — it’s the right to be heard, believed, and protected.”

“Our advocacy turns fear into action and survivors into victors.”