Community Support & Resources for Teens

You can find help and information with tough topics from these local and national resources.

Village of Arlington Heights Social Worker

Nicole Espinoza
847-368-5792
nespinoza@vah.com
Languages: English, Spanish

Health & Sexuality

• Center for Young Men's Health and Center for Young Women's Health

  • Carefully researched health information to teenage men and women from the Boston Children's Hospital, covering issues on emotional health, sexual health, nutrition, and more.
• Kenneth LGBTQ+ Youth & Young Adult Center
  • LGBTQCenter@​kennethyoung.​org
  • A safe space for youth and allies to learn about self-expres­sion and iden­ti­ty, while build­ing strong inter­per­son­al con­nec­tions with oth­er LGBTQ+ youth.
• The Trevor Project
  • Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
  • Trevor Chat
  • Trevor Text: Text "START" to 678678
  • The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth.
• PFLAG
  • The first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. 

Food & Shelter

• The Harbour

  • Text SHELTER to 77948
  • 1-847-297-8541
  • Located in Park Ridge and surrounding area, The Harbour provides a comprehensive continuum of housing and case management services to youth in crisis, ages 12 through 22.
• NorthWest Compass
  • 1-847-392-2344
  • Located in Mount Prospect, connects those in need with food and housing.
• Wheeling Township Food Pantry
• National Runaway Safeline
  • 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)
  • Support for teens, whether you are thinking of running away or already have. Our services are confidential and nonjudgmental.

Mental Health

• Text-A-Tip

  • Text "HELLO" to 1-844-823-5323
  • A youth-focused emotional support & mental health crisis text hotline available 24/7, fully anonymous, and staffed by licensed mental health counselors.
• Crisis Text Line
  • Text HOME, START, or HELLO to 741741
  • Serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support via phone text.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • 1-800-273-8255
  • Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources, and best practices for professionals.
• S.A.F.E. Alternatives - Self Abuse Finally Ends
  • 1-800-DONTCUT (1-800-366-8288)
  • Resources and hotline on helping end self-injurious behavior.
• National Eating Disorders Association
  • Helpline: 1-800-931-2237
  • The largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders.
• ANAD - National Association fo Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
  • Helpline: 1-630-577-1330 (Available 9-5 p.m., Monday-Friday)
  • Support, awareness, education, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders.

Safe Relationships

• Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault

  • 1-888-802-8890
  • Full service agency that provides free services to sexual assault survivors and their loved ones within the North and Northwest suburbs of Cook County & McHenry County.
• RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network)
  • 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
  • Providing support and resources for survivors of sexual assault and their families.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  • 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
  • Available 24/7/365 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.
• National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
  • Call or Text "LOVEIS" to 1-866-9474
  • The ultimate resource to empower youth to prevent and end dating abuse.
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
  • 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
  • Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Counselors work with translators who speak more than 200 languages to help callers who speak a language other than English. All calls are anonymous.

Substance Abuse & Addiction

• Kenneth Young Center - Substance Use Recovery services

  • 1-847-524‑8800
  • Offers both clin­i­cal and non-clin­i­cal services, screenings, sup­port groups, and resources for youth and adults on substance use and addictive behaviors, as well as mental health, in the northwest Chicago suburbs.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  • Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
  • Free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.