Community violence affects individuals, families, and entire communities. This trauma extends to victims and those closely connected to them, including family, friends, and partners. Exposure to community violence for children and adults leads to adverse psychosocial and health outcomes, which emphasizes the need for the City to support affected victims and communities.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) funds organizations providing victim services in 11 communities experiencing high rates of violence to mitigate traumatic experiences in the wake of a violent incident. Additionally, CDPH funds Chicago Survivors who provides victim supports to survivors of homicide citywide. Victim services organizations offer comprehensive trauma-informed services, including incident response and supporting impacted individuals through one-on-one interactions, support groups, and resource coordination. These services are offered confidentially and free of charge.