Mental Health and Wellness
Healthy communities are empowered communities. We make a healthy lifestyle more accessible with workshops, support groups, and counseling, all through a culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed lens.
Proyecto Cuidate
In our Proyecto Cuídate — literally translating to “Project Take Care” — programs, we provide an array of services to support, inform, and educate the community on topics that strengthen the individual and family unit. Working primarily in Little Village, our aim is healing, building relationships, and creating safe spaces to promote wellness in the community. Proyecto Cuídate also collaborates and partners with agencies and schools throughout Chicago and in partnering towns to provide educational supports around trauma, mental health, domestic violence, bullying prevention, and restorative justice, as well as other community wellness and safety topics. Proyecto Cuídate is one of Illinois’ Family Advocacy Centers under the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Individual Counseling Services
Through Proyecto Cuídate, our clinical therapists provide free, individual, social-emotional and behavioral counseling services to support children, teens, adults and families when they need it most. And in our Early Childhood Education, School-Age, and Youth Options Unlimited (YOU) programs, students have access to our on-site clinical psychologist and team of graduate interns who provide those in need of socio-emotional support with individual, age-appropriate counseling to promote healthy growth and development.
DCFS Case Support and General Case Management
Our Proyecto Cuídate team advocates for families and foster care alumni as they work with the Department of Children and Family Services. We also coordinate services provided for families by offering referrals such as family law supports, connections with immigration representation for survivors of violence, and/or linking clients with agencies (including in-Erie House services) to best support their needs.
Additional Support for Children and Youth
School-based support
Working in partnership with CPS schools, our Proyecto Cuídate department offers youth Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, violence prevention, intervention, and healing support, referrals, and workshops to support the entire school community.
Youth Teams
In our cohort-based, youth-centered Proyecto Cuídate programs including mentorship, leadership development, support, and case management based in Little Village, we strive to build youth power, support, confidence, and positive identifies to inspire resiliency in our communities. And through our Youth Options Unlimited (YOU) programs, students also have the opportunity to join gender-specific groups to have a safe space for an open, honest dialogue on topics such as depression, sexuality, and managing stress.
Healthy and Active Lifestyles
Children and youth of all ages in our programs learn about active play and exercise through our Super H initiative and get moving in our motor skills room, gym, and outdoor playground areas.
Nutrition Education and Workshops for All Ages
We host workshops and cooking demonstrations, provide coaching, and deliver other resources to support wellness, including diabetes prevention and cardiovascular health.
