The Woman's Journey Program

The Woman's Journey Program (The WJP) was created for women and children who are currently homeless, victims of domestic violence and/or unemployed.  The WJP is a vital program within the Truth Center  designed to help create self-sufficiency within the women and children population with the county of Cook.

The policies of WJP are simple- In order to achieve self-sufficiency and growth you must be willing to take the journey of change.  You must be willing increase your learning potential and always willing to provide a safe and supportive environment for your family. 

The Truth Center supports survivors seeking services due to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and/or stalking. Abuse can be emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, or financial. At Truth, you can feel safe to talk about your experience of abuse by an intimate partner. Services are free and confidential. Open to Cook County residents.

• Teens who have experienced dating violence and sexual assault
• Adults who have experienced sexual assault
• Adults who have experienced domestic violence

Children who live in a home where abuse occurs are always affected by it. Children impacted by domestic violence stand a greater chance of experiencing neglect and more than half are physically abused themselves. Moreover, children are often caught in the crossfire. Commonly, children who experience or witness abuse suffer from:

• Stress related physical ailments such as headaches, rashes, ulcers and autoimmune
  disorders
• Developmental learning delays and speech or hearing problems
• Stress related behaviors such as a loss of appetite, insomnia, nightmares, stranger
  anxiety, temper tantrums and bed wetting
• Aggression and/or social withdrawal

When we think about people who are experiencing homelessness, we usually think about adults. The fact is, millions of children experience homelessness every year. These children sleep in cars, shelters and abandoned buildings. They relocate constantly, which results in their being pulled out of school and away from friends. Statistically, homeless children suffer from:

• Three times the rate of emotional or behavioral problems that interfere with learning as other children
• Four times the amount of sickness as middle class children
• Higher rates of acute and chronic illnesses
• A much higher rate of anxiety, depression or withdrawal (47% of homeless children between 6 and 17 years, compared to 18% of other school-age children)

The Woman's Journey Program offer physical, emotional and social support to help children heal from the traumatic effects of domestic violence and homelessness. Using a holistic model of care, The WJP offers individualized support and therapeutic, group-based activities to all children entering our programs. We have specially trained staff and volunteers dedicated to working with children and parents to help children heal from trauma.

Children and parents at WJP receive the following services:

• Access to staff to ensure that children are receiving the services they need
• One-on-one and group support to enroll children in school, find childcare and recreational and social programs
• Referrals for medical care, including annual exams and immunizations
• Access to the mental health specialists to assess mental health status
• Play, art and talk-based therapies with children needing specialized mental healthcare
• Introduction to youth-oriented services and activities in the community
• Support groups to enhance parenting skills in a supportive environment, as well as one-on-one sessions with parents and children

Based on the success of The WJP financial education model, life coaches have began partnering with area businesses, community groups, professional associations, and individual community members in 2018 to help create pathways to employment for our clients.

• Assess clients’ employment history
• Identify training or employment opportunities
• Aid clients in preparing resume, cover letters and job searching
• Practice mock interviews skills and work etiquette
• Obtain and maintain sustainable employment