If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis:
Call or text 988 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
(779) 696-4123
Text HOME to 741741 — 24 hours
Call 911
Rockford Trauma Resources — Crisis, Grief, and Recovery Support for Winnebago County Families
Complete directory of trauma, grief, and crisis support resources for Rockford and Winnebago County families. Mental health, victim advocacy, domestic violence, and financial assistance.
Rockford Trauma Resources — Crisis, Grief, and Recovery Support for Winnebago County Families
Traumatic events leave families dealing with more than grief. There are immediate safety needs, financial pressures, legal questions, and the long work of recovery — often all at the same time. This directory brings together the most important trauma, crisis, victim advocacy, mental health, and support resources available in Rockford and Winnebago County. It is organized by the type of need so you can find what applies to your situation quickly.
All resources listed here are verified. Phone numbers and addresses reflect confirmed information as of early 2026. Because services and contact information can change, verify directly with each organization for the most current details.
Immediate Crisis Response
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 | Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | Free and confidential
For anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, mental health crisis, or emotional distress. Trained crisis counselors respond immediately. Spanish language support available.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 | Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | Free and confidential
Text-based crisis support for people who cannot or prefer not to call. Trained counselors respond within minutes.
https://www.crisistextline.org/
SwedishAmerican Center for Mental Health — 24-Hour Crisis Line
(779) 696-4123 | 24 hours a day | 1401 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61104
SwedishAmerican Hospital’s behavioral health crisis line provides immediate telephone assessment and guidance. Can facilitate emergency psychiatric evaluation and inpatient psychiatric care when needed.
https://www.swedishamerican.org/services/behavioral-health/
NYAP Mobile Crisis Response — Winnebago County
Dispatched through 988 or law enforcement | Serves Winnebago County | Ages 5 and up
Community-based crisis care for mental health, substance use, homelessness, and trauma-related crises. Trained clinicians provide on-site support and stabilization to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. Short-term goal-centered intervention.
https://www.nyap.org/
Crisis Co-Response Team (CCRT) — Winnebago County
Dispatched through Rockford Police, Loves Park Police, or Winnebago County Sheriff | Serving Winnebago County residents
Joint team of law enforcement and Rosecrance behavioral health clinicians responding together to mental health and substance use crisis calls. Designed to provide clinical support alongside law enforcement for residents experiencing behavioral health crises.
Mental Health, Grief, and Trauma Counseling
Rosecrance Behavioral Health
Multiple Rockford locations | (815) 391-1000 | rosecrance.org
The largest regional behavioral health provider in the Rockford area. Offers comprehensive outpatient and inpatient mental health and substance use treatment, including trauma-focused therapy. Accepts most insurance and has financial assistance programs.
NAMI Northern Illinois
4317 Maray Drive, Rockford, IL | (815) 963-2470 | Serving Winnebago and Boone Counties
National Alliance on Mental Illness affiliate providing peer support, education, and advocacy. Free support groups for individuals living with mental illness and for family members. NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-6264, Monday through Friday 10am to 10pm.
https://naminorthernillinois.org/
Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois
631 N. Longwood St., Suite 103, Rockford, IL | (815) 962-5585 | Also: 860 Biester Dr., Suite 205, Belvidere, IL
Broad-spectrum counseling for individuals and families of all ages. Accepts most insurance and Medicaid. Sliding fee scale available. Telehealth available. Focus areas include grief, trauma, anxiety, and family crisis.
OSF HealthCare Behavioral Health — Rockford
Multiple locations in Rockford and Winnebago County
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center and affiliated clinics offer mental health and trauma recovery services, including outpatient therapy and psychiatric care. Accepts most insurance.
https://www.osfhealthcare.org/services/behavioral-health/
Violent Crime Victims and Advocacy Services
Winnebago County State’s Attorney — Victim Service Providers
400 W. State St., Rockford, IL 61101 | Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office
Eleven Victim Service Providers work within the State’s Attorney’s Office, providing advocacy, support, and resource connection to victims, witnesses, and families throughout the criminal justice process. Contact the State’s Attorney’s Office for VSP assignment.
https://www.winnebagosao.org/
Homicide Victim Family Support Group — Rockford
400 W. State St., 7th Floor, Rockford, IL 61101 | Third Wednesday of every month, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Free peer support group for families of homicide victims, facilitated through the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office. Open to family members and close loved ones of homicide victims. Contact the State’s Attorney’s Office or your assigned Victim Service Provider for information.
https://www.winnebagosao.org/
Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Program
1-800-228-3368 | Illinois Attorney General’s Office | Up to $45,000 for qualifying expenses
State program covering crime scene cleanup costs, medical expenses, mental health treatment, lost wages, funeral expenses, and relocation costs for eligible victims of violent crime. See our full ICVCA guide for details on how to apply.
https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/safer-communities/supporting-victims-of-crime/crime-victim-compensation/
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Resources
Remedies Renewing Lives
24-hour crisis hotline | Free and confidential
Provides 24-hour emergency shelter, hotline services, transitional housing, advocacy-based counseling, individual therapy, advocacy, and case management for adult and child survivors of domestic violence. All domestic violence program services are free, confidential, and voluntary.
https://remediesrenewinglives.org/
YWCA Northwestern Illinois — Victim Services
(815) 962-6102 | 24-hour crisis line | Serving Winnebago and surrounding counties
Crisis intervention, free counseling, support groups, and advocacy for families affected by violence, homicide, and traumatic deaths. YWCA advocates are trained to support families through the immediate aftermath and long-term recovery from violent crime.
https://ywca-nwil.org/
Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling
(815) 636-9811 | 24/7 crisis hotline | Free and confidential | Serving Winnebago, Boone, and Ogle Counties
Comprehensive services for survivors of sexual assault and abuse, ages three and up. Services include 24-hour crisis intervention, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, counseling, prevention education, and professional training. All services are free and confidential.
https://www.rockfordsexualassaultcounseling.org/
Rockford Family Peace Center
rockfordfamilypeacecenter.org | Serving Winnebago and Boone Counties
Multi-agency hub bringing together law enforcement, legal services, victim advocacy, health care, and community services under one roof for families affected by domestic violence. Partner agencies include the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office, Rockford Police Department domestic violence unit, Prairie State Legal Services, and Carrie Lynn Children’s Center.
https://rockfordfamilypeacecenter.org/
Children, Youth, and Families Exposed to Violence
Community Healing Center — City of Rockford
(779) 207-1583 | Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Free services
City of Rockford program for children and youth ages 0 to 18 and their families who have been exposed to violence at home, school, or in the community. Services include on-site counseling, mentorship, referrals, and community navigation. All services are free. Anyone can make a referral — parent, provider, or the youth themselves.
https://rockfordil.gov/707/Community-Healing-Center
Carrie Lynn Children’s Center
Rockford, IL | Serving Winnebago and Boone Counties
Child advocacy center minimizing trauma for child survivors of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse through a multidisciplinary team approach. Reduces the need for children to recount their experiences multiple times and surrounds them with coordinated support.
https://www.carrielynnchildrenscenter.org/
Children’s Safe Harbor
(815) 316-7772 | childrenssafeharbor.net
Provides safe child exchange and visitation services free of charge for families navigating conflict, separation, or abuse situations where neutral exchange is necessary for child safety.
https://childrenssafeharbor.net/
Legal Aid and Financial Assistance
Prairie State Legal Services
Serving northern Illinois | Free legal services for qualifying victims
Free civil legal services for crime victims, domestic violence survivors, and low-income individuals. Services include family law, housing, protective orders, benefits assistance, and consumer issues. Available through the Rockford Family Peace Center and directly.
https://www.pslegal.org/
Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board
wincoil.gov | Winnebago County government
County body overseeing mental health and substance use services in Winnebago County. Can provide referrals to county-funded behavioral health programs and information on available services for residents who lack insurance coverage.
https://www.wincoil.gov/
Carpenter’s Place
Rockford, IL | carpentersplace.org
Provides emergency assistance, transitional housing support, and connection to community resources for individuals and families facing acute financial crisis following a traumatic event or loss.
Rockford Rescue Mission
Rockford, IL | rockfordrescuemission.org
Christ-centered emergency care for individuals and families facing homelessness, poverty, and acute crisis. Provides food, shelter referrals, and connections to support services.
How Biohazard Cleanup Rockford Supports Families
We handle the physical restoration — safely removing all biological hazards from the property and returning it to a livable condition — so families do not have to carry that burden on top of everything else. We work 24 hours a day and respond within 30 minutes of scene release. We handle insurance documentation directly and assist with Illinois Crime Victims Compensation applications at no additional charge.
We are not a counseling resource or a victim advocacy organization. We do one thing: we clean up scenes that families cannot and should not clean themselves, and we do it with the discretion and care the situation requires. If you need us, call (888) 629-1222. If what you need is one of the organizations listed above, reach out to them directly — they are there for exactly this.
Quick Reference — Rockford and Winnebago County Crisis Contacts
IMMEDIATE CRISIS
988 — Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text)
Text HOME to 741741 — Crisis Text Line
SwedishAmerican 24-hr Mental Health Crisis: (779) 696-4123
Medical emergency: 911
VICTIM ADVOCACY
Winnebago County State’s Attorney Victim Services: (815) 319-4000
YWCA Northwestern Illinois 24-hr crisis: (815) 962-6102
Illinois Crime Victims Compensation: 1-800-228-3368
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
Remedies Renewing Lives 24-hr shelter hotline: call or visit remediesrenewinglives.org
Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling 24-hr: (815) 636-9811
Rockford Family Peace Center: rockfordfamilypeacecenter.org
MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING
Rosecrance Behavioral Health: (815) 391-1000
NAMI Northern Illinois: (815) 963-2470 | NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-6264
Family Counseling Services: (815) 962-5585
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Community Healing Center (ages 0-18, free): (779) 207-1583
Carrie Lynn Children’s Center: carrielynnchildrenscenter.org
Children’s Safe Harbor: (815) 316-7772
BIOHAZARD CLEANUP ROCKFORD
(888) 629-1222 — 24 hours, 30-minute response
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to reach a mental health crisis resource in Rockford?
Call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — from anywhere in Rockford or Winnebago County. It is available 24 hours a day, connects you with a trained local crisis counselor, and can dispatch mobile crisis support when needed. For an acute medical emergency, call 911. For a non-emergency mental health crisis line at SwedishAmerican, call (779) 696-4123.
Is there a free support group for families of homicide victims in Rockford?
Yes. The Homicide Victim Family Support Group meets on the third Wednesday of every month, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., on the seventh floor of the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office at 400 W. State St., Rockford. The group is facilitated through the State’s Attorney’s Victim Service Provider program. Contact the State’s Attorney’s Office or your assigned Victim Service Provider to connect.
What free mental health resources exist for children in Rockford who have witnessed violence?
The Community Healing Center, operated by the City of Rockford, serves children and youth ages 0 to 18 who have been exposed to violence. Services include counseling, mentorship, and community navigation. All services are free. The phone number is (779) 207-1583, open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Anyone can make a referral — a parent, a provider, or the youth themselves.
Does the NYAP Mobile Crisis Response Team serve all of Winnebago County?
Yes. NYAP’s Mobile Crisis Response Team serves all of Winnebago County for children and adults ages five and up. It provides on-site crisis support for mental health, substance use, trauma, and homelessness-related crises. The team is dispatched through 988 or through law enforcement. The Crisis Co-Response Team — a joint effort between Rockford Police, Loves Park Police, Winnebago Sheriff, and Rosecrance — also responds to behavioral health crisis calls throughout Winnebago County.
What should I do if I cannot afford mental health counseling in Rockford after a trauma?
Several options exist for Rockford residents without insurance or with limited income. Family Counseling Services at (815) 962-5585 operates on a sliding fee scale based on income. Rosecrance has financial assistance programs. NAMI Northern Illinois at (815) 963-2470 provides free peer support groups and can connect you with low-cost or no-cost counseling options. The Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board can refer you to county-funded programs.