Resources for Highland Park

July 7, 2022
Brad's Newsletter

With the horrific attack on the Highland Park Independence Day Parade still fresh in our memory, and the area of the shooting still an active crime scene, our souls ache for the families of those murdered and all those impacted by the events of the day. The killer shattered what should have been a celebration of freedom, stole the lives of seven loving individuals, and forever changed the lives of countless others.

Our community is still processing the immensity of the crimes and the depth of our loss. At the same time, each of us are dealing with the tragedy in our own distinct way. I won't begin to suggest how anyone should work through their personal reactions, but I do want you to know that no one need feel alone as you deal with your feelings and emotions. Whether it's talking to family and friends, connecting with local support organizations, or reaching out to professionals for guidance and support, resources are available for you and your loved ones.

Thankfully, there are already many organizations mobilized to help the community in coping with this tragedy. My team has compiled a long list of resources for those seeking assistance, which I have shared below. (If you are aware of any others, please let us know.) I am also including information on opportunities to support the response efforts.

We can draw strength from our connections with each other, from our neighbors, and from our community. I know we will get through this awful time together. And I promise we will again celebrate all that makes Highland Park and our entire region special.

Stay strong, stay safe, stay healthy.
Sincerely,

Newsletter image
Bradley S. Schneider
Member of Congress

ASSISTANCE FOR IMPACTED BUSINESSES

The horrific attack on the Highland Park Independence Day Parade temporarily turned the vibrant and busy business center of Downton Highland Park into an active crime scene. Due to investigations, shops and restaurants in the area did not get a chance to reopen until July 10th. The time spent closed has created challenges for businesses as they rely on foot traffic to generate sales, pay employees, and keep the lights on.

Small businesses are some of the most important pillars of the community. That's why we must come together and support them as we have for the rest of our community. As businesses begin to reopen and get back to work, I am happy to share a new resource. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal loans for disaster-related losses.

These low-interest loans are known as Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and help small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations meet financial responsibilities they cannot meet because of the tragedy. The loans can be worth up to $2 million and are available to small businesses in Lake, McHenry, or Kenosha Counties affected by the shooting between July 4-10. The deadline to Apply is April 25th, 2023.

Those interested in applying for a loan can do so online or in person at the First Bank of Highland Park beginning Thursday, July 28th.

SBA Business Recovery Center (BRC)
First Bank of Highland Park
1835 First Street Highland Park, IL 60035

Opening: Thursday, July 28, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Closed on Sundays
Closes Permanently: Thursday, Aug. 11 at 4 p.m.

I encourage small businesses to follow up on this opportunity and spread the word.

My team will be happy to provide information and assistance to those who submit applications to the SBA. Don't hesitate to contact my office at (847) 383-4870 or contact my office online for help finding the status of an application or troubleshooting issues in the approval process.

With the support of surrounding communities and organizations, Highland Park will come back stronger than ever from its journey of healing and recovery. Trust, care, and help from friends, family, and neighbors will continue to flow and provide strength. On my part, I will continue to support you in your needs and fight for the success of small businesses across our district.

Please read below for exact details on this new SBA program.

Additional Information: SBA Assistance to Small Businesses

The SBA is offering disaster assistance in the form of low interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters. SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster.

Disaster Loan Assistance Available:

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Where to Apply:

In Person at the Business Recovery Center (BRC):

First Bank of Highland Park
1835 First Street
Highland Park, IL 60035

OPENS: Thursday, July 28 at 11 a.m.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed: Sunday
CLOSES PERMANENTLY: Thursday, Aug. 11 at 4 p.m.

Online at:DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s

Contact Information:

Small Business Administration:

Email:DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov

For questions or assistance, call (800) 659 2955, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. 7 p.m.

Credit Requirements:

Credit History – Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA.
Repayment – Applicants must show the ability to repay the loan
Collateral – Collateral is required for all EIDL loans over $25,000. SBA takes real estate as collateral when it is available. SBA will not decline a loan for lack of collateral, but SBA will require the borrower to pledge collateral that is available.

Loan Eligibility Restrictions:

Noncompliance – Applicants who have not complied with the terms of previous SBA loans may not be eligible. This includes borrowers who did not maintain required flood insurance and/or hazard insurance on previous SBA loans.

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Assistance for Victims

The Family Assistance Center at Highland Park High School
  • Victims and any community members affected by the tragedy can speak to a mental health professional and pick up any belongings that may have been left along the parade route.
  • Victims are not just those physically injured by yesterday's events, but also those experiencing emotional distress.
  • English and Spanish bilingual services available
  • Organized by FBI and American Red Cross
  • Highland Park High School (433 Vine Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035)
  • Hours of Operation:
    • Wednesday 7/06/2022 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Thursday 7/07/2022 from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.
    • Friday 7/08/2022 from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.
    • Thereafter as needed https://go.usa.gov/xSqeu

CONSUELO Therapeutic Serivces

Consuelo Therapeutic Services offers individual, family, and couples counseling. Consuelo sees adults and children age 6+.

Please call for more information (773) 770-5150

VictimConnect

VictimConnect is an OVC-funded service that offers confidential assistance to victims of crime. Trained specialists are available to help you locate services in your area, including mental health counseling, legal services, and more. Contact VictimConnect from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time at:
Phone: 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846)
Chat: https://chat.victimsofcrime.org/victim-connect

Dial 711 and VictimConnect staff can provide services through an interpreter in more than 200 languages, and to hearing- and speech-impaired individuals.

Disaster Distress Helpline

The Disaster Distress Helpline, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling.

This 24/7 toll-free, multilingual crisis support service is available to residents in the United States and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including incidents of mass violence.
Call or text the hotline at 800-985-5990.

Victim's Compensation Fund

Illinois' Crime Victims' Compensation Program, funded in part through the OVC-administered Crime Victims Fund, may help offset a victim's financial burden related to funeral, mental health, medical, and other expenses. Following is contact information for this program:
Office of the Illinois Attorney General
Crime Victims Services Bureau
Phone: 800-228-3368
TTY: 877-398-1130
Crime Victims Compensation FAQ:https://ag.state.il.us/victims/CV_FAQ_0122.pdf

Lake County Crisis Helpline
  • Call 847-377-8088 for resources or support if someone close to you is experiencing a crisis.

Text a Tip Line Lake County
  • Consider sharing a text with Text a Tip as a resource for students or residents when an adult or counselor is not available. The counselors are in Lake Bluff and they know what has been going on. The details below. You can also share on CTAD's Facebook and Twitter. They will be posting frequently over the next week.

Highwood Public Library and Community Center

In the wake of the recent tragedy in Highland Park, the Highwood Public Library and Community Center will offer supportive mental health services to facilitate community healing. The following services will be available free of charge for all:

  • Individual Therapy
    • Monday - Thursday
    • Appointments available from 3:00-7:00pm
  • Support Groups
    • Monday - Wednesday
    • Drop-In from 6:00-7:30pm

Individual therapy sessions and support groups are available for both English and Spanish speakers.

They also invite our community to join our Health Equity team in a virtual series of community conversations on grief, trauma, and processing difficult emotions and feelings.

These Conversando en Comunidad para Sanar el Alma Después del Trauma, or Community Conversations to Heal the Soul After Trauma (presented in Spanish), will be offered on Wednesdays throughout the month of July:

Family Service of Lake County

In response to the tragedy that occurred, Family Service of Lake County has implemented the following protocol to serve our neighbors. If you or someone in your family or around you needs support the following services are available:

  • Expanded Hours: They are open 9am – 7pm for counseling sessions for any member of the community who needs professional assistance
  • Leadership on trauma conversations: They provided guidance to city leadership on a critical conversation with city staff and stakeholders debriefing the tragedy. They will be leading a few debriefs with city staff and stakeholders later this week
  • Free Counseling: They will be offering free 20-30 minute sessions at no charge for those in the community with a need for professional assistance
  • If you or a loved one are in crisis, please reach out to the Lake County crisis hotline at 847-377-8088.

NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) Lake County

In response to the events of July 4th in Highland Park, IL, NAMI in Illinois is adding trauma response support groups to address the impact this has had on mental health.

Resources to Help Families, Community Members Cope After a Mass Shooting

Resources for Children, Youth, Parents and Other Caregivers, and Schools

National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center

Following the tragic deaths of seven people and the physical injuries to dozens of others in Highland Park, IL, the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center offers the resources below, which may provide some guidance for the community in the coming days and months.

Resources for Victims, Survivors and Community Members

  • Tips For Survivors: Coping With Grief After A Disaster Or Traumatic Event via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | Read here.
  • Managing Distress: Grounding Tips For Crime Victims, Survivors And Family Members Of Mass Violence Incidents (MVIs) | Read here.
  • How to Identify an Experienced Trauma-Focused Therapist | Read here.

Resources for Parents, Caregivers and Teens
  • Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas, via NCTSN | Read here
  • Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Mass Shooting, via NCTSN | Read in English | Read in Spanish
  • Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief – Tips for Caregivers, via NCTSN | Read here
  • Tips for Talking with and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Teachers and Caregivers, via SAMHSA | Read here
  • For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence, via NCTSN | Read in English | Read in Spanish

Resources for Community Leaders
  • Timeline of Activities to Promote Mental Health Recovery: Recommendations Before, During and Following a Mass Violence Incident | Read here.
  • Tips for Community Leaders: Rebuilding Your Community | Resources here.

Donation Opportunities

  • Highland Park Community Foundation's July 4 Shooting Response Fund 
    • Donations support individual victims and families directly impacted by the shooting. 
    • Highland Park Community Website
  • The Lake County Community Foundation Crisis Relief Fund
    • This serves as a permanent countywide funding resource in times of emergencies.They are currently raising funds to support crisis relief efforts in the wake of the Highland Park shooting. Funds will be granted to support emergency response needs, mental health counseling services, downtown repair and revitalization, violence prevention and education and other urgent needs as they arise in the aftermath of this tragedy. 

The City of Highland Park urges individuals interested in donating to support those impacted by Monday's mass shooting to carefully consider all online and email requests for donations. 211 Lake County offers a fact sheet to assist in evaluating requests for donations.

Blood Drive

  • NorthShore University Health Systems is still seeking blood donations for the victims of the shooting. Donations can be made through Vitalant or directly to NorthShore Hospital by appointment: DonateBlood@northshore.org, 847-570-2242.
  • Other Donation Centers
    • Vitalant: Plug in zip code to see multiple nearby donor centers

Contact Us

Washington DC Office
300 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515
Phone: (202) 225-4835
Fax: (202) 225-0837
Lincolnshire Office
*Appointments Required*
111 Barclay Blvd
Suite 200
Lincolnshire, IL  60069
Phone: (847) 383-4870
Fax: (847) 793-0677