VOICE provides the following services to all residents of McHenry County. For a more detailed description of each service, please click on the "Services" tab.

• 24-hour crisis intervention by phone 7 days a week
• 24-hour emergency response to area hospitals 7 days a week
• Individual crisis counseling
• On-going therapy
• Advocates to accompany victims during medical treatment, police reviews and court proceedings
• Counselors to provide support to victims and/or significant others
• Information and education about sexual assault
• Referrals to other agencies and community services
• Prevention education

Who should I call if I need to speak to someone right away?
Victims should call the McHenry County Crisis Line at 1-800-892-8900 and ask to speak to a VOICE advocate or counselor. A VOICE advocate is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We understand it is very difficult to reach out for help. Many survivors feel anxious about speaking with someone regarding such a sensitive, personal matter. If you are more comfortable, please CLICK HERE and someone will be happy to get in touch with you.

What is the mission of VOICE?
The mission of the VOICE program is to work toward ending sexual violence and to alleviate the victim’s suffering. We intend to accomplish these goals by providing information, resources and the support necessary to help victims become survivors and move through a crisis to development and pursuit of their goals.

What makes VOICE different than any other counseling service or agency?
Per Illinois Law (735 ILCS 5/8-802.1), VOICE has ‘absolute privilege’ with everyone we work with. "Absolute privilege" refers to complete confidentiality which is unique only to Rape Crisis Centers who are part of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA). VOICE is the only center in McHenry County that is a member of ICASA. Essentially, any communication between anyone receiving VOICE services and VOICE personnel (staff and volunteer) is protected under this law. As long as confidentiality is maintained, even a court subpoena does not permit any communications to be released without the victim’s written consent. For a victim or significant other, this allows VOICE to be the most effective support system possible. In addition, while many centers provide counseling, they generally offer counseling for a variety of issues. VOICE only deals with issues of sexual assault and sexual abuse. Staff are specially trained to deal extensively with these areas, and these areas only. If a person demonstrates that he or she needs help with a different issue, VOICE will make the appropriate referral to another McHenry County agency that can be of assistance.

CLICK HERE to read more about "Confidentiality of Statements Made to Rape Crisis Personnel" 735 ILCS 5/8-802.1.

CLICK HERE to view the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault website.

What are the costs to receive VOICE services?
Any and all services provided by VOICE are 100% free and confidential.

Do I have to be a certain age or do I have to tell my parents I’m receiving services?
VOICE can provide medical and legal advocacy, counseling and therapy to adults aged 18 and over.   VOICE can also provide services to victims aged 12 to 17 without parental consent for up to 5 sessions.  If the victim chooses to have more sessions, VOICE must obtain parental consent.  All victims under the age of 12 must have parental consent to receive VOICE services.  Per ‘absolute privilege,’ VOICE cannot provide information to an adolescents parents without the victim’s consent, nor can any information about anyone receiving VOICE services be provided to anyone, for any reason, without that victim’s written consent.*

*Exceptions include child abuse or neglect in which case VOICE staff and volunteers are mandated to make a report to the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), when a person makes homicidal or suicidal statements and/or threats in which case the target of the threat and law enforcement is notified, or instances of elder abuse or neglect in which case the Illinois Department on Aging must be notified.

To make an anonymous report on child abuse or neglect, please call DCFS at 1-800-25-ABUSE.

To make an anonymous report on elder abuse or neglect, please call the Illinois Department on Aging at 1-866-800-1409.