WINGS Hospital Program

“I Received More Than I Ever Expected”

New this year, WINGS received a grant from the City of Chicago to expand the Hospital Program to Chicago. UI Health – University of Illinois at Chicago is the first medical system in the city for this programming.

This program is funded by the City of Chicago‘s Homeshare fund, which was established in 2018 as a two percent surcharge on shared-housing units or vacation rentals.

As a result, 24-7 bedside consultations are available to patients who disclose feeling unsafe and providing safety planning to survivors on-site saves lives.

Hospitals and Domestic Violence

Hospitals are often the first point of care for survivors of domestic violence. Violence can escalate and become lethal. In 2023, there were 99 domestic violence shootings and 59 DV-related homicides documented by the Chicago Police Department.

“Providing safety plan experts to survivors while they are hospitalized can let them know there are resources available and that they are not alone,” WINGS President & CEO Rebecca Darr stated.

Rebecca Darr, WINGS President & CEO

Partnerships

This new program is being introduced to medical institutions in Chicago neighborhoods identified with the highest levels of domestic violence homicides and shootings.

Through this grant funding, WINGS is collaboratively working with the following domestic violence agencies to provide these critical interventions:

In addition to UI Health, other hospitals receiving services by one of these partners include:

To date, this expansion has served 36 clients and has trained 237 professionals.

“There is Hope. There is Healing.”

Through this new city programming and existing programming at hospitals in the northwest suburbs, over WINGS Fiscal Year 2025, the Hospital Program provided 84 patient consultations and 1,125 hours of counseling.

Providing safety planning to survivors on-site at hospitals saves lives and provides critical resources to survivors like Zara*.

“I spent over twenty years in a domestic violence marriage…a relationship filled with physical, sexual, mental, emotional, and financial abuse…I had been made to believe it was somehow tied to love,” Zara shares.

Zara recalls, “With great fear, I reached out [to WINGS Hospital Program] and I received more than I ever expected. I found family. I found safety…I learned skills that I will carry with me forever.”

Zara says she learned how to set boundaries and identify red flags in relationships, adding, “I encourage anyone reading this – don’t suffer in silence. There is hope. There is healing.”

*WINGS uses representative names and photos to protect the dignity and security of those we serve.