Refer a Child

Do you know a youth who is struggling? Contacting Mercy Home could save a life.

Mercy Home’s residential program is for youth between the ages of 11 and 24 who live in situations that place extra stresses on their health and progress. The common thread that connects our children to Mercy Home is that they have experienced trauma and that they are committed to changing their lives.

Mercy Home welcomes referrals of young people in need from throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. We evaluate each referred youth for appropriate placement within our full-time residential programs. Our admissions process is designed to ensure that each youth who comes to live at our Home is best served by the resources we provide.

Mercy Home is committed to serving:

• Youth ages 11-24 throughout the Chicago metropolitan area
• Youth who voluntarily commit to and are motivated to engage in Mercy Home’s treatment program
• Youth who would benefit from building healthy attachments and relationships
• Youth who have experienced trauma and/or neglect, or who may have difficulty coping with stressors in their lives
• Youth who present with moderate emotional, behavioral and psychological challenges
• Youth who present with moderate educational and/or vocational challenges and/or may be struggling academically
• Youth who would benefit from being temporarily removed from the home setting and may be in need of more intensive services that are not reasonably attainable in their community

CONTACT THE ADMISSIONS TEAM

Complete our referral form and one of our Admissions Staff will contact you.

If you are a young person or would like to refer someone in the Chicago metropolitan area to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, please call (312) 738-7590. An intake worker will answer your call Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. During off hours, all voicemail will be answered within one business day.

Please note: we do not provide an immediate response to messages sent through this form. Please use the following phone numbers for immediate assistance:

Emergency situations – 911
Emergency shelter (within Chicago) – 311
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – (800) 273-8255
National Domestic Violence Hotline – (800) 799-SAFE (7233)

STEP 1

Informational Session

At an informational session, we provide a detailed explanation of our program and ask some questions to get to know the youth and family seeking admission.

We know that when you care about a young person in need, you want him or her to be able to move into Mercy Home as fast as possible. We will do our best to communicate current space in the programs and an approximate timeframe for admissions throughout the process.

STEP 2

Review of Records

As part of the application process, we need to review key records for each applicant. We request these documents prior to conducting the in-person assessment.

Required Documents

STEP 3

In-Person Assessment

During this three to four hour appointment, we conduct in-depth interviews with the applicant and their family. Brief academic testing may occur during this meeting as well.

STEP 4

Family Partnership Meeting and Shadow Night

The shadow night allows the applicant to spend the afternoon and evening at Mercy Home, meet the staff and other youth, and gain a first-hand experience of what it’s like at Mercy Home.