Family Support Resources
Heartland Alliance in Chicago provides programs to address the root causes of poverty, generate social change and inspire people to build better lives not only for themselves but for their communities.
Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) provides direct legal services to and advocates for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through policy reform, impact litigation and public education. Other programs include:
Help for Caregivers, Grandparents/Relatives Raising Children in Northeastern Illinois
AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois provides programs offering respite, legal services, counseling, financial help, training programs and more for caregivers and grandparents/relatives raising children. Residents in DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties may be eligible.
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Traumatic Events
Every year, children and adolescents experience disasters and other traumatic events. Family, friends and trusted adults play an essential role in helping youth cope with these experiences.
The National Institute of Mental health has numerous resources to help children and adolescents cope with traumatic events.
Highpoint Care Center provides Drive-Up Care Centers where visitors can receive a bag filled with household toiletries and groceries. The organization also provides meals to District 200 students during lunchtime and has a mobile food pantry. Additional assistance with the cost of utilities, rent and car repairs is available.
Care Center locations are in Naperville, North Aurora, Bolingbrook/Romeoville and Wheaton.
Homeless Prevention Program in Illinois
The Homeless Prevention Program in Illinois provides rental/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, approved case management and approved supportive services directly related to the prevention of homelessness to eligible individuals and families who are in danger of eviction, foreclosure or homelessness or are currently homeless. The program is designed to stabilize individuals and families in their existing homes, shorten the amount of time that individuals and families stay in shelters and assist individuals and families with securing affordable housing.
Contact a Homeless Prevention Provider from the list to receive services.
Housing Authority of Cook County
The Housing Authority of Cook County is committed to providing quality housing to low and moderate-income families, the elderly and individuals with disabilities throughout suburban Cook County. Programs and resources include low-income public housing, affordable multi-family housing, Housing Choice Voucher Programs and more Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs.Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW)
Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW) empowers individuals and families in the Chicagoland area to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. HOW aims to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with housing as quickly as possible along with individualized support services to help them build success and self-sufficiency. Its services and programs include:
- Permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities
- Employment and life skills
- Children and youth after-school enrichment activities and Saturday teen programs
- Advocacy for individuals/families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
- Housing and support for Families in Transition (FIT)
How to Fill Out DSCC Forms in Spanish
There are a number of forms that our Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participants must fill out. We’ve created three instructional videos to help our Spanish-speaking families fill out some of our most commonly used forms. These videos provide step-by-step instructions:
- Solicitud del Programa de DSCC. (Filling out the DSCC Program Application)
- Reembolso de Costos (Filling out the Reimbursement Cost Log)
- Asistencia de Viaje (Filling out the Travel Cost Log)
Icing Smiles is a nonprofit organization that provides custom celebration cakes and other treats to families affected by a child’s critical illness or an illness that requires frequent hospitalizations.
igrow is the Illinois symbol for quality evidence-based home visiting services to expectant parents and families with new babies and young children.
igrow home visiting provides family support and coaching to young parents who may be inexperienced and often do not have family support. Trained professionals are matched with families based on each family’s needs.