COVID-19 Resources and Supports for Families
We’re here to help children with special healthcare needs and their families navigate the COVID-19 outbreak.
The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every aspect of life for our participants and their families.
In these uncertain times, we remain here to partner with Illinois families and communities to help children and youth with special healthcare needs connect to the services and resources they need.
We’ve compiled a list of resources and available supports to help families meet their needs during the COVID-19 outbreak. You can search for these resources by category or region on the right side of this page.
The list includes places offering free meals, utility assistance, free Wi-Fi, educational websites, activities during social distancing and condition-specific resources.
We continue to update this list as new resources become known or available. Please check back often for the latest information.
If you have questions about a specific need and would like additional support, please call your local DSCC Regional Office or contact (800) 322-3722.
Meals and Financial Resources
Summer EBT "SUN Bucks" and Summer Meal Sites
Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) or SUN Bucks is a nutrition program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Illinois families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 for each eligible child to purchase groceries for their household. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) will provide EBT benefits at the end of August or beginning of September 2024.
See the Summer EBT/SUN Bucks Fact Sheet in English or la EBT de verano/SUN Bucks Fact Sheet in Spanish to learn more.
Your school can help you with basic questions about Summer EBT. Households should visit the IDHS Summer EBT webpage for more information.
The Illinois State Board of Education also partners with the Illinois Hunger Coalition and No Kid Hungry to operate the Summer Food Service Program hotline and text service. To find summer meal sites:
- Call (800) 359-2163
- Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304
- View the USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder or Summer Meals Find Food Map to find nearby meal sites open to all children and youth ages 18 and younger
Diverse Learners Recovery Fund
The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund is a lottery-style grant program for Chicago families with children with disabilities offered through the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. The fund will provide one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery. Families must submit an application and complete the verification process to participate. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30, 2024.
The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund program will select recipients through three lottery drawings on the following dates:
- July 1, 2024
- Sept. 16, 2024
- On or after Nov. 30, 2024
The program will notify selected applicants by email. Verified applications that are not chosen will be included in the next drawing.
Submitting an eligible application does not guarantee you will receive the funds.
Food and Support Programs in Chicago and Cook County
Get help finding food, diapers, job training and accessing programs at over 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other community partners in the Chicagoland area.
Visit the Greater Chicago Food Depository website for more information.
Medical Health and Condition Specific Information Resources
Vaccine Appointment Call Center
The Illinois Department of Public Health has launched the Vaccine Appointment Call Center to help people who do not have access to or who have difficulty navigating online services in making appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The toll-free Vaccine Appointment Call Center phone number is (833) 621-1284 and can take TTY calls.
The call center is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight. The call center has English and Spanish-speaking call agents with the availability for translation into other languages.
Call agents will help individuals who do have access to online services navigate the various registration sites. However, if the individual does not have access to online services or is unable to navigate the site, the agent will make an appointment on their behalf.
Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) for COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) testing locator can help you find no-cost COVID-19 testing locations and contact information for the providers.
Every provider handles appointments differently. Please be sure to schedule your appointment directly with the provider you choose.
The Test to Treat site can help you be tested, treated and prescribed treatment for COVID-19 at little to no cost. The site provides information on accessing lifesaving treatments for COVID nationwide and contacting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 hotline and the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL).
Parenting and Caregiving Resources
The Illinois Respite Coalition (IRC) is a not-for-profit organization of caregivers and respite providers dedicated to supporting families and ensuring access to quality respite services for the residents of Illinois. The IRC assists caregivers by connecting them to resources in their area, providing training on respite topics and having funding available for emergency respite. The IRC helps caregivers of individuals across the lifespan with any disability.
The Emergency Respite Care Program offers funding and resources to support caregivers who are not receiving any respite services and have an urgent need for respite care in the absence of any other funding source. Emergency respite care may be for an unplanned or planned event for reasons including:
- Caregiver illness (physical, mental or emotional)
- Caregiver hospitalization
- Work-related situation
- Reduction of stress level
The website gives examples of qualifying circumstances and information on how to apply. See the emergency care flyer for more details. (The flyer is also available in Spanish.)
For more information contact:
- The Illinois Respite Coalition at (866) ILL-RESP (455-7377)
- Statewide Coordinator Tammy Foster at tfoster@illinoisrespitecoalition.org or (866) 455-7377, ext. 104
- Spanish-speaking callers may call (866) 455-7377, ext. 103
"Got You Covered" in Carterville
“Got You Covered” is a non-profit organization that provides diapers, baby wipes and infant hygiene products to families in need. Diapers are available for infants, children and adults.
“Got You Covered” is located in the First United Methodist Church in Carterville. Diapers are provided as available. Anyone needing access to diapers, or who wants to donate diapers, can call (618) 922-6355 or reach out through the organization’s Facebook page.
Virtual Respite Provider Training Course
The Illinois Respite Coalition provides a free, online Respite Provider Training Program consisting of ten courses for individuals interested in providing respite care. The courses can be taken on your own time and will provide information to meet the Respite Care Professionals Core Competencies.
Following completion, participants will a certificate of completion and have the option of joining the statewide registry to be connected to respite opportunities.
Download the flyer for the Respite Provider Training Course.