The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) manages the statewide Adult Protective Services Program, which serves adults 60 years of age and older and adults aged 18-59 with disabilities. The program handles reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

For more information on the signs and types of abuse and how to make a report, visit www2.illinois.gov/aging/Engage/Pages/default.aspx. You can also call the statewide 24-hour Abuse Hotline at (866) 800-1409.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority continues to provide support and assistance programs for Illinois homeowners and renters. Its COVID-19 Housing Resources Information website provides the latest information.

The Neighbor Project (TNP) is a nonprofit, HUD-Certified Housing Counseling Agency dedicated to helping low to moderate-income families in Aurora reduce debt, build credit, save and ultimately buy their first homes.

Child & Family Connections (CFC) is the starting point for the referral of children under 36 months of age to the Part C Early Intervention Service System in McHenry County. Early Intervention services are designed to meet an infant’s or toddler’s needs if they are experiencing issues related to five specific areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional and adaptive.

For more information, click on the brochure in English or Spanish.

For students who do not live in permanent housing, attending school and staying on track for their grade can present challenges on many levels and across different areas.

Chicago Public Schools and networks provide assistance in removing these barriers to qualified Students in Temporary Living Situations (STLS), including providing transportation, school uniforms, school supplies, fee waivers and referrals to community resources.

To find out if your student and family are eligible for STLS services, contact the STLS Liaison at your school. Every CPS school, including charter schools and options schools, has an STLS Liaison. For other questions about the STLS Program, please call (773) 553-2242 or email STLSInformation@cps.edu.

Mental Health America’s Back-to-School Toolkit provides educational information and tips on tackling some of the most common online stressors for youth. Titled “Selfies, Social & Screens: Navigating Virtual Spaced for Youth,” the toolkit includes fact sheets for youth and adults, and a guide to national and local resources.

Mental Health America provides information for helping kids and teens transition to online school and tips for staying connected with their friends virtually.

This fact sheet from Mental Health America provides tips to help parents and teachers work together to make sure kids and teens are learning and to monitor their mental health.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recognizes the difficulties at-home instruction and remote learning pose for teachers as well as the parents/guardians of students who are blind or visually impaired. For some, this situation is complicated by the lack of reliable internet access and/or the unavailability of technology in the home.

ISBE provides the Remote Learning for Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired guide to provide suggestions and ideas related to remote learning opportunities for students who are blind or visually impaired, including ideas that do not depend on technology. It also includes resources for additional information related to services, programming and information intended to enhance learning opportunities and the functional development of students who are blind or visually impaired.

PACER has developed multiple resources for families to help prepare them and their children for distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tip sheets and handouts are available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali.