YMCA of Metro Chicago provides a wide range of day, overnight, family and winter camping activities for all abilities. YMCA’s Camp MacLean and YMCA Camp Duncan offer campers endless adventures, joy and an opportunity to build confidence, leadership skills and independence. YMCA camps offer activities that challenge both the mind and body, supportive staff and a welcoming community where campers connect and feel empowered. Overnight summer camps registration usually opens in late November. Day camp registration usually opens in early January.

Learn about YMCA of Metro Chicago camps, including:

• YMCA Camp Duncan
• YMCA Camp MacLean
• YMCA Camp Independence
• YMCA Summer Day Camp
• YMCA Family Camp Nawakwa – A year-round family place
• YMCA Camp Pinewood

Mercy Housing is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing. Mercy Housing offers affordable rental properties in the Chicago area to low- and moderate-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Its programs include:

• Supportive housing for the formerly unhoused
• Transitional housing
• Permanent rental
• Affordable homeownership

Each Mercy Housing community has its own leasing office and its own application process. Use the search tool to find a list of communities and search by city. If you have general questions about low-income assistance, please contact the corporate office at (866) 338-0557.

Renaissance Social Services helps prevent and end homelessness for vulnerable Chicagoans, including individuals and families living with disabling conditions. It partners with landlords across Chicago to provide safe and affordable housing for its participants.

Renaissance also provides participants a range of services, including prevention, outreach, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, behavioral health care, and clinical case management.

To find housing placement with Renaissance, you must first register with the Chicago Coordinated Entry System (CES). Learn more and register with CES by visiting the Coordinated Entry System and access points to complete a housing assessment.

For more details about Renaissance Social Services, call (773) 645-8900 or visit the Renaissance contact page.

Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford offers community-based, comprehensive services and supports to individuals in the city of Chicago, surrounding suburban Cook County, and the Rockford area. Programs focusing on early learning and disability services include autism services and supports, diagnostic services, early intervention and education programs, teen and young parent services, respite care, employment opportunities, and additional support services.

Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford services and programs include:

• Family support and respite services
• Harry’s Buttons and Threads (HB Threads) offering employment opportunities, job training, and life skills development for individuals with disabilities
• Teen and young parent family support, resources and doula services
• The Autism Program (TAP) at Easterseals serving families in JoDaviess, Lake, Stephenson, Boone, Winnebago, McHenry, and Northern Ogle counties.
• The Illinois Autism Partnership at Easterseals offering programming support for organizations.

For more information, visit the Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford’s website contact page.

Spectrum Sailing is a nonprofit organization that provides sailing camps for children aged 10 to 17 with autism. Camp sessions in Chicago typically take place in June. The three-day experience includes learning about the boat’s parts, how to tie knots, and how to sail.

Check Spectrum Sailing’s website for the application and camp deadlines. For any questions about the Spectrum Sailing program or sessions, please call (847) 863-3059 or email info@spectrumsailing.org.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (SVdP) fosters personal relationships and service to people in need. Local SVdP Councils and Conferences, located in rural, suburban, and urban communities, provide rental and utility assistance, food pantries, charitable pharmacies, day centers, transitional housing for people with disabilities and veterans, thrift stores and more.

SVdP has chapters throughout Illinois. To find help near you, contact SVdP or ask your local Catholic church if they have a Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter.

Several Illinois theaters offer movie showings with the lights up, lower sound and the freedom to get up, dance, walk, shout or sing. Visit the following sites to find more details and a theater near you:

• • AMC and the Autism Society’s Sensory Friendly Films
  • Reel Movies for Real Needs
  • Studio Movie Grill’s Special Needs Screenings

Easterseals Central Illinois offers programs and support for individuals with developmental delays, disabilities and autism from birth through age 21. Resources include physical and occupational therapy, speech services, feeding therapy, autism evaluations and supports, education services, camp and recreation programs, and more.

Easterseals Central Illinois provides services in McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. It also manages Child and Family Connections for Peoria and Champaign counties. For more information and help navigating their services, see the Parent Handbook.

You can contact Easterseals Central Illinois through its website or by calling (309) 686-1177.

Mental Health America’s Caregiving Resource Center offers a comprehensive collection of caregiver mental health resources to help you protect your well-being, manage stress and navigate the challenges of caregiving.

It includes information on coping with caregiving stress, crisis planning, mental health resources for parents and caregiving resources on treatment and recovery.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway aims to provide free and trusted resources to service providers, family members and parents working to bring children home from foster care. It helps equip individuals with the resources needed to support positive outcomes for all children, youth and families. The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to the following:

• Publications
• Research
• Laws and policies
• Databases covering a wide range of topics, including prevention, child abuse and neglect, adoption, search and reunion.

For questions, call 1 (800) 394-3366 or email info@childwelfare.gov.