The Parent Place has been the local child abuse prevention organization teaching parents and local professionals positive parenting skills and techniques in Springfield.

The Parent Place serves families through various specialized classes, workshops, support groups for parents, guardianship assistance, extended family services, walk-in services, telephone crisis management, family mediation, individual family coaching, a diaper pantry, supervised visits and through its court-mandated Positive Co-Parenting classes for couples going through a divorce or separation.

The diaper pantry is open every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This resource directory from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides contact information, descriptions of programs, state agencies, and non-profit organizations in Illinois that provide support for families of young children experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

The directory includes food resources, housing resources, clothing and diaper resources and more.

UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children has created adult coloring pages to help caregivers relieve stress and practice mindfulness. Four designs are available in English and Spanish:

Lighthouse (Lighthouse Spanish)

Sunflowers (Sunflowers Spanish)

Hot air balloons (Hot air balloons Spanish)

Gears and clock (Gears and clock Spanish)

ARCH National Respite Network and Research Center provides a National Respite Locator on its website as well as additional resources for finding respite in your community.

Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is a national nonprofit organization that aims to improve the quality of life for Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age.

CAN provides a Family Caregiver Toolbox on a variety of topics.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago is a not-for-profit organization serving 44 counties in Illinois. It offers education, advocacy and case management to people living with epilepsy, their families and the communities in which they live.

The foundation’s client services include case management, programs for children and adults, epilepsy centers, support groups, employment, medications, and driving and transportation.

Special Needs Chicago (Tootle Transport) provides individuals with physical and/or cognitive challenges throughout Chicago and the suburbs with wheelchair-accessible transportation.

The Arc of Illinois Family-to-Family Health Information Center and Family Voices of Illinois provide this fact sheet on possible options for help with the cost of diapers for children, youth and adults with disabilities.

PUNS is the name for the list of the people in Illinois with developmental disabilities who want or need services but do not yet have funding. Individuals who need help from the government to pay for needed Division of Developmental Disabilities Waiver services now, or in the future, should register for PUNS.

The Arc of Illinois’ Life Span Program provides an overview of how to get on the PUNS list and how to check the approximate date when you may be selected.

Get the Basics on PUNS handout in English

Get the Basics on PUNS handout in Spanish

Family-centered telehealth can help children and youth with special healthcare needs and families access health care, improve their experience with health care, reduce stress, improve communication between all team members and across systems, and improve quality of life and well-being. Family Voices features extensive resources to help families and individuals with disabilities better understand, access, prepare for and navigate telehealth appointments.

These resources are in Spanish and English.

“Before, During, and After” is a two-part toolkit providing a checklist and worksheet to help prepare for telehealth visits, note questions or key information during a visit, and provide guidance and clear follow-up steps for each appointment.