Mokena Resources
Children’s Burial Assistance (CBA) helps families honor their deceased children with a decent and proper burial. Families without life insurance or money saved to bury their deceased child, ages 1 through 17, may be eligible. CBA resources include:
- The “What To Do – The First 48 Hours of Your Child’s Death” guide
- A database of service providers
- Burial plots, urns and other in-kind gifts to offset the cost of a burial
Parents, legal guardians or family members may apply online for assistance. Please note: CBA does not provide financial assistance for funeral service fees or grave markers. Visit the CBA website for more details.
Catholic Charities Social Services Archdiocese of Chicago
Catholic Charities Social Services Archdiocese of Chicago provides help including homelessness prevention, food and basic needs, and crisis assistance. needshelp and crisis services. It also connects people to other organizations that can help with emergency assistance in Chicago, suburban Cook County and Lake County. Services include:
- Burial and funeral assistance
- Case management services
- Emergency rental assistance
- Utility assistance
- Emergency shelter services
- Stabilization services (pharmaceutical assistance, transportation assistance, clothing vouchers)
The organization also provides family support programs, including child care and pregnancy and parenting support services, domestic violence support, behavioral health programs, and immigrant and refugee support.
National Center on Deaf-Blindness
The National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) is part of a network of projects for children and youth with deaf-blindness (birth through 21) providing information and learning and development tools for families and educators. NCDB resources include:
- An overview of deaf-blindness
- Practice guides and professional development
- Spanish resources
NCDB includes state deaf-blind projects in every state, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Pacific Basin and the Virgin Islands.
American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) offers information and resources for children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. AFB resources include:
- Research and initiatives
- Publications
- Digital inclusion and talent lab internships and apprenticeships
- Braille and technology resources
Funeral and Burial Benefits Program
The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Funeral and Burial Benefits Program pays for funeral and burial expenses when a person’s resources and all other sources of payment are less than the DHS standard payment rates.
More information and forms for submitting a claim are available online or at your local Family Community Resource Center (FCRC). Use the DHS Office Locator to find your local FCRC.
Package of Hope for NICU Families
Lily’s Hope Foundation offers free customized care packages to families with premature babies either in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or when they are being discharged.
Its Package of Hope program provides packages customized to a family’s specific needs. A sibling care package is also available.
Packages are shipped throughout the United States based on availability. One Package of Hope per family.
The Findhelp.org website allows individuals to search and connect to support no matter where they live. Share your zip code to find area resources that include financial assistance, housing, food pantries, medical care, transportation and other free or reduced-cost help.
Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests for Vulnerable Illinoisans
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is distributing at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to economically disadvantaged Illinois families in zip codes outside the city of Chicago. Households can:
- Find out if they are in an eligible zip code
- Request one package of five tests
- Get tests on a first-come, first-served basis at the Project ACT website
The tests will be delivered to the home address.
Free COVID-19 testing locations are available throughout the state, including in Chicago. You can find testing sites on the IDPH website’s testing locator page.
DSCC Emergency Preparedness Tip Sheet
Emergencies like power outages and weather events can be especially dangerous for individuals with complex medical needs. This tip sheet from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) helps with emergency knowledge and disaster planning. It includes important considerations for emergency situations as well as a resource toolbox with expert advice for pediatric, disability and/or advanced healthcare needs.
Illinois Emergency Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF)
The Illinois Emergency Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) program is now accepting applications for assistance. This federally funded program helps homeowners at risk of default, foreclosure or displacement as a result of a financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
ILHAF provides up to $60,000 in mortgage assistance to eligible homeowners. The program pays mortgage assistance directly to the servicer, taxing body or other approved entity.
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA) is providing free, how-to webinars in English and Spanish to help homeowners with the application process. Visit the ILHAF website for more details.
If you have questions, please contact ILHAF customer relations at (866) 454-3571 or email hafquestions@ihda.org.