Family and Caregiving Support Resources
Community Action Agencies work with local community organizations and non-profit partners to provide assistance to Illinois families with items including:
- Rental Assistance
- Food
- Energy Utility Bill Assistance
- Water/Sewer Payment
- Employment Training/Placement
- Financial Management
- Temporary Shelter
This link provides a local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) search tool that can help you find programs in your area.
Community Alternatives Unlimited
Community Alternatives Unlimited (CAU) provides a wide range of services for people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as programs to help economically challenged families with health and wellness during pregnancy and birth.
CAU provides residents of the city of Chicago (north side), several northern suburbs and Lake County with services and programs that include:
- Interview for Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS)
- Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) and determinations for eligibility for services
- Individual services and supports
- Connecting new mothers to appropriate medical care, eligible public benefits, support services and community resources
- Information and referral regarding prenatal care, checkups and immunizations, breastfeeding, infant development, family planning and parenting
For questions, visit Contact CAU or call (773) 867-4000.
Community and Residential Services Authority (CRSA)
The Community and Residential Services Authority (CRSA) is an interagency group that identifies and addresses barriers facing parents, families, professionals and providers trying to get needed services and programs for individuals with a behavior disorder or a severe emotional disturbance. CRSA’s free and confidential services include:
- Helping agencies, schools and parents form working partnerships using a team approach
- Addressing/resolving multiple agency disagreements about residential placement or funding of placement and services
- Assisting local communities in developing and strengthening collaborative interagency networking on request
You can also call CRSA to connect with a program coordinator who will listen and help you develop a plan of care at (877) 541-2772 or (217) 782-2438.
Community Child Care Connection
Community Child Care Connection (CCCC) provides support and resources to families and childcare providers to help ensure quality, affordable childcare and education options in Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott counties. CCCC helps families explore childcare and education options and what to look for when choosing care. It also offers programs to help pay for care and find local education and childcare providers. CCCC also provides professional development and regional training opportunities for child care providers.
CCCC is one of 16 community-based organizations that make up the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) System, which provides services and supports to families, providers and communities across Illinois.
For help or questions, call (217) 525-2805 or email info@4childcare.org.
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a self-help bereavement organization, providing support to bereaved parents, siblings, grandparents, and close family members who are going through the natural grieving process following the death of a child of any age (from pre-birth to adult) from any cause.
TCF resources include:
- Grief materials and information for the newly bereaved
- A meeting locator tool to help you find a chapter near you
- An online support community and live chats
- A downloadable, online magazine
- A comprehensive list of similar nonprofit organizations
Complex Care at Home for Children
The Complex Care at Home for Children website aims to provide an educational resource for parents and caregivers of children with medical complexity. The site offers information and tools to help facilitate daily care, ensuring a safe environment for the child and family. Topics include:
- Tracheostomy and other types of respiratory care
- Peritoneal dialysis
- Enterostomy care
- Enteral nutrition
- Parenteral nutrition
- Intravenous antibiotic therapy
- Intermittent bladder catheterization
Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS)
Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS) serves youth ages 11 to 17 who are involved in the legal system or at risk of crisis (homelessness, etc.). CCBY provides programs to help stabilize families and prevent or minimize involvement in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. Anyone can request services for an eligible youth, including the youth.
CCBY services include:
- Assessments
- Statewide 24/7 crisis intervention services
- Juvenile justice system intervention services
- Placement services for crisis youth – shelter, foster care, etc.
You can contact the toll-free CCBYS Information Line at (877) 870-2663.
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) Fact Sheets and Articles
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are conditions that are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides fact sheets, articles, patient stories and more to help you understand CHDs and their affect across the lifespan.
Congenital Heart Disease Information and Resources
The American Heart Association provides information and resources on congenital heart disease (CHDs). It includes details on common types of heart defects, understanding risks, symptoms, the diagnostic process, care and treatment, personal stories, and tools and resources for families.
The page also includes an animated video from the American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation to help parents navigate difficult conversations with siblings (and other young family members) of children with CHDs. The video aims to help siblings and young people better understand how they can support a loved one living with congenital heart disease.
Conquering CHD provides awareness, knowledge, community and research to conquer congenital heart disease and defects (CHDs).
The Conquering CHD website includes resources to help patients and caregivers understand CHDs from childhood through the teen years and adulthood.