Family Support Resources
Illinois Respite Services and Providers List
Respite is a service providing a temporary break between the family caregiver and the care recipient. Illinois offers a variety of respite services for eligible families and individuals.
Illinois Life Span (ILS), a program of The Arc of Illinois, provides fact sheets, information and a listing of respite services/providers currently funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities. The current listing may be found on their website.
Illinois Spina Bifida Association
The Illinois Spina Bifida Association (ISBA) works to improve the quality of life of children, adults and families with spina bifida. ISBA works to accomplish its mission by:
- Promoting skills development and independence
- Supporting individuals and families through outreach, education and advocacy
- Investing in people by funding scholarships, mobility equipment, research and emergency help
For more information or to participate in these programs, visit ISBA’s website or call (773) 444-0305.
Illinois Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call, text or chat live with the Illinois Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at (877) 863-6338 (877-TO END DV).
The Hotline provides crisis intervention and referrals to an emergency situation and support services to victims who are in an abusive relationship. In addition, Hotline advocates can provide information and resources to concerned family and friends.
The Hotline is confidential, available 24 hours a day and can help you no matter what language you speak. More information about the hotline and other Illinois resources is available on the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence website.
Illinois Unidos – Advocating for Latinx Families
Illinois Unidos provides a collection of resources developed for and focusing on Latinx families to address:
- Frequently asked questions regarding vaccinations and mitigation measures
- Accessing health, economic and mental health community services
- The devastating economic impact of COVID-19
Illinois Unidos is a consortium of more than 150 Latino elected and appointed officials, health professionals and representatives of community-based organizations.
Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living (IVCIL) in Spring Valley
The Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living (IVCIL) serves individuals with disabilities and their families living in LaSalle, Marshall, Bureau, Putnam, and Stark counties. Located in Spring Valley, IVCIL provides services and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities to choose what is best for themselves and their families.
IVCIL also provides community grants. Individuals and agencies can apply year-round. Other IVCIL programs and services include:
- Independent living and community services
- Youth and transition services
- Peer counseling
- Personal assistant program
- Site accessibility assessments
If you or one of your family members has mental health and/or substance use challenges and would like to receive support by phone, call the Illinois Warm Line at (866) 359-7953.
Wellness support specialists are professionals who have experienced mental health and/or substance use recovery in their own lives. They are trained in recovery support, mentoring and advocacy.
The Illinois Warm Line is not a crisis hotline, but is a source of support as you recover or help a family member to recover. Illinois Warm Line hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) also provides a list of state and national helplines offering someone to talk to or help during a crisis.
Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana
Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana (ISCU) provides a welcoming hand and a variety of resources to help immigrant families build success. ISCU partners with over 45 faith-based, university and community groups and hundreds of individuals from across the greater Champaign-Urbana area. Help includes food, family liaisons and community guides, English-as-a-second-language classes, legal assistance and more depending on the families’ needs.
ISCU programs and services include:
- Case management
- Transportation to medical and legal appointments
- The New Beginnings Assistance Program offering gently used furniture and household items
- Community Health Program providing referrals, outreach events and health awareness
Institute on Disability and Human Development
The Institute is dedicated to promoting the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)’s Resiliency Toolkit is a collection of resources designed to foster safe and healthy school climates. In response to the growing mental health challenges that Illinois youth face, this toolkit offers developmentally appropriate tools to help students, parents, caregivers and school personnel build the resilience necessary to thrive.
ISBE’s Resiliency Toolkit topics include:
- Mental health
- Discrimination and harassment
- Preventing and addressing bullying
- Substance use prevention and more
It Gets Better Project – LGBTQ+ Youth Local and Global Resources
The It Gets Better Project’s mission is to to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth around the globe. The It Gets Better Project offers LGBTQ+ youth on- and offline resources that include events, local community service providers that can provide on-the-ground assistance and thousands of stories as told by members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. The It Gets Better Project also provides educational materials and resources for teachers and student leaders.