Resource Directory /

Family Support Resources

  • Normal Moments

    Normal Moments supports Chicagoland families with critically ill/medically complex children up to age 17 by providing help with many household and outdoor tasks.  The organization matches volunteers based on the families’ needs, volunteer location and interests. Support includes:

    • In-home help with necessary chores such as house cleaning, laundry, pet care and other errands
    • Outdoor services such as lawn maintenance and snow removal
    • Annual holiday programs

    Note that Normal Moments volunteers may not provide care for dependents. A responsible adult over 18 must be in the house while a volunteer is in the house with children.

  • North West Housing Partnership (NWHP)

    North West Housing Partnership (NWHP) programs cover a broad area of the suburban northwest, west and Chicagoland area. It offers a variety of housing and handyman programs for seniors 60 years and older and people with disabilities, 18 or over, in need of simple repairs in the communities of:

    • Arlington Heights
    • Buffalo Grove
    • Mount Prospect
    • Palatine
    • Rolling Meadows
    • Des Plaines
    • All of Palatine and Wheeling Townships
    • Oak Park Township (including Oak Park and River Forest).

    NWHP also offers:

  • Northeast Community Fund in Decatur

    Northeast Community Fund helps families in the Decatur and Macon County community with food, clothing, household goods and funding for utility payments, obtaining IDs, baby formula and wipes, emergency lodging and prescription medicines. The organization’s food pantry provides monthly food baskets to those in need. It also operates a microfinance program and a program for families to work with a staff member and mentor to achieve short- and long-term goals to move towards self-sufficiency.

  • Northern Illinois Foodbank

    The Northern Illinois Food Bank delivers food and healthy eating services across 13 counties (Boone, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago counties). The Northern Illinois Food Bank provides weekly drive-thru Mobile Markets with free and fresh groceries, an online food pantry, a recipes and nutrition hub, and free economic mobility learning resources.

  • Nourishing Hope in Chicago

    Nourishing Hope helps individuals and families in Chicago by meeting them where they are to overcome barriers. Help includes food programs, trauma-informed mental health counseling in multiple languages, domestic violence support and a wide range of social services. Nourishing Hope offers a choice-based food distribution program that also includes:

    • Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickups through five different food access programs.
    • A home delivery services for people with disabilities, older adults and homebound neighbors.
    • Life-changing social services such as case management, job search support, domestic violence intervention and public benefits assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, healthcare, government forms).

  • Nurse-Family Partnership of Sangamon County

    Nurse-Family Partnership of Sangamon County, provided by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, serves first-time parents in Sangamon County to help improve pregnancy outcomes, child health and development, and economic self-sufficiency.

    Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) creates positive outcomes through nurse home visitors who work with families from pregnancy until the child’s 2nd birthday. Individuals may qualify for NFP of Sangamon County if they are less than 28 weeks pregnant and have financial, social or health risk factors such as:

    • Loss of household income or an inability to pay for living expenses
    • Chronic health condition(s) or mental health concerns
    • Domestic violence
    • Transportation or access to care difficulties

    No proof of income is required for enrollment. Referrals can be made by providers, nurses, community services and individuals by calling (217) 545-0175, emailing  at siunfp@siumed.edu or using IRIS (integrated referral and intake system) or Touch Works “SIU Nurse-Family Partnership”

  • Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation – Ollie’s Branch

    The Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation (OHHF) offers a variety of information, resources and mental health support for families caring for children with pediatric heart conditions and heart disease. OHHF resources include:

    • Free mental health services through Ollie’s Branch. All sessions are completely free regardless of insurance status.
    • Financial support for families whose heart warrior is currently inpatient or has been admitted within three months of the request. OHHF Community Outreach requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and can help with housing, utilities, transportation, medical bills, and more.

    OHHF’s mental health access program is open to heart-warrior families anywhere in Illinois. Financial support requests may come from anywhere in the United States.

  • Opportunities for Access – A Center for Independent Living

    Opportunities for Access – A Center for Independent Living (OFACIL) is a member of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living serving residents of Clay, Clinton, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Hamilton, Jasper, Jefferson, Marion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne and White counties. Offices are located in Mt. Vernon, Carmi and Effingham.

    Programs include:

    • Skills and employment training
    • Support groups and advocacy
    • Housing referral and community reintegration
    • Youth transition and parent training program
    • Adaptive equipment

  • Options & Advocacy for McHenry County

    Options & Advocacy is a service coordination agency that provides information and referrals, screening, evaluation and assessment, service plans, community education and more for children and families in McHenry County. Its programs include:

    • Child and Family Connections Program, an Early Intervention program
    • Autism Resource Center
    • Helping Us Grow (HUG), a home visiting program
    • All Our Kids (AOK) network
    • Sibshops
    • Playgroups

    For more information, visit www.optionsandadvocacy.org/.

  • Oracle Health Foundation

    Oracle Health Foundation’s pediatric grants cover various clinical, equipment, and travel and lodging costs related to children’s healthcare needs. The foundation accepts applications from the United States and through select international providers.

    Funding criteria include that the applicant must be 21 or younger (special consideration given for individuals 22-25 receiving pediatric treatment). You can find more details on the Oracle Health Foundation website on how to request a pediatric grant.