Family Support Resources
The Special Needs Mom Squad is a non-profit organization based in Lombard. It aims to provide a safe and supportive community where moms of children with special needs can connect, access resources and find emotional and mental support.
The organization helps moms and families through:
- Sensory-friendly events throughout the year
- A safe space where moms can share their stories and feel heard
- Information and resources for understanding their child’s condition
Special Needs Resource Project
The Special Needs Resource Project provides a basic guide for parents of children with chronic health issues, disabilities, and special needs.
Trained volunteer parents listen, offer support, and help you problem-solve. Available 10:00am – 10:00pm every day. Visit the website or call (888) 727-5889.
This site has been created for teens with chronic and life threatening medical conditions, and their siblings. The goal of the site is to help teens connect with other youth like themselves.
State of Illinois Deaf & Hard of Hearing Commission
Provides information for those who are deaf or hard of hearing or for those who need information about this population.
Stepping Stones Bereavement Camp for Children in Eureka, Missouri
BJC Hospice hosts Stepping Stones Bereavement Camp each year for children and teens who have experienced the death of a family member or close friend. The weekend-long, overnight camp provides a safe place for campers ages 6 to 15 to explore their grief and emotions.
The camp usually takes place in August and is free for all children who have lost loved ones, not just families served by BJC Hospice (service areas include Macoupin, Montgomery, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Fayette, Clinton, St. Clair, Monroe, Calhoun, Marion, Greene and portions of Pike and Perry counties).
Stress and Coping Skills Resources
If left unmanaged, stress can negatively impact our physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, work, and many other things in our lives. To effectively manage stress, one must identify the stressor and take active steps to reduce the impact of the stressor by using effective and individualized coping tools.
Illinois Extension provides this list of resources to help reduce stress and enhance coping skills.
Strong Family Alliance’s mission is to save lives and preserve families by helping children come out and parents become informed supporters and allies.
The alliance strives to give parents and LGBTQ people accurate information, insights on this challenging transition for both parents and children, ways to keep LGBTQ children safe and healthy, and encouragement for parents to lead with love and solve problems over time. Its website includes parent guides and resources.
Summer EBT “SUN Bucks” and Summer Meal Sites
Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) or SUN Bucks is a nutrition program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Illinois families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 for each eligible child to purchase groceries for their household. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) will provide EBT benefits at the end of August or beginning of September 2024.
See the Summer EBT/SUN Bucks Fact Sheet in English or la EBT de verano/SUN Bucks Fact Sheet in Spanish to learn more.
Your school can help you with basic questions about Summer EBT. Households should visit the IDHS Summer EBT webpage for more information.
The Illinois State Board of Education also partners with the Illinois Hunger Coalition and No Kid Hungry to operate the Summer Food Service Program hotline and text service. To find summer meal sites:
- Call (800) 359-2163
- Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 304-304
- View the USDA Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder or Summer Meals Find Food Map to find nearby meal sites open to all children and youth ages 18 and younger
The Sunshine Foundation helps make dreams come true for children ages 3 to 18 who have severe or profound illnesses or conditions. Referrals can come from anywhere in the United States for children with severe or profound physical/developmental/intellectual challenges or trauma from physical/sexual abuse and whose families have limited income.
Dream requests can include:
- Staying at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village and visiting area theme parks and attractions
- Funding towards a special gift or item of interest
- Funding towards medical or adaptive equipment that insurance may not cover