General Resources
Springfield Office of Community Relations Resources
The Springfield Office of Community Relations provides information on where to find help with homelessness, rental and utility assistance, micro-pantries and more.
You can also contact the Springfield Office of Community Relations at (217) 789.2270 or Community.Relations@springfield.il.us
Storyline Online features famous people reading books aloud to kids – no login needed.
STRIVE for Independence offers driver evaluations and training for all ages, disabilities and medical conditions for the Chicagoland area. STRIVE for Independence serves clients with a wide variety of driver rehabilitation needs. Their team of specialists includes occupational therapists, certified driver rehabilitation specialists, and state of Illinois-certified driving instructors (CDI) for adults and teenagers.
Visit the STRIVE for Independence website for more details.
Suburban Cook County Homeless Prevention Call Center
If you need financial assistance with mortgage, rent payments, rent deposits, utility payments or other housing issues, please call the Homeless Prevention Call Center at 1-877-4-Cook-15 (1-877-426-6515).
Listen carefully to the prompts to choose which kind of help you need.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals and snacks to children 18 and under when school is out for the summer.
SFSP meals and snacks are served free at participating program sites. Sites may be located in various settings, including schools, parks, community centers, libraries, apartment complexes, churches and migrant centers.
To find a meal site near you:
- Visit the “We Got You Illinois” Find Food Map or No Kid Hungry’s Free Meals Finder
- Call (800) 359-2163
There is no income requirement to participate in open-site summer meal programs.
Certain summer meal sites, such as camps or closed programs that require an application to participate, may ask about income during the application process.
Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills Tip Sheet
This Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides strategies that are helpful to all children but are particularly helpful for those with limited verbal skills.
IEL offers a wide variety of one-page, easy-to-read tip sheets covering a wide range of topics for parents and teachers of young children.
All tipsheets are available in Spanish and English. Selected tipsheets are available in Polish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French.
Supporting Illinois Brother and Sisters (S.I.B.S.)
Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters (S.I.B.S.) offers support to siblings of individuals with disabilities in Illinois by connecting them with information, networking opportunities, and resources to enhance the quality of life for their entire family.
For questions, please email info@sibsnetwork.org.
Talking with Children During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a tip sheet for caregivers, parents, and teachers on talking with children during infectious disease outbreaks.
SAMHSA’s tip sheet provides information for toddlers to teens and includes:
- Possible reactions
- Talking with children and youth in different age groups
- Supporting children and managing their responses
- Self-care
- More resources
Taller de José is an agency that helps individuals navigate the social services system. It links individuals with a bilingual Compañera/o, or “Companion,” who will listen, identify goals and help find needed services. The organization collaborates with other agencies to provide social services and support, including financial, domestic violence, immigration, counseling, health and legal assistance.
Taller de José serves Cook County residents.
Tazewell County Health Department (TCHD) provides clinics, mental health resources, community services, environmental programs and more to help all residents of Tazewell County make healthy choices and live healthy lives. TCHD provides services in Pekin and Tremont.
The Tazewell County Public Health 2025 Guide to Services provides a downloadable list of services, contact numbers, and when and where the services are offered.