General Resources
Bounce Children’s Foundation is a Chicago area non-profit that aims to transform the lives of chronically ill children and their families, shifting all from surviving to thriving. The foundation serves children from birth to 18 years of age.
Bounce’s free programs aim to build the resilience needed to cope with the ongoing, unexpected setbacks that define chronic illness. Programs include family adventures, education to strengthen vital coping skills, donated tickets to high-demand events, themed care packages for families, access to resources, peer support and more.
For any questions, please email info@BounceChildrensFoundation.org or call (844) 626-8623.
Boyton Street Community Center
Boyton Street Community Center in Marion provides children and their families opportunities for fun, learning, development and building self-esteem. The Center collaborates with local social service agencies to provide a variety of programs and services year-round. Programs at the Boyton Street Community Center include:
- Nutritious meals built around keeping kids fit and healthy
- An after-school program for children and youth in K-12
- Summer art, recreation, reading and tutoring programs
- Special events
For more information or to learn how to enroll in a program, contact the Boyton Street Community Center at (618) 997-1113.
Traveling with a child with medical complexity can be challenging. Brades’ Place provides tips, tools and templates to help parents with children with specialized healthcare needs plan and create memorable family travel experiences.
The site also provides diagnosis resources for certain conditions.
BRIC Foundation (Break, Reinvent, Impact, and Change) is a non-profit company focused on increasing representation in entertainment, gaming, media and tech. BRIC works with leaders across these industries and with government and education partners to create inclusive opportunities for women and underrepresented people to succeed. BRIC Foundation’s student programming includes:
- Summer Internships
- Creative academies
- BRIC Student Communities providing virtual Art Jams and industry speakers
For questions or more information, contact the BRIC Foundation.
Bridgeway provides a wide range of programs for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in west-central and northern Illinois. Bridgeway offers a variety of person-centered programs that focus on greater choice, achieving independence and community participation. Bridgeway programs include:
- Day services
- Adult learning services
- School-based counseling
- Community living and supports
- Employment programs
- Substance use assessments and programs for youth and adults
Brightpoint (formerly Children’s Home & Aid)
Brightpoint provides a wide range of programs statewide to help families and their children navigate challenges and focus on preventing problems before they become life-altering crises. Its programs include:
- Mental health and wellness
- Parenting support and family services
- Early childhood care and education
- Workforce development and youth programs
- Foster care
Learn about specific Brightpoint programs offered in counties throughout Illinois.
You can also send a message to Brightpoint to learn more.
Started as Children’s Home & Aid, Brightpoint Centers are located in Bloomington, Carpentersville, Englewood, Palatine and Schaumburg.
CaringInfo, a program of the National Alliance for Care at Home, provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers to make decisions about serious illness and end-of-life care and services.
The site provides guides and resources about topics including advance directives, palliative care, caregiving and hospice care.
For more information, please use the National Alliance for Care at Home’s online contact form.
CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Information
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information for COVID-19 vaccination administration, storage and handling, reporting and patient education for each specific vaccine at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html.
CDC’s Developmental Milestones for Children
From birth to age 5, your child should reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act and move.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides developmental milestones checklists to help track your child’s development and act early if you have a concern.
The CDC also has a free Milestone Tracker App with photos and videos that illustrate each developmental milestone. You can use the app to track your child’s development and find out what to do if you have concerns.
The Central Illinois Foodbank provides food, raises awareness, and creates solutions to food insecurity in partnership with over 140 agencies across 21 central and southern Illinois counties.
The Central Illinois Food Bank is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information, call (217) 522-4022 or email info@centralillinoisfoodbank.org.