Resource Directory /

Family Support Resources

  • Children’s Craniofacial Association

    Children’s Craniofacial Association (CCA) is a national, nonprofit organization providing resources to empower and give hope to individuals and families affected by craniofacial conditions. CCA resources include:

    • Financial assistance
    • Educational overviews and video library
    • Craniofacial surgery care packages
    • Resources for teachers and parents

    Visit the Children’s Craniofacial Association website for more details.

  • Chinese American Service League

    The Chinese American Service League (CASL) is a nonprofit agency with 40-plus years of experience educating youth, caring for seniors, training the workforce, placing immigrants on the path to citizenship and securing the housing and financial wellbeing for families and individuals in the Chicago Chinese community and beyond.

    CASL has programs centered around children and youth development, senior wellness and independence, employment and financial empowerment, community and family wellbeing, Center for Social Impact and legal services.

  • Claire’s Place Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis Support

    Claire’s Place Foundation is a non-profit organization providing support to children and families affected by cystic fibrosis (CF).

    Its programs are focused on creating a better quality of life for people and their caregivers as well as emergency funding assistance during long hospital stays. Its programs include an Extended Hospital Stay Grant Program and the Support Families and Resources Program.

  • Clearbrook Respite Programs

    Clearbrook’s various respite programs offer an array of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These services are designed to help maintain individuals with developmental disabilities in the individual/family home by providing short-term relief to primary caregivers.

    Clearbrook provides respite services in the following counties: Lee, Dekalb, Stephenson, Winnebago, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Boone, Cook, Lake, Will, Kankakee, Grundy, Kendall, Kane, McHenry and DuPage.

  • Coloring Pages for Caregivers

    UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children has created adult coloring pages to help caregivers relieve stress and practice mindfulness. Four designs are available in English and Spanish:

    Lighthouse (Lighthouse Spanish)

    Sunflowers (Sunflowers Spanish)

    Hot air balloons (Hot air balloons Spanish)

    Gears and clock (Gears and clock Spanish)

  • Comeunity

    ComeUnity is a parent support website with resources on parenting children with special needs, adoption, child development and multiple lists of groups and organizations providing information on specific topics or areas.

    Visit www.comeunity.com/index.html.

  • Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBTQ Teens

    HealthyChildren.org, the parenting website of the American Academy of Pediatrics, provides parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) teens information on understanding, supporting and remembering that each child is unique and will have their own experiences and feelings along the way.

    “Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBTQ Teens” provides help for parents and children navigating the many aspects of acceptance.

     

  • Community Action Agencies

    Community Action Agencies work with local community organizations and non-profit partners to provide assistance to Illinois families with items including:

    • Rental Assistance
    • Food
    • Energy Utility Bill Assistance
    • Water/Sewer Payment
    • Employment Training/Placement
    • Financial Management
    • Temporary Shelter

    This link provides a listing of local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) that can help you find programs in your area.

  • Community Alternatives Unlimited

    Community Alternatives Unlimited (CAU) provides a wide range of services for people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as programs to help economically challenged families with health and wellness during pregnancy and birth.

    CAU provides residents of the city of Chicago (north side), several northern suburbs and Lake County with services and programs that include:

    • Interview for Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS)
    • Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) and determinations for eligibility for services
    • Individual services and supports
    • Connecting new mothers to appropriate medical care, eligible public benefits, support services and community resources
    • Information and referral regarding prenatal care, checkups and immunizations, breastfeeding, infant development, family planning and parenting

  • Community and Residential Services Authority (CRSA)

    The Community and Residential Services Authority (CRSA) is an interagency group that identifies and addresses barriers facing parents, families, professionals and providers trying to get needed services and programs for individuals with a behavior disorder or a severe emotional disturbance. CRSA’s free and confidential services include:

    • Helping agencies, schools and parents form working partnerships using a team approach
    • Addressing/resolving multiple agency disagreements about residential placement or funding of placement and services
    • Assisting local communities in developing and strengthening collaborative interagency networking on request

    You can also call CRSA to connect with a program coordinator who will listen and help you develop a plan of care at (877) 541-2772 or (217) 782-2438.