The Autism Spectrum & Developmental Disorders Resource Center helps families navigate the complex world of services and treatments for children from economically challenged families. Social deficits remain one of the most difficult challenges for children with Autism disorders, especially for those with average or above average cognitive skills. This grant provides scholarships so that these children can participate in the Social Wellness or Social Success Groups which would otherwise be closed to them. (Medicaid will not pay for these social group sessions.)

Research has shown that if children and youth with Autism Spectrum, Disorder (ASD) receive behavioral intervention early in life, there can be significant improvement in their levels of functioning and independence. Sadly, though, many children pass important developmental milestones missing the opportunity for timely intervention that can affect their life trajectory. Alexian Brothers is piloting a Pivotal Response Therapy (PRT) program that reaches children under 4 years of age. Grounded in play and targeting very young children, this ground breaking therapy teaches parents how to observe their children’s behaviors and apply intervention techniques.

Sick and abused children Child Advocacy Program serves sick and abused children who have been removed from their homes due to unsafe living conditions preparatory to entering into the foster care system. While the children have their basic healthcare, food, and clothing needs taken care of, they do not have the necessary extras most kids take for granted. This special needs program provides the additional funding for specialty healthcare such as eye, ear or dental exams; a winter coat, hat, and gloves; resources for school supplies; or, a suitcase to carry their meager belongings and few personal treasures in when they are placed in a foster home.

The Children Achieving Maximum Potential Program (CHAMP teaches “at risk”, poverty stricken children in one of Chicago’s most economically challenged areas (Cabrini Green) how to help themselves by growing food to assist in feeding themselves and others by learning how to work together. The grant provides camp supplies (including healthy meals and snacks) and equipment to help provide for the safe haven of an urban farm in conjunction with after school and summer activities. This camp program allows “at risk” children to explore food production and healthy nutrition while still focusing upon academic achievement through a blend of creative arts, applied science and environmental stewardship. The “farm” has also become a “safe haven” from street gangs that inhabit the area.

Chicago Lights is strategically undertaking initiatives, such as the addition of a solar power system, to decrease operational costs and further increase the self-sufficiency of the Urban Farm through its next five years and beyond. This addition is one aspect of becoming a more environmentally conscious and economically sustainable enterprise. With higher energy costs for the regulation of greenhouse temperatures in the highly variant climate of Chicago, solar power is a crucial next step in meeting the organization’s needs.

Unique recreational, educational, and therapeutic program to help meet the physical, emotional, and social needs of children (7-10 years old) diagnosed with cancer. The grant helps to underwrite room & board, transportation, and program/medical supplies expenses associated with the operation of the camp. Inasmuch as some participants have cognitive issues or disabilities, adaptive equipment is also provided for those campers. These programs help the children to bond with each other, and their supervisors, in a non-hospital setting, challenging them to learn new skills, while providing access to sports, camping, and other activities. The skills, lessons, support, and hope these children gain at camp empowers them as they return home to face the challenges of cancer after learning they are more than cancer patients, they are survivors!

Funding to expand services to sick, abused and neglected children living within the Partner agencies: Dr. Jorge Prieto Family Health Center, Christopher House, Bethel New Life, and Mujeres Latinas En Accion. Financial assistance is offered to families in desperate need of medications, rental assistance, clothing, and other critical items necessary to exist under impoverished conditions.

Grant support for the Have Dreams’ need based Scholarship Fund that enables children with Autism, age 13 and younger, to receive much needed intervention services through the Social, Communication, and Independent Life Skills Program. This program has provided children with Autism the opportunity to build critical skills through classes that address the core deficits of Autism.

This foundation’s mission is to improve the comfort and quality of life for developmentally challenged and/or sick & disabled children with special needs by providing education, therapy and playground equipment, therapy toys, resources, and scholarships for families in need of financial assistance or community support. Grant will fund physical, social, and networking events for special needs children.

This is the seventh year extension of a one-year grant program to support Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Child Nutrition Program, which provides nutritious after school, summer, and weekend meals to food insecure children in northern Illinois. Food insecurity in childhood limits children’s ability to grow and learn to their full potential. During the school year, the food bank sponsors after school meals through CACFP, supplementing the federal school lunch program that many low income children depend on to receive at least one nutritious meal each day. The weekend BackPack Program provides child friendly food for children to prepare at home with their families on the weekend. School Based Food Pantries provide families with children in school with consistent access to food in a familiar place. The Food Bank sponsors summer meals through SFSP at summer youth programs and open sites at parks to ensure that children in low food security communities. Northern Illinois Food Bank serves more than 6,000 children each week through the Child Nutrition Program.

Project HELP is a Child Abuse Prevention Center that empowers parents to create a nurturing environment to enhance children to reach their full potential. The PEC teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors of children in order to lessen the chance of abusive discipline.

The purpose of this Project is to introduce underprivileged children in the agency’s transitional and emergency housing to cultural opportunities, develop children’s social skills in public settings, and promote healthy interactions between mothers and children as well as to promote values such as curiosity, empathy, self-control, and tolerance. The end result of the project will be to break the cycle of abuse, violence and poverty in future generations.