Almost Home Kids provides transitional care in a home-like setting to children with complicated health needs (cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, etc.), training for their families and respite care. This grant funds AHK’s Medical Education Program which teaches the management of this type of complex child care to medical students, residents, fellows and practicing doctors in the community. The primary goal is to prepare tomorrow’s medical community with the knowledge, skills and attitude to allow them to competently serve a vulnerable population.

CASA DuPage County is a non-profit, volunteer organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the Juvenile Court system. Funding supports a new program assisting the county’s probate court in cases where an individual is seeking guardianship of a minor. This program provides value in that the advocate investigates and gives the court timely, critical information when making decisions about a child’s placement. Without the volunteer advocates, the judge would appoint a Guardian ad Litem whose fees would need to be paid by the parties.

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.

The Rice Center offers high-level treatment and programming for extremely vulnerable children who, as a result of child abuse and neglect, are in need of 24 hour care. The Family Support Initiative will strengthen long-term outcomes for kids by providing intentional, dedicated support for children, and their families, from the moment a child enters treatment to their transition into a loving family.

ChildServ’s Military Therapy program provides therapy for veterans and their families. The services compliment the Department of Veterans Affairs services by concentrating on therapy needs the VA does not cover. This includes serving children, significant others, siblings, and parents as well as veterans with less-than-honorable discharges, Reservists and National Guard members. ChildServ therapists have received extensive competency training in issues affecting the veteran population and provide therapy for families impacted by trauma associated with military service.

Charlie’s Gift Center for Autism and Related Disorders provides a family-centered, team approach dedicated to personalized care and treatment. The center services 100 children and their families annually through personalized support plans, individual and group therapy and social communication sessions. The Oberweiler Grant pays for the approximately 40% of programming expenses not covered by insurance.

Second year of a two year grant. Green City Market (GCM) was founded on a mission to improve the health of local communities. Manierre Elementary School is located in Old Town and 97% of its families are considered low income. While there is a grocery store in the neighborhood, spending money on healthy food is out of the reach of most of these families. The Edible Education Program is a new offering for GCM and seeks to move students at risk for illness/lack of nutrition to a place of food security and confidence through a school garden; education about nutrition and sustainability; and Family Nights Out. This program will not only provide healthy food in each cooking class but will teach over 100 sixth through eighth grade students and ultimately families, how to grow healthy food in their school and at their homes. This access to food and knowledge about how to become more self-reliant for their food needs will empower them for life.

Make-A-Wish serves a unique, and vital, role in helping strengthen and empower children battling critical illnesses. This grant funds a wish for Kayli, age 7 from Pendleton, Indiana. Despite fighting Chronic Lung Disease, Kayli continues to be a happy, funny, 7-year-old. Her heartfelt wish is to go to Disney World so she can meet Minnie Mouse and see Cinderella’s castle

Shelter’s mission is to help and protect children who are abused, neglected, or dependent by providing 24-hour emergency and longer-term care. The Fund covers the cost of critical and immediate health needs for adolescents who are uninsured and unable to access private or state health insurance. These children are provided with additional medical visits, dental visits, prescription medications, glasses, and medical equipment that the children would not otherwise have available to them. The Shelter also provides for health screenings and physicals necessary to detect health problems.

A human services agency serving central Kane County, Tri-city Family Services is dedicated to strengthening people and building community through quality affordable counseling, youth crisis intervention, prevention and early intervention services promoting sound mental health and family functioning.

Turning Point’s mission is to confront violence against women and children in McHenry County. This grant supports children and adolescents who have witnessed or experienced first-hand the devastating trauma of domestic violence. Turning Point provides 24-hour crisis intervention; response and stabilization; individual counseling; mental health therapy; emergency secure shelter; a support group for teens; and a preventative anti-violence program