Children, Youth, and Families

Illinois Cares for Kids connects parents and caregivers with early childhood programs, child care information, developmental resources, family support, and services that promote children’s health, learning, and emotional well-being.

Illinois Action for Children provides early childhood mental health consultation and program support. Its services help child care providers, educators, and families understand and respond to the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of young children.

This Illinois Cares for Kids resource provides information about the social and emotional development of infants and young children. It helps families and caregivers understand early childhood mental health and identify resources that promote healthy relationships and development.

The Illinois Department of Human Services provides information about early childhood programs and resources that support child development, family well-being, child care, and school readiness.

BEACON is an Illinois online portal that helps families locate behavioral health services and support for children and youth. Families can use the portal to identify programs based on a young person’s individual behavioral health needs.

Population served: Children, youth, and families

CARES is Illinois’ mental health crisis response service for eligible children and youth enrolled in Medicaid. It provides crisis screening, support, and referrals to appropriate behavioral health services.

Eligibility: Intended for eligible children and youth enrolled in Illinois Medicaid

Illinois Cares for Kids provides families with information about child development, emotional well-being, education, child care, and community programs.

Pathways to Success helps eligible Medicaid-enrolled children and youth with significant behavioral health needs receive coordinated, home- and community-based services. Families work with care coordinators to develop an individualized plan based on the young person’s strengths and needs.

Eligibility: Program-specific Medicaid and behavioral health eligibility requirements apply

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services provides information for families seeking Medicaid-covered behavioral health services for children and youth. The resource explains available programs and ways families can access support.

BEACON helps parents, guardians, and caregivers search for behavioral health programs and services that may meet the needs of a child or young person.

CARES helps families of eligible Medicaid-enrolled children and youth respond to a mental health crisis by providing screening, support, and referrals.

Illinois Cares for Kids connects parents and caregivers with child development information, early learning programs, emotional wellness resources, and family support services.

Pathways to Success supports eligible children and youth with significant behavioral health needs through coordinated, home- and community-based services. The program also helps families participate in the development of an individualized plan of care.

NAMI Chicago provides mental health education, support, referrals, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions.