Peoria County Resources
Peoria County Resources
Child Care and Education
SAL Community Services' Child Care Connection of Central Illinois: Child Care Connection (CCC) and Child Care Resource and Referral of Midwestern Illinois (CCRRMI) are "sister programs" funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services to support families needing quality, affordable child care and to assist licensed and license-exempt child care centers and homes in Illinois with meeting quality standards. CCC serves the nine-county area surrounding Peoria, IL, and CCRR works with the seven counties surrounding the Illinois Quad Cities area. Both programs offer databases of all licensed and license-exempt child care options for parents, and both work with famlies who apply for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Quality Teams at both locations offer support and resources for child care providers, to make sure they have what they need to provide high quality early care and education services. By hosting training sessions and conferences, collaborating with community organizations, and issuing Quality Grants to providers who qualify, both programs ensure communities are caring for and teaching children so they are prepared for success in school.
SAL Community Services' Home Child Care Network: SAL's Home Child Care Network (HCCN) was started in 1996 to support families needing non-traditional hours of child care (1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts, weekends, holidays). HCCN works with licensed family child care providers to offer free support, supplies, and training resources so children in a home setting receive the same high quality care as children in center-based programs. HCCN offers free consultation and support to licensed family child care homes serving Illinoid families in 16 counties in Illinois and Scott County, Iowa, from the Quad Cities to central Illinois. HCCN Coordinators provide curriculum, CPR/First Aid training, professional development opportunities, assistance with the ExceleRate Illinois quality rating system application process, and one-on-one coaching on a variety of early childhood development topics. With this help, licensed family child care providers further their businesses while supporting the needs and education of children. HCCN Coordinators also work with parents/guardians needing child care on Child Care Assistance Program application processes and make referrals to the high quality licensed homes in the Network to best meet families' needs.
Child Welfare and Youth Programs/Extracurriculars
Children's Home Association of Illinois: The Children’s Home Association of Illinois provides community support services to at-risk youth, the people who love and care for them, and the people who no longer can. Services/Programs: Prenatal and postpartum services; leadership programs for youth; crisis intervention for at-risk youth; Mental Health Juvenile Justice (MHJJ) program; Academy for Autism; school-based therapy; in-home therapy; Family Based Intervention (FBI); Intensive Placement Services (IPS); Family Support Programs (FSP); Mobile Crisis Response (MCR); Supervised Independent Living program (SILP); Professional development for childhood caregivers.
Tri-County Peoria Urban League: Therapeutic supervised visitations for children in foster care; family habilitation; Teens Organized for Pride and Success (TOPS). Free GED courses and exam; parent education classes. After-school tutoring; Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP); Community Technology Center (CTC).
Crittenton Centers: Crittenton Centers has been serving Peoria and all of central Illinois since 1892. Originally conceived as a maternity home for unwed mothers, the agency has evolved into a multi-service, multi-million dollar not-for-profit (501c3) child welfare organization. We serve a diverse population of children, adolescents, young adults and parents. Crittenton is a service provider for several code Departments of the State of Illinois including the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and the Illinois State Board of Education.
George Washington Carver Community Center: The George Washington Carver Community Center will be one of our country’s most dynamic and engaged one stop shop community centers, creating opportunities and experiences that are essential for individuals and communities to grow and thrive in every aspect of their existence. Mission: To engage in such recreational, educational, health, social, and civic activities which help foster and improve the character, desires and ambitions of all persons and of all ages.
Southside Community Center: Faith-based organization offering youth and parenting programs.
Disability Services
Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services (IDHS Rehabilitation Services): IDHS's Division of Rehabilitation Services is the state's lead agency serving individuals with disabilities. DRS works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to assist them in making informed choices to achieve full community participation through employment, education, and independent living opportunities.
Free Food / Items / Services
Dream Center Peoria: Crisis support for families experiencing homelessness; after-school programming and summer camp, vocational courses, The Hope Store – free clothing and household items.
Riverside Community Church - Fridge: Community Fridge that provides free food for anyone who needs it.
Peoria Area Food Bank: Food bank serving Peoria, Illinois.
East Bluff Community Center: Food pantry, community garden. Free evening youth program, free summer basketball league, Boys & Girls Club after-school program, Boxing Club, Girl Scouts Troop, art guild classes and camps.
Heart of Illinois United Way 211: This site offers referrals to resources for families including food, healthcare, housing, and utilities in Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties in Illinois.
Rental / Utility Assistance
Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity (PCCEO): Services Include Rental/Mortgage Assistance, Water Bill Assistance, Energy Assistance, Food Voucher Assistance, Food Bank, Prescription Vouchers, Telephone Assistance, Disinfectant/Cleaning Supplies, and Diaper Voucher Assistance.