What is the purpose of this service?
The Department of Human Service partners with crisis nurseries service providers to meet the needs of families who experience short-term crisis. Six nurseries in Illinois currently provide respite and short-term care for some of Illinois most fragile families, many whom experience crisis due to lost employment, medical emergencies, violence, and family dysfunction. The goal of the crisis nursery program is to reduce parental stress, change parenting skills, and reduce the risk of child maltreatment. The families served often need family stabilization, child abuse prevention or other critical support services.
Who can receive these services?
Eligibility for the crisis nursery services is solely based on need. This determination of need relies upon an assessment of the need for services. This is performed either by the referring agency or the crisis nursery.
Families in need of crisis nursery services may access services in a variety of ways. Referrals are accepted from the Department of Children and Family Services, community agencies, schools, social service providers, hospital or medical providers, family and/or friend referrals or by self referral through contacting the crisis nursery directly. There is no cost for crisis nursery services funded by the Donated Funds Initiative program.
What services are offered?
Crisis nursery programs primarily work with families who have children less than six years of age. Programs operate 24 hours a day. While the goal is to provide immediate intervention and short-term care, many of the services extend beyond short-term intervention.
Nursery staff often link families with needed resources, provide follow-up and continue to see families in supportive service programs beyond their initial admission to the nursery. Crisis nursery services include round-the-clock crisis care, children's groups, home visiting, parenting classes, parent support groups, crisis counseling, referral and linkage to after care services, such as long-term child care arrangements, substance abuse services, mental health services, and domestic violence services.
How to apply?
Services are usually secured through referrals from agencies and institutions involved in the situations (employment, medical emergencies, violence, and family dysfunction) leading to the need for services. Individuals can directly seek services from their nearest crisis nursery by contacting them directly at the telephone numbers listed below.
More Information & Resources
Crisis Nursery Providers
