The Info Line provides free, confidential information and referral services for residents in Winnebago County. If you are a low income family, there are specialists who can help you find the resources you need. There are many resources available to help families in need, such as vouchers or free day care for their children, help with heating bills, job training, or applications to government assistance programs.
Head Start is a program that provides educational support for children. This program provides social services and preschool education for three- and four-year-old children and their families. This Winnebago County resource is designed to help people improve their social, emotional, mental and physical growth.
The Head Start program believes that parents are the biggest influence in their child’s life and helps kids from all around Winnebago County to be ready for kindergarten and later grades. This service provides nutritious meals to children who are referred by the Info Line, and parents are encouraged to participate in the meals.
In addition to receiving an education, all of the hundreds of children enrolled in Head Start also receive dental, health and developmental screenings. The Info Line team can also help applicants find other clinics for their needs. If necessary, the entire family, including parents, can get help from community resources such as housing or financial aid programs.
Info Line also provides family services. Support is provided during times of crisis, and staff help parents achieve family and/or personal goals. Head Start is a free program for qualified families that is funded by state of Illinois and federal grants.
The office provides information and applications for the Food Stamps program as well as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training. The Winnebago County Info Line Support services helps people who receive this federal government benefit to get food for their families and achieve their goal of being self-sufficient.
The EBT card can help a family pay for groceries, and additional support is provided through case management from local agencies. This will help the client improve their income and financial situation.
The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program offers temporary financial assistance and services to help people relocate and stabilize their housing situation. It can help with expenses related to housing, like rent, utility bills, deposits, and more. The Info Line provides information about programs that can help with heating bills, especially for families who are living in or near poverty. This service is for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
This means that the people who need help the most and who are most likely to be successful in maintaining housing are the priority for receiving help from the partners. This means that eligible households must have an income that is 50% or less of the median income for the county, or they must meet certain poverty guidelines.
The Winnebago County Illinois Women, Infants and Children program provides referrals to Free Pediatric Oral Health Care. This is for children from families who cannot afford or do not have health insurance. If you don’t take care of your teeth properly, it can lead to more serious health problems.
Parents that use Info Line Support services can learn how to properly take care of their children’s oral health. You can learn about resources for screening and treatment for infants and very young children.
If you are struggling to parent, Info Line Support Services can give you referrals to parenting classes. They also have separate childcare services, like vouchers to pay for daycare. The funding for these depend on federal government vouchers. The same topics are covered in both the children’s and parents’ classes to help build a stronger, more stable family unit.
The support services department at Winnebago County Info Line tries to place clients into shelters, transitional and supportive housing units. There are places for different types of people to go, like old people, single mothers, and people who used to be homeless. The independent living options allow families to get the services they need.
The following may be available for those who move into their own apartments: The tenant can access various forms of assistance, such as affordable childcare, budgeting workshops, transportation, debt reduction services, and heating bill assistance. Additionally, the tenant can take advantage of other life-skills classes. Winnebago County also provides seniors with local transportation to the doctor or pharmacy. This program provides affordable housing which will help reduce homelessness. We offer this service in partnership with various apartment complexes and property management companies in the area.
One of the goals of Info Line’s financial literacy program is to help people improve their quality of life. Families will learn effective cash management skills from specialists and counselors at non-profit agencies. This will help them budget their money, improve their bill paying practices, and help them have a stable financial situation.
The participants will learn how the habits they have or can improve will impact their quality of life. The sessions will help the person improve their credit scores, which can lead to employment and many other benefits. The participants will also find information on debt management plans (DMP) and other services available in Winnebago County.
For more information on programs and free referrals in Winnebago County Illinois, call 1-888-865-9903.