Brighter Futures

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is committed to ensuring that all children have safe, loving homes; and that children who come into the department’s care have brighter futures supported by quality services that promote their emotional, academic, social, behavioral, cognitive and physical well-being and development.
 

Service Provider IDentification and Exploration Resource (SPIDER)
The Service Provider IDentification and Exploration Resource (SPIDER) is a free, comprehensive service resource database for youth and families in Illinois. SPIDER connects you to nearby organizations offering programs and services to support children and families, including detailed information on more than 1,700 agencies and over 4,200 social service programs. All agencies and programs are geo-coded to allow you to locate resources near your preferred location.

SPIDER provides detailed information on agencies and programs that offer mental health services, caregiver support, educational advocacy, vocational and employment training, mentoring, enrichment programs like leadership development and after school programs and much more. To begin using SPIDER, click here: spider.dcfs.illinois.gov. To learn more, read the SPIDER brochure in English or en español.

Family Advocacy Centers – Foster Care Alumni Services
Family Advocacy Centers are now accepting referrals for former youth in care under the age of 30. Youth who are aging out may also be referred for after care and will be added to the program upon emancipation. FACs will serve as a one-stop shop for information, connections and support to help alumni maintain stability in the community.

To access a list of Family Advocacy Centers by zip code or your location, visit the Service Provider IDentification and Exploration Resource (SPIDER) website at https://spider.dcfs.illinois.gov/.

• Enter your zip code or an address
• Select “Maximum Distance” from the dropdown
• Click “Locate Address”
• Click on “Keyword”
• Type in “Family Advocacy Center”
• Click “Search” and scroll down to see the listing of FACs nearest you

For more information, read the Alumni Foster Care Services brochure and poster.