Erie Family Health Centers is a 501(c)(3) community health center, healthcare home, and human services provider to nearly 92,000 patients who are served in Chicago and the northern suburbs, including Highland Park and Highwood. Motivated by the belief that healthcare is a human right, Erie provides high quality, affordable care to support healthier people, families and communities. HPCF’s grant funding supports the human services Erie provides to low-income residents of Highland Park and Highwood through its Social Drivers of Health program, which provides wraparound supports or referrals for needs such as food assistance, transportation to/from medical appointments (Uber rides), and baby items like car seats, diapers, and pack-n-plays to support healthy babies and families.

Family Service of Glencoe (FSG) addresses individual and family needs for residents of Glencoe as well as residents of nearby communities including Highland Park and Highwood. FSG fulfils its mission a number of ways to effectively meet the needs of the community. These include the administration of individual and family counseling, case management, consultations, and 24/7 on-call crisis response support.

GPF Foundation supports education, appropriate treatment and overall awareness of the dangers related to recreational drugs. Through its education initiative, which the HPCF supports, GPF delivers to high school students research-based, interactive multi-media presentations about the risks of recreational drug use.

Gratitude Generation (G2) is a nonprofit organization that encourages the volunteer efforts of children and families with a special emphasis on cultivating community leadership in children. Founded in 2018, G2 initiates community service projects and also partners with existing, local nonprofit organizations, providing volunteers and donations to support their efforts. HPCF’s grant funding will be used to purchase supplies for inclusion in 4 Your Care Kits that will consist of toiletries needed for basic hygiene, including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant. These items can be expensive, particularly for residents without access to transportation or low-cost retailers. Additionally, toiletries cannot be distributed by organizations that are receiving federal funding to give out food aid; however, there is a great need for personal care items along with food. This program seeks to fill that gap by partnering with Northern Illinois Food Bank to distribute the personal-care kits to the families who most need them. The kits are assembled by g2 volunteers at special events, allowing kids and adults to participate in their projects. The volunteers are also invited to the NIFB distribution event(s) where the kits are handed out.

Highland Park After Prom was created to promote the safety and well-being of HPHS students. After Prom is a fun, substance-free, late-night celebration for the entire graduating class. All HPHS seniors and their prom dates are included as well as seniors not attending prom. HPCF’s grant will help support After Prom 2025.

HODC is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating quality affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and local workers. By offering rental units at prices affordable to people making less than $40,000 per year, HODC works to overcome the obstacle of access to opportunity. As part of its property management department, HODC offers supportive services for tenants who are seniors or living with a disability in which service coordinators connect them with community resources that support independent living, empowering them to stay stably housed. HPCF’s grant supports Service Coordination for Highland Park and Highwood low-income individuals and families living in Sunset Woods and Hyacinth Place, two of HODC’s affordable rental properties.

Response for Teens (Response), part of JCFS Chicago’s family of services, aims to support young people, ages 9-25, and their families, empowering them to make healthy choices in all areas of their lives. With the support of HPCF funding and through a partnership with Highland Park High School, students receive individual, crisis, and group counseling and support from a JCFS clinician on-site at the Drop-In Center at the high school to help them navigate issues such as academic and social difficulties; questions about identity; depression and anxiety; eating disorders; healthy relationships; divorce in their families; and other challenging situations.

Josselyn provides affordable, high-quality psychiatric & mental health services for local youth and adults, including low-income residents who are underinsured, uninsured, or rely on Medicaid. With the HPCF’s funding, Josselyn is able to close gaps to care. Josselyn’s affordable outpatient mental health services provide Highland Park and Highwood residents of all ages access to therapy, psychiatric services, support groups, art therapy, employment support, and Camp Neeka, a therapeutic summer day camp for children 8-12. Josselyn removes barriers to mental health care for Highland Park and Highwood residents, so that income, cultural barriers, and ability to access appointments after the work or school day do not keep anyone from mental health treatment.

Keeping Families Covered provides diapers and other basic needs to families. They distribute items through community partners and direct to client service. They operate an on-site diaper bank and a mobile diaper pantry that visits 5 locations, one of which is Highwood, multiple times each month. Insofar as diapers are not covered by safety net programs, Keeping Families Covered help to fill the gap.

Kids Rank provides military children with a sense of stability through interactive group learning experiences and community service. Its Cornerstone Pride Program provides military children with safe spaces and social emotion skills to foster authentic connections with other military children and supportive adults, compassionate leadership, and service to their communities. Programming is based in groups of ten to twelve children, called Prides, that meet once a week during the school year with additional programming opportunities during the summer. The schedule provides children a sense of stability and consistency throughout the year. The Foundation’s funding is used to broaden the access of eligible families to the Kids Rank Pride Program in the Fort Sheridan/Highland Park area.