The Individual Care Grant is a financial grant provided by the State of Illinois to assist parents or private guardians in paying the costs of residential care for mentally ill children under the age of 21. With approval, the grant may also be utilized to provide in-home supports so the child can remain in his/her home, school and community.

Effective treatment of children and adolescents with mental illness requires a partnership between the families of these children and the various service providers.Service providers include, but are not limited to, the Department of Human Services, the mental health agencies, residential facilities, school districts, park districts, professionals and other private providers.This partnership is based in a value of collaboration and cooperation between all those concerned with the welfare of our children and who provide for them in one or more areas of their life.

The following is a list of services provided by the Individual Care Grant. (ICG)

• Provide families with information that will help in the decision of applying for an Individual Care Grant
• Assist families with the documentation compilation necessary to apply for an ICG
• Assist families in submitting a completed ICG application

The following is a list of eligibility requirements:

• Parent/guardian must be a resident of the State of Illinois
• The child must have a severe mental illness. (A severe mental illness is defined as a mental or emotional disorder which substantially impairs:thought, perception of reality, emotional process, judgment, behavior or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of several life domains.).     

Parents need to call 866-359-7953 (Illinois Collaborative for Access and Choice) to request an application for the Individual Care Grant. When the parents receive the application through the mail, the parents will call Will County Health Department at 815-727-5065 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.) and ask for the SASS Family Resource Developer (FRD).