Chicago Department of Family and Support Services

08/24/2026

Assistance is NOW AVAILABLE to Chicago residents impacted by recent summer storms, through the CSBG Disaster Relief Program! ⛈️🛒

If your household experienced a power outage this summer, you may qualify for one-time financial assistance to help replace spoiled, perishable food.

What Assistance is Available?

✨ A $150 Visa Grocery Gift Card (one-time benefit).

Who Is Eligible?

✨ City of Chicago residents.
✨ Households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level guidelines.
✨ Applicants who can show proof from ComEd verifying an extended power outage of two (2) consecutive days or more caused by severe weather this summer.

How to Apply:

✨ Contact one of the six DFSS Community Service Centers (CSC) to apply.
✨ Appointments are strongly encouraged to ensure staff availability. Call your preferred center ahead of time to confirm availability and schedule a time.

📍 Find Center Locations & Info: Chi.gov/CSC
📞 Call for Questions: 312-743-0300

08/24/2026

We hosted Chicago's Largest Playdate in Humboldt Park because we understand that Chicago's families need early childhood support year-round. From arts and crafts to early childhood education resources, Chicago's Largest Playdate celebrates our city's youngest learners, their families, and their support systems.

08/20/2026

08/18/2026

🌟 Protecting the Sacred: DFSS Pre-Service Conference Recap

What an empowering three days at the annual DFSS Pre-Service Conference: Safe Minds, Secure Futures: Building a Resilient Workforce!

A huge thank you to all the early childhood education professionals—teachers, administrators, home visitors, and support staff—who joined us for an event program packed with opportunities to grow in their professions, learn from one another, and continue improving the learning experiences they provide Chicago’s youngest children. And a special shoutout to the DFSS Children Services Division for orchestrating an incredible event and driving impactful work all year long!

Our conference theme this year centered around resilience in the workforce for a reason. The Johnson Administration (Chicago Mayor's Office) understands that strengthening early childhood education begins with strengthening the people who make it possible. As many Chicago families navigate economic uncertainty and the loss of critical supports, early learning providers provide a vital service. The City’s investments into pay parity for early learning workers and professional development opportunities like the DFSS Pre-Service Conference help equip our early learning providers with the resources and tools they need to set our youngest Chicagoans up for bright futures.

As DFSS Commissioner Angela Green shared during the conference:

"Childhood is sacred. Children only get one childhood, and the experiences they have during those earliest years can shape how they see themselves... As adults, administrators, and educators, we have both the privilege and the responsibility to protect that time, nurture their potential, and create the conditions that allow every child to flourish."

Thank you to our dedicated ECE workforce for giving so much of yourselves to Chicago's youngest learners and their families. Here’s to a resilient, supportive, and impactful school year ahead! 💙✨

08/18/2026

Investing in Stability & Hope for Chicago’s Youth 🏠✨

DFSS was proud to join Mayor Brandon Johnson (Chicago Mayor's Office), 26th Ward Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, the Chicago Department of Housing (DOH), and community leaders to break ground on La Casa Norte’s North Hotel in Humboldt Park!

This new non-congregate shelter will provide 40 private rooms—each with an en-suite bathroom and kitchenette—and 24/7 comprehensive support services for youth ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness.

From site selection to acquisition, DFSS worked closely with DOH, La Casa Norte, and our trusted partners at IFF, who continue to lend vital expertise across our citywide shelter renovation projects.

"This work is about much more than providing a roof over one’s head. It will create a foundation for stability, connection, and hope among young Chicagoans experiencing homelessness." — DFSS Commissioner Angela Green

Together, we remain committed to dignity, privacy, and long-term stability for Chicago’s most vulnerable residents. 💙

08/14/2026

📢 LEGAL JUSTICE FUND – LEGAL SERVICES RFP OPPORTUNITY 📢

The City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) is pleased to announce the release of the Legal Justice Fund (LJF) – Legal Services RFP.

DFSS is seeking proposals from qualified community organizations to provide free legal services, including consultation, direct representation, expungement, and record sealing services, to system-impacted youth and adults in Chicago.

Having a criminal record creates significant hurdles to rebuilding lives and gaining stability. The goal of the Legal Justice Fund is to ensure that Chicagoans have access to vital legal aid and education that help remove barriers to employment, housing, education, and other collateral consequences of an arrest, charge, or conviction.

(📌 Note: A separate RFP for Legal Justice Fund – Outreach & Education (Solicitation #74291) has also been released. Interested agencies are eligible to apply for one or both RFPs.)

💻 Register for August 18 pre-proposal webinar here: tinyurl.com/3xccj5k9

For more information, please refer to the application posted on the City of Chicago’s eProcurement page under current bids:

www.cityofchicago.org/eProcurement
Solicitation #67249
Deadline: September 9, 2026
Learn more: tinyurl.com/2w2jf59s