One out of three Rockford area children lives in poverty. This ranks Rockford number one in the state of Illinois for percentage of children living below the poverty line, ahead of even Chicago (according to the 2010 Illinois Kids Count survey). Thankfully, Rockford is rich in community organizations working to meet the various needs of those children and their families. Until now, the problem has been connecting the agencies with the children who need them the most. CAP4Kids Rockford is finally here to provide that connection!
The easy to use www.CAP4Kids.org/Rockford is a readily accessible, up to date website with information about essential pediatric-related service organizations in Winnebago and Boone counties, including information that is difficult to find anywhere else. “With this website, a list of resources to meet a particular child’s needs is just a mouse click away.” stated Dr. Steven A. Schulz, Pediatrician, Crusader Community Health. “It is more than just a listing of agencies. It is organized in a way that makes information not only easy to find, but also easy to use.” CAP4Kids Rockford is intended to be used by parents, teachers, social workers, pediatricians, pastors, or anyone else who works with children in order to help locate resources that might meet a particular child’s needs.
The project has been spearheaded by Dr. Schulz and 17th Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Janet Holmgren, Chair of the ad hoc Prenatal to 6 Committee. This effort involves members of many other community organizations in the region:
• University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford
• Rockford Health Council
• University of Illinois Division of Specialized Care for Children
• Easter Seals
• Youth Services Network
• United Way of the Rock River Valley
• United Way of Boone County
• Early Learning Council
• Rockford College Early Childhood Program
• Actual! Authentic Solutions
• Come Together Rockford
• Rockford Mental Health Association
• City of Rockford Health and Human Services Department
• The Workforce Connection
• Rockford Public Schools District #205
• Hoffman Law Office, Ltd.
• Winnebago County Juvenile Probation
• Rockford Public Library
• Roosevelt University.
“For many years, the lack of a centralized resource containing comprehensive information about service providers and available services for pregnant mothers, families and children through 21 has been identified by those of us who deal with early childhood and juvenile populations as a critical gap and a significant barrier to accessing services in our community. Dr. Schulz and the representatives of all of the organizations who dedicated their time and expertise in making the CAP4Kids Rockford website a reality have performed a tremendous public service for our children and families,” stated Judge Holmgren.
“The ultimate goal of the CAP4Kids Rockford project is to improve the overall health and well-being of Winnebago and Boone County children and their families. This website will organize, coordinate, and empower child-focused community service providers, as well as increase knowledge of and access to services for the families who need them most,” notes Dr. Schulz.
For more information about CAP4Kids/Rockford, visit www.CAP4Kids.org/Rockford or email us at cap4kidsrockford@gmail.com.