Illinois Partners for Human Service

08/31/2026

Our Partners at the Protect Our Care Illinois Coalition are hosting a virtual community meeting on September 16th. Register here https://bit.ly/3UqbP7B and share the invitation with people in your networks!

08/24/2026

We are excited to announce offering LCSW, LSW, LCP, and LCPC CEUs to participants who join us for our upcoming dynamic four-part virtual training series: "Building Power in Human Services: Advocacy in Action."!

Ready to strengthen your state-level advocacy skills?

Register here! https://bit.ly/4wzJWY5

08/17/2026

Now more than ever, Human Service professionals need practical skills and tools to advocate for policies that strengthen our communities. Join this virtual training to better understand the legislative process in Illinois, and how your voice - and your organizations - can become a force for solutions rooted in community well-being and power.

Whether you are new to advocacy or looking to deepen your impact, you will gain knowledge and strategies to strengthen your organization's advocacy and shape policies that support Illinois communities.

Register here https://bit.ly/4wzJWY5

08/14/2026

Illinois Partners is proud to be a member of the Save Our SNAP Coalition and to share this message from our partners.

Illinois Partners se enorgullece de ser miembro de la Coalición Salvemos Nuestro Programa SNAP y de compartir este mensaje de nuestros socios.

Have food benefits like SNAP made a difference in your life — or have recent cuts caused hardship? Share your story with us.
🔗 https://saveoursnap.advocacyai.com/action/shareyourstory-geidT

Tu experiencia podría ayudar a proteger la asistencia alimentaria para las familias de todo Illinois. Si tú o alguien que conoces ha tenido dificultades para acceder a la asistencia alimentaria, considera compartir tu historia con nosotros.
🔗 saveoursnap.advocacyai.com/action/shareyourstory-geidT

Please share your story and help make your voice heard, or visit the Save Our SNAP website to learn more and get involved.

Por favor, comparte tu historia y ayuda a que tu voz sea escuchada, o visita el sitio web de Save Our SNAP para obtener más información y participar.

08/10/2026

Student loan defaults are surging and Illinois is feeling the impact. According to reporting by the Associated Press and NBC Chicago, nearly 9.5 million federal student loan borrowers are now in default nationwide, including nearly 20% of borrowers in Illinois. As Protect Borrowers' Aissa Canchola Bañez shared, "Folks are struggling to make ends meet and cover all the rising costs of everything else. The growing student loan bills are making things worse and folks are falling behind."

That's why our coalition continues to advocate for living wages and fully funding the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program - because the people who care for our communities deserve financial stability, too.

Resources:
Illinois Attorney General: Student Loan Debt Assistance: https://bit.ly/45ionQC
Student Loan Borrower Assistance: https://bit.ly/4fX5qbc
Join the Living Wages, Thriving Communities Campaign: https://bit.ly/4xxOX4p

Living Wages, Thriving Communities is advocating for increased state funding for human services and pushing for wage increases for workers in the sector in Illinois. Our campaign engages frontline...

08/06/2026

Please join us in celebrating Adela Carlin as she steps into the role of Interim Executive Director at Illinois Partners for Human Service!

Adela’s dedicated leadership and advocacy experience make her uniquely suited to guide us forward as we continue to champion a strong, thriving human services sector in Illinois. Our team could not be more excited or supportive as we embark on this next chapter under her guidance.

Read Adela’s full letter to our partners here https://bit.ly/4hfIAOk

07/31/2026

After seven remarkable years as Executive Director of Illinois Partners for Human Service, Lauren Wright is embarking on an exciting new journey as the Executive Director of Health & Medicine Policy Research Group.

Thank you, Lauren, for your unwavering leadership and lasting impact on our coalition and communities across Illinois. We are immensely grateful for your dedication, vision, and the lasting mark you’ve made on the human services sector across Illinois.

Join us in wishing Lauren all the best in her next chapter!

Read Lauren’s letter to our partners here: https://bit.ly/4yS90Ms

Read HMPRG’s announcement here: https://bit.ly/4wqFOKJ

06/23/2026

IMPORTANT! If you are using SNAP or have a Link card, the rules have changed. Take action now to make sure your information is up-to-date and confirm that you are meeting new requirements.

Follow the steps at chicagosfoodbank.org

Save Our Snap is here to help! If you have any questions about your case or you are having issues contacting IDHS, please call the Greater Chicago Food Depository's Benefits Specialists at 773-247-3663

06/10/2026

After three years of negotiations, debates, and many committee hearings, Forefront was able to pass our Community Partner Fair Contracting Act alongside our partners Illinois Collaboration on Youth and Illinois Partners for Human Service. We want to thank our legislative sponsors Leader State Representative Dagmara Avelar and State Senator Mike Halpin for their tireless efforts in ensuring this bill passed. More to come on this bill soon!

06/08/2026

Join us for Reframing Aging: Advocacy Through Storytelling!

This interactive training will explore how to use reframing aging strategies to strengthen your advocacy and storytelling, helping shift narratives and influence systems for greater equity and justice. You’ll learn practical, research-based communication tools, hear real-world examples of advocacy campaigns that center older adults, and receive a companion guide to support your work

This training is FREE for all attendees.

Register here https://bit.ly/49HijE2