Free Resources for Army Reserve Military Families in Illinois

Army Reserve families face a unique set of challenges when it comes to balancing their military career, civilian life, and taking care of a family. While it can certainly be difficult, there are a variety of programs and initiatives designed to provide valuable resources, tips, and guidance to help you thrive as part of the Army Reserve community.

While we simply couldn’t fit all of the available resources for Army Reserve families, we wanted to highlight programs that specifically support Army Reservists with children. From Army Reserve childcare options to college-prep tutoring for teens and everything in between, your family is eligible for several initiatives.

Below is a list of organizations that provide free military family support services to Army Reservists across Illinois. Whether you live in the windy city of Chicago or on the farmlands near Decatur, these programs are available at no cost to you.

 

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA

The Boys & Girls Club of America and the U.S. Armed Services have partnered together to provide military-youth free or reduced annual memberships to local Boys and Girls Clubs on or off post across 50 states and 16 countries. Army Reservists in Illinois can take advantage of after-school and summer programs for kids age 6-18. The program aims to provide a sense of community for military kids through arts, games and activities under trained professionals.

Luckily for families living in Illinois, there are 24 Boys & Girls Clubs locations. With several clubs in the Chicagoland area and in smaller towns across the state, you’re likely near a Boys & Girls Club.

 

TUTOR.COM

Have a middle school student struggling with math? A high school student looking for college prep tutoring? Tutor.com and the U.S. Department of Defense Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) General Library Program offers military families, including the Army Reserves no-cost, online tutoring and homework help 24/7. Parent coaching is also available to families at no cost to them. Evidence from various studies, including those conducted by the University of Chicago Education Lab, shows that in-school high-dosage tutoring can lead to significant improvements in student learning outcomes.

 

MILITARY ONESOURCE

Chances are, you’ve heard of Military OneSource, the Defense Department funded program that all military families have access to, no matter if you’re in the Army Reserves, Marines, or anywhere in between. From new military parent resources, spouse employment help, confidential counseling services and a plethora of other programs, Military OneSource is available to provide necessary support when tackling military life.

 

UPWARDS CHILDCARE PROGRAM

Through the Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA), Upwards offers covered childcare for eligible Illinois U.S. Army Reserve during training days. The covered childcare training days include battle assemblies, annual training and emergency deployments for Army Reserve families. All childcare providers in the program are state-licensed, insured and vetted to ensure the safety, wellbeing and development of children while Army Reservists are away at drill. Even if families don’t live in Illinois but drill there, they are still eligible for the program. Those who live or drill in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and now Northern/Central California are also eligible to receive covered childcare.

Getting started with the childcare program is extremely easy. It only takes 2 minutes to fill out the form with some basic questions and you will see your eligibility status right away. An Upwards Care Navigator will reach out to you soon after signing up to get started on finding care options that suit your needs. Some folks prefer the care to be near where they live while others find it near where they are drilling. It’s totally up to you. In addition to flexible locations, the hours fit the nontraditional weekend days. Whether you need care from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. or have a shorter time frame, the Upwards Care Navigators will find you state-licensed, vetted childcare providers near you, completely covered.

 

A LOCAL CHICAGO MOTHER’S EXPERIENCE WITH UPWARDS

“Having childcare in the military is critical. You have to do what is assigned to you and having childcare gives you that peace of mind that you can pack up and do your job as needed”, Chrissa Sutters, E-4 Specialist, U.S. Army Reserves. When signing up for Upwards, Chrissa wanted childcare close to her unit so she could easily drop off and pick up her kids. Throughout her day, the childcare provider sent her updates and photos of her children which was a “huge sense of peace of mind.”

If you know of any Army Reserve families who are struggling to find reliable, vetted childcare for drill or you yourself are having trouble, sign up for the program below. It only takes a few minutes to fill out some basic information and see your eligibility status.

 

To read about more Army Reserve families experiences with the Upwards Army Reserve childcare program, head here.