The Springfield Community Federation is a clearinghouse for clients seeking referral services and assistance with obtaining these services in the Springfield Community including, but not limited to free on-site HIV testing & counseling, nutrition, health and dental care, child and family welfare, temporary shelter, permanent housing, utility payments and clothing.
SCF Funding
Grant funding to the Springfield Community Federation is provided by:
- Illinois Department of Public Health, Center for Minority Health Services
- Illinois Department of Human Services
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Programs & Services
Funding from these agencies allows the Federation to provide:
- Central IL. HIV testing, outreach and education
- Hosting of local Providers Council forums
- Food voucher programs
- Child abuse prevention and family self – sufficiency initiatives
- Administration of the Front Door program
- Support of Springfield Works program
- Assistance with the Sangamon County Community Resources LIHEAP program
- Membership in the statewide Rescue and Restore Coalition
Read additional information on these programs below.
Providers Council
The Federation’s Providers Council continues to provide opportunities for agencies to network and collaborate across agency lines. The monthly forum provides member agencies with an opportunity to share information and learn of additional resources available for clients in Sangamon County.
Front Door – DHS
Front Door is a DHS program that provides financial assistance through payment for uniforms, car repair, car insurance etc., for TANF eligible families in order to defer them from entering the TANF system. The Federation issues the checks on behalf of DHS. The check turn-around time is immediate.
Community Awareness Event
A “Community Awareness” event is co-sponsored by the Federation in June each year. This event partners the Federation with Serving Jesus Willingly Urban Ministries as well as with numerous social service agencies and St. John’s Hospital to provide free blood pressure screenings, health education, HIV testing, Springfield Police Department canine demonstrations and home safety tips, child abuse prevention awareness, as well as information about services that the Springfield Community Federation and other local organizations provide to the community.
Springfield Works
Springfield Works, a collaboration of private and public community agencies, assists low-paid, low-skilled incumbent workers to self-sufficiency. The group experienced a number of successes and lessons learned, both expected and unexpected, during the first year of this Workforce Development Initiative. With this new knowledge, the Springfield Works Steering Committee and the Director of Workforce Training harnessed that experience to move 24 incumbent workers into the Springfield Works Program during the first quarter of this grant period.
The Federation continues in the capacity of an advisory agency of Springfield Works with other partners including:
- St. John’s Hospital
- The Sangamon County Community Foundation
- The Springfield Urban League
- The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
- Lincoln Land Community College
- National Image, Inc.,
- SPARC
- Trades and Labor Council
- Memorial Health Systems
- Land of Lincoln Workforce Alliance
- Sangamon County Community Resources
- Springfield Clinic
LIHEAP
(Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program)
The Springfield Community Federation works closely with the Sangamon County Community Resources Department to refer individuals to the LIHEAP program. This program provides assistance to clients who need bridge funds to retain utility services in their homes.
Rescue and Restore Coalition, Human Trafficking in Illinois
The Executive Director continues to attend, as a coalition member, the statewide steering committee for the Illinois Rescue and Restore Coalition and assists annually in the greater Springfield area press conference with Illinois Department of Human Services staff and helps coordinate central Illinois anti-trafficking outreach initiatives.
