Specialized Family Support Program

The Specialized Family Support Program (SFSP) is a 90-day program of crisis stabilization, community mental health, and assessment services, developed in response to the Custody Relinquishment Prevention Act (Public Act 98-0808). 

SFSP is a partnership between the Illinois Departments of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Children and Family Services (DCFS), Human Services (DHS), Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Public Health (DPH), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), designed to identify the behavioral health needs of youth at risk of custody relinquishment and to link those youth to the most appropriate clinical services. 

SFSP is an expansion of the Illinois behavioral health crisis response system for youth, jointly utilizing the resources found in the Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS), Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services (CCBYS), and Intensive Placement Stabilization (IPS) programs.    

• SFSP Parent Guide (pdf)
• SFSP Parent Guide (Spanish) (pdf)
• SFSP Parent Agreement (pdf)
• SFSP Parent Agreement (Spanish) (pdf)
• SFSP Multi-Agency Consents to Disclose Information (pdf)
• SFSP Multi-Agency Consent to Disclose Information (Spanish) (pdf)
• SFSP Assessment Report (pdf)

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or you have concerns for their immediate safety, that they may harm themselves or worry that they may require inpatient psychiatric treatment, please contact the CARES line at 1-800-345-9049 to access mobile crisis response services. Services are available 24/7, 365 days a year.

If you need immediate assistance or are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact 911.