Caregiver Training & Support Program

This caregiver training program is a grant-funded community initiative supported by the Illinois Department of Public Health through a Latino Mental Health Outreach grant. The program was developed to support families who currently do not have access to behavioral or mental health services outside of the school system, with a specific focus on serving Latino families in the community.

At its core, this program is designed to partner with caregivers—meeting families where they are and building on their strengths. While the current grant prioritizes Latino families, the caregiver training model is also supported through University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and families or community partners are encouraged to reach out if they are interested in learning more or exploring access options.

Acceptance and Commitment Training

One major component of the training is grounded in Contextual Behavioral Science, which focus on helping people better understand and relate to their own experiences, stress, and values. This portion of the program supports caregivers in:

• Exploring how they see themselves in their role as a caregiver

• Reflecting on perceptions of their child and their child’s needs

• Reducing caregiver stress and burnout

• Building flexibility, self-compassion, and confidence in day-to-day parenting

The goal is to help caregivers create more comfortable, inclusive, and supportive environments that are led by the child, honoring each child’s individuality while strengthening the caregiver–child relationship.

Behavioral Skills Training for Everyday Moments

Alongside the reflective and values-based work, the program also includes practical behavioral skills training. Caregivers learn concrete, evidence-informed strategies they can use in real-life situations to promote:

• Safety and emotional regulation

• Predictability and comfort

• Skill development and independence

• Positive, supportive interactions

These strategies are designed to be realistic, culturally responsive, and adaptable to the routines and contexts families already have in place.

Community-Centered and Accessible

This program emphasizes access, collaboration, and respect for lived experience. Services are offered at no cost to participating families through the grant, and the training is intentionally structured to be supportive rather than prescriptive. Caregivers are viewed as experts on their own children, with the program serving as a resource and partner—not a replacement for community voice or family leadership.

If you are a caregiver, educator, or community organization interested in learning more about this training or exploring whether it may be a good fit, we encourage you to reach out to our team for additional information.

Check out our website supporting this work to share resources within the Chicagoland area community members.

Our publications related to caregiver support