An overview of The Hope Institute for Children and Families.

2. Our History
Hope began with a search for specialized services for a beautiful child with many challenges. Hope founders, Dr. and Mrs.
Charles E. Jordan, searched the United States for a place to educate their daughter, Judith Ann, but the supports she needed
to reach her full potential did not exist anywhere. At a time when disability awareness and reform were still decades away, the
Jordans had a vision and took action. In 1957, The Hope School opened its doors in a modest house in Springfield, Illinois - the
Jordan’s own community - to provide support to Judith Ann and other children with multiple disabilities.
Dr. Jordan’s efforts gained the attention of President John F. Kennedy who relied on Dr. Jordan to shape federal policy and reality
for children and adults living with disabilities. The Hope School emerged as a provider of educational and residential services. It
became a place where children facing extraordinary cognitive, physical and emotional challenges could learn and thrive.
Through more than 50 years of innovation, Hope has grown to a statewide organization, serving thousands of families each
year. The Hope Institute for Children and Families is setting the standards for education, treatment and care for children with
multiple disabilities.
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3. What We Do
At Hope, we support children and families to reach optimum growth, independence and joy. We provide an environment in
which children who face multiple disabilities are supported and encouraged. Their success is not measured against that of their
peers, but by the skills and abilities they develop and practice to help prepare them for adulthood.
“I want to thank you all for the wonderful job
“The Hope Institute for Children and Families you have done with my daughter, Carlie. She
is the go-to place for children with autism.” was home for three weeks and the growth she
WICS TV 20, Springfield
had shown was amazing! Thank you again for
Carlie’s Mom
all you have done for her!”
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4. Program Locations
The Hope Institute for Children and Families, Springfield, IL
The main Hope campus is located on 26 wooded acres on the banks of Lake Springfield.
The campus setting includes The Hope School Learning Center; organization-wide
administrative offices; and residential options, including the Nyre Home, a state-of-the-
art living setting.
Hope Institute Learning Academy, Chicago, IL
Hope Institute Learning Academy (HILA) is a unique elementary school that demonstrates
effective inclusion of special needs children in general education classrooms. HILA
opened in the fall of 2009 as a CPS contract school and is located on the near west side
of Chicago.
Noll Medical Pavilion, Springfield, IL
Noll Medical Pavilion is a 51,000-square-foot medical center, located on Springfield’s
south side. Programs housed at Noll include the Hope training program, Noll Vocational
Training Center, Illinois Crisis Prevention Network (ICPN), Noll Dental Clinic, The
Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) Central Office, The Autism Program Clinic at the
Hope Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Division of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry and the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and
Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois. By bringing these partners to one location,
Hope strives to reduce duplication of care, maximize resources and meet the essential
health care needs of children of all abilities.
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5. Residential Services
Hope offers residential opportunities for children with varying Judith Ann Jordan Campus and Community
levels of independence and medical needs through the Judith Ann Residential Programs
Jordan Campus and Community Residential Programs. As a part Depending on a child’s needs, two options exist for
of residential services, children have opportunities for structured living experiences. The Hope campus offers home-like
recreation activities to enhance their living experiences. settings including its newest campus offering - the Nyre
Home. Housing on campus provides the most medically
The Hope Institute is certified by:
and behaviorally fragile students with close proximity to
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services the supports they need. Other students can experience
life in the Springfield community through placement in
• Illinois Department of Human Services
one of our fully staffed, family-style homes in community
• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities neighborhoods.
(CARF)
Therapeutic Recreation Program
Year-round activities are available to residents including
after school, evening and weekend programs designed
to help improve their well-being. Programs include Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts, walk-a-mile club, photography club,
drama club, Special Olympics, summer camp, gardening,
and swimming. Community field trips such as going to
the movies, bowling, or shopping promote independence
and improve life skills. Children also participate in on-
campus events like the talent show, school dances and
holiday parties.
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6. Education
The Hope School Learning Center
The Learning Center provides a special learning environment for children with autism and developmental disabilities, including a
unique way-finding system, visual supports, diffused lighting, sound-absorbing carpet, sensory rooms and separate play areas for
each classroom. The Hope School Learning Center is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education and AdvancED. It offers
a full array of educational services and supports to residential and day students to meet their educational needs and goals. Hope
partners with Springfield School District 186 and Sangamon Area Special Education District (SASED) to provide day students the
flexibility to participate simultaneously at Hope and, with Hope’s support, in their home districts across central Illinois.
Programs:
• Therapeutic Education Program - Services focus on ready-to-learn behaviors, imitation
skills, activities of daily living, self-help skills and functional life skills. As students progress
and achieve their individualized education goals they transfer into the Independence
Learning Program.
• Independence Learning Program (ILP) - Students who have a foundation of learning and
basic living skills work in small groups designed to further refine individualized goals.
• Community Integrated Classrooms (CIC) - Through a partnership with SASED, some
students attend class at the Capital Area Career Center in Springfield to support their
community integration and independence.
• Lakeshore Program - This program supports Springfield School District 186 students
experiencing significant behavioral and/or emotional difficulties that are barriers to learning.
Hope classrooms offer therapy, behavior support and consultation to families and schools.
• Noll Vocational Training Center - This innovative program, located at Noll Medical Pavilion,
teaches students from Hope and students from other local school districts the skills
necessary to work. Through classroom lessons and hands-on experience, students build
skills and work toward community employment and independence. Experiences include
assembling tile displays through Hope’s partnership with Formica, printing at the copy
center, and learning food service skills at Noll Café.
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7. The Hope Institute Learning Academy
The Hope Institute Learning Academy (HILA) is a contract elementary school through Chicago Public Schools. While the
majority of students are typical learners, 25% of students have a disability, and the majority are diagnosed with an autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). HILA offers families across Chicago an exceptional public education in an environment that values,
celebrates, challenges and supports students to reach their optimum level of success. Additionally, children with special needs
can attend class side-by-side with their typically developing siblings.
Special features that differentiate HILA from other
Chicago Public Schools:
• Stand-alone computer lab
• eBeam interactive white boards in every classroom
• iPads in classrooms
• On-site library
• Sensory gym sponsored by the Chicago
Blackhawks
• On-site health care clinic through a partnership
with the University of Illinois Chicago
• Fully staffed family and community resource room
• Support groups for families of children with autism
• Sensory garden
• Community technology center
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8. The Hope Health and Wellness Center
Rehabilitation Services
On-site occupational, physical and speech therapists provide
individualized rehabilitation as well as consultative services to other
community professionals.
On-Campus Clinics
Teams of physicians and therapists meet regularly to coordinate and
provide medical care to students and residents. Children have access
to round-the-clock medical care and treatment through the on-campus
Thomas H. Maren Pediatric Clinic.
Behavioral Health Services
Hope children receive additional support through functional
assessments, support plans, psychological assessments, intervention
training and consultation services. Staff members include licensed clinical
psychologists, board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) and licensed
clinical professional counselors (LCPCs). Hope BCBAs often contract
with regional school districts to share their specialized expertise.
Noll Dental Clinic
Many individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities have
significant difficulties undergoing dental procedures. Noll Dental Clinic,
located in the Noll Medical Pavilion, provides caring treatment for those
with unique sensory and/or behavioral issues. Services are available to
children and adults from across central Illinois, whether or not they have
disabilities. Noll Dental Clinic accepts private insurance and Medicaid
and offers families a sliding fee scale.
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9. Statewide Initiatives Illinois Crisis Prevention Network
The Autism Program of Illinois Illinois Crisis Prevention
The Autism Program Network (ICPN) is a
of Illinois (TAP), is partnership between Hope
the largest statewide and Trinity Services, Inc. of
network of autism New Lenox, Illinois. ICPN
resources and services staff work to preserve
in the nation. The residential placements for
TAP Service Network is comprised of regional centers, children and adults with
university partners and community agency partners developmental disabilities and mental illness through collaboration
located across Illinois. All TAP partners and programs with families, health care professionals and human service providers
rely on best practice and evidence-based services and across the state. ICPN develops solutions so clients in crisis can
supports for the individuals they serve. Each TAP center continue to live in the least restrictive environments available to
has a Family and Community Resource Room where them. ICPN is located at Noll Medical Pavilion in Springfield and in
patrons can borrow materials such as DVDs, games and other areas throughout the state.
visual aids free of charge. For more information, visit www.icpn.us.
The TAP Central Office is located in Springfield at
Intersect for Ability
Noll Medical Pavilion and focuses on training for
Intersect for Ability is a network of
families, community members, educators and medical
developmental disability agencies
professionals; community planning and awareness;
in northern Illinois, funded by the
advocacy and policy development; and creating and
Coleman Foundation and managed
providing resources.
by The Hope Institute. Agencies
Hope is also home to one of the TAP clinics, housed work in partnership to develop, fund,
at Noll Medical Pavilion. Services available at the clinic implement, and evaluate collaborative
include autism screening and diagnosis, social skills programs and community initiatives. The network focuses on
groups, training, individual and family therapy, family and meaningful employment, purposeful activity, transitions, clinical
educator consultations, and a resource library. services, staff training and retention, and advocacy.
For more information, visit www.theautismprogram.org. For more information, visit www.intersectforability.net.
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10. Partnerships
The Hope Institute believes in forming strong community partnerships to enhance and expand the experience of students and
residents. The generous support of the partners listed below allows Hope to serve more students each year, to continue
providing the highest quality supports available for children with disabilities, and to develop new and innovative programs.
Chicago Blackhawks - Dollar General Foundation - Good Sports Inc. - Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation
JPMorgan Chase - Pearson Corporation - Pepsi - Philip H. Corboy Foundation - Target - The Chicago Community Trust
The Coleman Foundation - The Noll Foundation - Thomas H. Maren Foundation - Toyota - Tracy Family Foundation - Walmart
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11. Thank you...
from the children of The Hope Institute 10

12. 15 East Hazel Dell Lane | Springfield, IL 62712 | 217.585.5437
www.thehopeinstitute.us
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