Families of medically complex children across DuPage County — including in Elmhurst — will continue receiving specialized nursing care at Almost Home Kids in Naperville after a county committee voted Tuesday, July 7, to keep federal funding in place through the organization's transition to a new parent company.
The facility, which provides 24/7 nursing care for children who depend on ventilators, tracheostomy tubes, and other medical equipment, is merging with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. The DuPage County Community Development Commission (CDC) Executive Committee unanimously approved transferring a 2021 federal grant agreement to the new ownership structure, ensuring the county-funded services continue uninterrupted.
Why it matters
Almost Home Kids' Naperville location, at 7 S. 721 Route 53, is one of the few facilities in the region offering a home-like setting for children who would otherwise require long-term hospitalization. The organization's website now redirects to ahk.luriechildrens.org, confirming the merger is already underway.
Because the original funding came through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), federal rules require that services benefit the same population for at least five years. Tuesday's vote — completed in six minutes, with no discussion — formally reassigns that obligation to Lurie Children's, guaranteeing services remain in place through November 17, 2027.
Community Development Administrator Julie Hamlin told the committee that Almost Home Kids requested the transfer to facilitate the reorganization, and that county staff reviewed financial documentation before recommending approval. The dollar amount of the original grant was not disclosed at the meeting.
Committee member Saba Haider moved to approve the transfer; Cynthia Cronin Cahill seconded. The vote passed unanimously under Chair Michael Crandall.
A bigger footprint in the western suburbs
The merger is part of a broader expansion for Lurie Children's in the region. The Chicago-based hospital system is separately planning a new hospital in the Downers Grove area, signaling a deeper push into DuPage County's healthcare landscape.
What's next
The CDC Executive Committee meets next on Tuesday, Aug. 4. In a separate action at the same meeting, the committee approved scaling back a West Chicago water main and street rehabilitation project after construction bids came in higher than expected; the city plans to rebid the project and cover remaining costs with 2027 program funding.
