FEMA has released more than $2.2 million in grant funding to the state of Illinois for crisis counseling services to assist residents struggling with stress and anxiety as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.  The assistance is being made available under the major disaster declaration for COVID-19 previously approved by President Trump on March 26, 2020. The program will use local providers to deliver the counseling services at no cost to any individual who has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the program is implemented by the Illinois Department of Human Services, additional information will be made available for how individuals can seek these services. For immediate assistance while Illinois establishes their state-specific program, call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 (TTY 800-846-8517). Spanish-speakers can call the hotline and press 2 for bilingual support. Individuals can also text “TalkWithUs” for English or “Hablanos” for Spanish to 66746. For more information, visit www.fema.gov/community-services-programs.