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Resource Directory

Find resource information for families and children with special healthcare needs.

Some of these resources are specific for families and children enrolled in our programs. Others may be of interest to any family or child with special healthcare needs.

You can use the search box below to narrow your view. For example, you can search for support groups, respite, grant programs, a specific topic or by condition.

You can also browse by category or by region using the links on the right side of this page.

Here is a quick video showing how to use the search and display features for our resources and events.

Check back often for updates. If you don’t find what you need, please call us at (800) 322-3722 or send us an email.

Education Resources

  • ASL Nook (American Sign Language Nook)

    ASL Nook (American Sign Language Nook) is an online hub featuring fun and casual videos to help deaf children, hearing family members and students learn ASL. Founded by two Deaf people from hearing families, ASL Nook aims to fill a gap for new parents and to teach ASL using authentic, real-life situations.

    ASL Nook is free and provides short ASL videos focusing on topics such as:

    • Eating at a restaurant
    • Zoo and sea animals
    • Favorite stories
    • The weather
    • Health and more

  • Transition Planning Committee for McLean, Dewitt and Logan Counties

    The Transition Planning Committee (TPC) for McLean, Dewitt and Logan Counties provides a wide range of resources to support students with disabilities and help their families navigate the transition to adulthood and life after high school. The resources are also helpful for educators and community members who are helping students and young adults build skills and explore their options after high school. The committee’s resources include:

    • Education and training programs
    • Support and mental health services
    • Transportation and employment
    • Legal and financial help
    • Recreation and social opportunities
    • Prioritization of Urgent Need for Services (PUNS)
    • Housing and developmental training

  • Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital Health Profession Scholarship Program

    Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital (CMH) Foundation provides a variety of annual scholarship programs. Scholarships are available for high school seniors, college students, Connect Care participants and CMH employees entering a healthcare-related field that is in high demand at CMH. The award amount may change from year to year. Information, applications and scholarship deadlines are available online.

    Foundation scholarship opportunities include:

    • The Elmer Hugh Taylor Health Profession Scholarship for high school seniors in Schuyler, Cass and South Fulton counties entering a healthcare-related field at CMH
    • The Regina Ehrhardt Scholarship for Rushville-Industry High School or Brown County High School senior who is entering a nursing-related field of study that is currently available at CMH
    • The Career Connect Scholarship for any Rushville-Industry High School senior participating in Career Connect at CMH
    • The Future of Culbertson Scholarship for potential future employees obtaining a secondary education in a healthcare-related field of study that is currently available at CMH
    • The CMH Foundation Scholarship for full or part-time employees who are taking healthcare courses for a position that is considered a critical need at CMH
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Family Resources

  • Special Father's Network

    Special Father’s Network is a dad-to-dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs.

    The program connects new fathers with special needs children to another father (a Mentor Father) who has experienced a similar situation. The program matches Mentor Fathers as closely as possible based on the child’s special needs, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic group and relationship to the child e.g., .father, stepfather, grandfather).

    The Special Father’s Network is available through the 21st Century Dads Foundation, which raises awareness and resources for greater father involvement and seeks to inspire dads to be present, caring and nurturing.

  • Illinois Respite Coalition

    The Illinois Respite Coalition (IRC) is a not-for-profit organization of caregivers and respite providers dedicated to supporting families and ensuring access to quality respite services for the residents of Illinois. The IRC assists caregivers by connecting them to resources in their area, providing training on respite topics and having funding available for emergency respite. The IRC helps caregivers of individuals across the lifespan with any disability.

    The Emergency Respite Care Program offers funding and resources to support caregivers who are not receiving any respite services and have an urgent need for respite care in the absence of any other funding source.  Emergency respite care may be for an unplanned or planned event for reasons including:

    • Caregiver illness (physical, mental or emotional)
    • Caregiver hospitalization
    • Work-related situation
    • Reduction of stress level

    The website gives examples of qualifying circumstances and information on how to apply. See the emergency care flyer for more details. (The flyer is also available in Spanish.)

    For more information, contact:

  • Almost Home Kids

    Almost Home Kids provides a bridge from hospital to home through an innovative community-based care system for children with medical complexities. It responds to the needs of families, trains caregivers, offers respite care, advocates for accessibility and inclusion and educates healthcare professionals.

    Almost Home Kids offers transitional, respite and respite transportation care. It has locations in Chicago, Naperville and Peoria.

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Medical/Health Resources

  • Get Covered Illinois - The Official Health Insurance Marketplace Resource

    Get Covered Illinois is the health insurance Marketplace resource for the state of Illinois. Get Covered Illinois provides information about health insurance coverage provided under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

    Get Covered Illinois provides:

    • Information and support to help Illinois residents understand insurance and the importance of health insurance coverage
    • Access to health plans through Healthcare.gov
    • Free enrollment help from Get Covered Illinois Navigators by phone or in person in multiple languages and in your community

    Get Covered Illinois is a division of the Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI).

  • Homocystinuria (HCU) Network America

    Homocystinuria (HCU) Network America provides free resources and connections for people impacted by this rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to process the amino acid homocysteine. HCU Network America supports a wide range of research and provides educational resources, connections and practical tools to help patients and their families navigate living with HCU.

    HCU Network America resources include:

  • Pediatric First Aid and Safety Training for Teachers and Caregivers

    The American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Pediatric First Aid and Safety Training for Teachers and Caregivers” online course is for anyone who works with or cares for infants and children. The six-unit training provides caregivers with an understanding of first aid and safety procedures, recognizing everyday medical emergencies and providing care for an injury or illness until professional help arrives.

    Each unit takes about an hour to complete. You can complete the course at your own pace. The course costs $25 and is available through March 30, 2028. It covers:

    • Administering mental health first aid
    • Effectively communicating with emergency responders
    • Disaster planning
    • Identifying and managing common pediatric medical emergencies
    • Using first aid equipment and child-specific procedures for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
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