The Pre-Teen and Teen Mental Health Guide for Parents from the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics helps caregivers learn about pre-teen and teen worries, behaviors and signs to watch for, so parents can provide help when needed. This free six-day email series in English and Spanish provides guidance and insight into your pre-teen or teen’s mental health, including dealing with anxiety, screen time and building resilience.

The guide provides one short message each day and includes conversation starters you can try with your pre-teen/teen. Topics include:

• How your pre-teen/teen’s brain is developing
• The difference between normal mood swings and real red flags
• How to navigate social media and screen time without constant battles
• When to worry versus when to wait – and when to call for support
• How to talk about relationships, sex and emotional health
• Practical ways to build resilience that lasts a lifetime

The Parent Guide to Autism from the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics offers a free seven-day email series that provides practical guidance on autism, early intervention and supporting your child. Available in English and Spanish, the emails cover topics such as what autism is, how to recognize early signs, steps in the diagnosis process and more.

Each Parent Guide to Autism email takes less than 10 minutes to read. Topics also include:

• How to access therapies and early intervention services
• Your child’s rights to school support if they have autism
• Real strategies for daily life
• Where to find resources and support in Illinois

The Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) offers a variety of health education videos in American Sign Language (ASL), with voice-over and captions. The videos cover topics such as behavioral health, general health and wellness, heart disease, breast health, substance use and more. Some of the videos are also available in Spanish. These videos are for informational purposes only.

For questions or assistance, please contact CHS’s Community Outreach and Advocacy Team at CHSCOA@anixter.org.

The Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) offer a variety of videos that provide legal information in American Sign Language (ASL), with English voice-over and captions, for the public. The videos cover topics such as traffic court, domestic violence, obtaining citizenship, types of discrimination and more. These videos are for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice.

For questions or assistance, please contact CHS’s Community Outreach and Advocacy Team at CHSCOA@anixter.org.

Kids With Heart National Association for Children’s Heart Disorders, Inc. (Kids With Heart NACHD, Inc.) is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that provides support, education and awareness for congenital heart defects. Its resources for families affected by congenital heart defects include surgical care packages, support groups and online support, an extensive library of books on congenital heart defects, and numerous awareness projects.

Kids With Heart NACHD, Inc. also offers:

• A parent matching service to connect with individuals dealing with CHD or those with the same defects
• A nationwide support database of local families and/or area support groups
• An online support group and Facebook group page for networking and discussion
• Bereavement services

To access the support services, visit the Membership Page on Kids With Heart NACHD, Inc.’s website. For other questions, please use the Kids With Heart NACHD, Inc. Contact Us page.

The Pediatric Heart Network (PHN) is a group of hospitals across the United States, Canada and other countries that conduct research in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) or pediatric acquired heart disease and adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). PHN studies heart disease in children by offering a network of hospitals and flexible ways for families to participate. PHN also provides important resources for families, providers and researchers. It offers:

• Information on nutrition and activity
• Help for coping with chronic illness
• Support groups
• Teen-focused resources and information on transitioning to adult care
• Local or hospital libraries for books or lists of professional organizations
• Datasets and current and completed study information
• Information for healthcare professionals and researchers

For questions, please visit the Pediatric Heart Network’s Contact Us Page.

The Children’s Heart Foundation is dedicated to advancing the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of congenital heart defects (CHD) by funding the most promising research. Its resources include CHD facts, information on the different types of CHD, “The Heart of the Matter” documentary,  and where to find support.

The Children’s Heart Foundation also provides “It’s My Heart,” a resource book for patients and families affected by congenital heart defects. The book, which is written in plain, easy-to-understand language,  describes the types of CHDs a child may face, along with:

• Explanations of the various tests, surgical procedures and treatments
• Helpful diagrams
• A glossary of medical terms and much more

For questions, please contact the Children’s Heart Foundation at (847) 634-6474 or info@childrensheartfoundation.org.

Rizal Center is a multicultural, multigenerational community and cultural center located in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. It provides a safe, welcoming space where Filipino immigrants and Filipino Americans can feel at home. The center offers food assistance, housing resources, healthcare access, counseling, language access and community advocacy. It also serves as a hub for arts, culture and theater. Its programs and services are open to the Greater Chicago community.

The nonprofit Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago (FACGC) operates Rizal Center. Its programs and classes also include:

• Arts, culture and theater
• Dancing
• Martial arts
• Pamana Children’s Library

For more details about the center, please contact the Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago at (773) 360-8597 or info@rizalcenter.org.

The Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project (ATTA) creates and provides resources and professional development tools to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their transition from secondary to postsecondary education or employment. ATTA provides training and support to students, young adults, families, employers and community members to ensure an equitable experience for individuals on the spectrum. ATTA offers:

• A variety of resources for supporting students
• Webinars
• Interviewing tips for students and young adults

For questions, please contact Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support (ICSPS) Director Aimee LaFollette Julian, PhD, at (309) 438-5122.

ICSPS maintains the Autism Training and Technical Assistance Project website on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Mano a Mano Family Resource Center provides culturally and linguistically competent support services to immigrant communities in Lake and McHenry Counties. Mano a Mano focuses on helping the hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable families and individuals in the community. Its resources and services include health resources, educational classes and workshops, and immigration legal services. Mano a Mano programs also include:

• Mano a Mano Informa on Facebook Live on the first and third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The live discussion offers immigration updates, community resources and guidance to help families
• Informados & Conectados on Facebook and YouTube every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. It covers important community topics and available resources
• The TANDA Emergency Community Fund, which provides assistance in the form of gift cards for local grocery stores and/or Visa gift cards to buy other critical, non-grocery items such as prescription medications and transportation.
• A community garden

Mano a mano is based in Round Lake and also has a satellite office in North Chicago.

For questions or more information, please call (847) 201-1521 or email mamappointments@mamfrc.org.