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)

The KASE Project aims to raise awareness and support for autism through community outreach in the Springfield area. Its programs include:

• PECS (Picture Exchange Communication) at the Park – an initiative to install picture communication boards at local parks and playgrounds.
• PALS (Parent Autism Life Support) – a caregiver support initiative for parents, siblings and caregivers of children and adults with autism in Sangamon County. PALS currently hosts a support group for moms.
• FLASH (Friends Learning and Sharing Hope) – an effort to bring adaptive sports to the Chatham community and beyond.
• SIBS – A Sibshops program for siblings of children with health, mental health and developmental needs.

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

Sertoma Star Services (SRS) is a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to challenging the limits and changing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas. Services include vocational, educational, therapeutic, recreational and residential programs.

Sertoma Star Services programs include:

• Special recreation services for children, teens and adults
• Community living and home-based services
• Life skills enrichment program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Janitorial and e-recycling vocational training and long-term job opportunities for adults

The Illinois Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ITDHH) focuses on promoting the professional growth of teachers and the quality of education for people who are deaf and hard of hearing throughout Illinois. The organization hosts an annual conference and provides annual scholarship opportunities for teachers and students.

ITDHH annual scholarship and grant opportunities for Illinois students and teachers include:

• The “Hazel Bothwell Memorial Scholarships and Grants For Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing” provides funding to teachers to help strengthen learning and educational services for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. You must be a current ITDHH member to apply.
• The “Jacki Marcus Memorial Scholarship for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students” is for high school seniors planning to pursue a two- or four-year college degree. 
• The “Pierce-Scherer Student Scholarship for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students” is for high school seniors planning to attend a vocational or trade school.

Sertoma provides information and support to people at risk of or affected by hearing loss. National and local chapters across the United States support hearing health through a variety of programs and activities. Sertoma services include annual scholarships, access to amplified hearing devices, teen and college-level service programs, the “Adopt-an-Agency” program and more.

Sertoma offers two scholarship programs:

• The Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf is open to students with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss. Graduating high school students or undergraduate students pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline are eligible for the scholarship.
• The Communicative Disorders Scholarship is for graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in audiology or speech-language pathology from institutions in the United States. The program awards these scholarships in the spring to help offset the cost of tuition, books and fees incurred during the following school year.

See Sertoma’s website for eligibility requirements. The program accepts applications between Nov. 1 and March 31 each year.

SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education provides free resources to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds learn about the dangers of drugs and how to help those who may be affected by substance use. Educational materials are available in English and Spanish and include engaging videos targeting kids, teens, parents, teachers, employers and more.

SUPE offers up-to-date, easy-to-understand information on topics such as:

• Edibles and vaping education and prevention for kids
• Tips for talking to grandchildren about substance use
• The link between bullying and substance use
• Do’s and don’ts for teachers speaking to students about drugs

The HealthyChildren.org website provides a tool to search for an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) member pediatrician, pediatric sub-specialist or pediatric surgical specialist. Click on the “Find a Pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist Tool” to start looking.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children.

The U.S. Department of Education’s IDEA website has information for parents, students, educators, service providers and more on resources for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. The site includes the IDEA Parents and Families Resource page.

Special Camps provide opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to experience overnight camp. Special Camps are volunteer-run and offer trained staff and 24-hour nursing for children and adults with disabilities who could not otherwise attend a similar camp due to physical, medical or developmental needs. Financial scholarships are available to campers in need.

Campers can make friends, increase independence and try new activities. Special Camps take place each year at Camp Red Leaf in Ingleside.

Camp registration typically opens in early February. For questions, please contact Colleen McDonald at (630) 690-0944 or colleen.scamps@icloud.com.