The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ (HFS) Medicaid Customer Guide website helps customers and the partners who support them find the information they need. The guide provides a more streamlined, user-friendly experience. Clearer navigation and simpler language make it easier to find information about Medicaid coverage, eligibility, benefits, applications, renewals and other important resources. The guide organizes information around frequently asked questions and tasks to help:

• Learn about Medicaid
• Connect families with information about their coverage and benefits
• Explore recent HR 1 Federal Changes
• Apply for healthcare and use your benefits
• Understand your rights

CU Early is a free home-visiting program that serves children from birth to age three and their families in Champaign, Urbana and Mahomet. Operated through the Urbana Early Childhood School, the program focuses on child development, family support and early literacy. Skilled parent educators provide families with child development resources, support and guidance through home visiting services. Services also include support for expecting parents, monthly playgroups, weekly support groups for teen parents, and individualized activities with parents to support their child’s ongoing development.

All CU Early services are free to families. For more information about CU Early, please call (217) 384-3616 or email Kelly Russell at krussell@usd116.org.

 

Pain Care Rights is a patient advocacy organization that helps people with chronic pain and their caregivers navigate the healthcare system, document their symptoms and advocate for better treatment. It provides practical tools, resources and guidance to empower patients.

The Pain Care Rights’ State Information search tool provides information on state agencies, forms, deadlines and responsibilities. Resources also include tools and information to help you:

• Learn about health conditions
• Prepare for medical visits
• Document care barriers
• Review records
• Write clear questions, messages or requests to address concerns or get information

The Ehlers-Danlos Society is a global organization dedicated to advancing research and education on Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). To improve access to care, it provides the Ehlers-Danlos Healthcare Professionals Directory, a global directory of providers.

For questions and more information, please visit the Ehlers-Danlos Society’s Contact Us page.

The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Navigator is a statewide resource bank of services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Illinois. It is a free public directory designed to point you to service providers, support resources, government agencies, advocacy tools and more.

IDD Navigator provides help and resources, including:

• Finding your Independent Service Coordinator (ISC)
• IDD community acronyms
• Frequently asked questions about IDD and services in Illinois
• Resources search tool and media library

IDD Navigator resources are categorized into four regions. See the Service and Support Regions and download the map to help narrow your search.

Little City serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across Cook, Lake, DuPage, McHenry, Kane, Will, DeKalb and Kendall counties in northeastern Illinois. Located on a 56-acre campus in Palatine, Little City provides a range of services, including residential, school, recreation, art, horticulture, employment, community day services and foster care and adoption.

Little City also offers:

• Clinical and behavioral services
• Therapeutic day school
• Recreation programs
• Residential services for children and adults

For questions, please visit Little City’s Contact Us page or call (847) 358-5510.

PatientsLikeMe uses the power of community and digital platforms to improve the lived experience of patients managing complex health conditions.  PatientsLikeMe offers people navigating a wide variety of health journeys a central hub for peer support, personalized health insights, tailored digital health services and patient-friendly clinical education.

PatientsLikeMe digital platforms cover five key areas where you can dive into discussions, ask questions and gain insights from others like you:

• Community – 70 communities that cover 2,800 conditions where you can make helpful connections and be part of a safe community
• My Health – An easy-to-navigate place for tracking symptoms, treatments, labs and vitals
• Conditions- Learn how to manage your condition better and share your experiences with others
• Treatments – Learn from others and find the treatment that is right for you
• PatientsLikeMe Community Voice Blog

For more information and a list of frequently asked questions, visit the PatientsLikeMe Help Center.

Still have a question? Please fill out and submit the form on the PatientsLikeMe Contact Us page.

SIP Arts Foundation, Inc. is an Illinois nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. It offers community education on special education laws, disability rights and advocacy. The foundation also offers opportunities to provide a voice and foster healing through creative expression in the arts. SIP Arts Foundation programs include:

• One-on-one person-centered planning that maps each family’s goals and next steps
• Free community meals that reduce isolation and bring families together
• Group advocacy workshops where every family leaves with a personalized binder organizing their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), rights and records
• Pathways to Expression, an inclusive studio arts program in Belleville for children ages 4 to 12 with and without disabilities
• Self-advocacy programming in St. Clair and Madison counties that helps young people find their voice and prepare for the transition to post-secondary education and employment

For questions, please visit SIP Arts Foundation’s “Let’s Connect” page or email  info@sipartsfoundation.org.

Southern Illinois Pathways is a grassroots initiative led by individuals with disabilities, family members and professionals to support families navigating disability, special education and mental health systems across metro east Illinois. It offers free, plain-language workshops for families, students, young adults, and individuals with disabilities. It helps make disability rights, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), mental health supports, local services and self-advocacy easier to understand.

Southern Illinois Pathways offers free:

• Resources for families
• A local workshop series on Saturday mornings at libraries in each county. The workshops cover disability rights, IEPs and services in plain language.
• Events

Southern Illinois Pathways is a program of SIP Arts Foundation, Inc., an Illinois nonprofit advancing arts, disability advocacy and education across Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties in metro east Illinois.

For questions, please contact Southern Illinois Pathways at  (618) 816-8834, (618) 623-2423 (direct) or info@southernilpathways.com.

The Chronic Disease Coalition advocates on behalf of people with chronic diseases and helps them advocate for themselves. It offers advocate training and resources, educates the public about chronic and rare conditions and raises awareness to increase research funding. The coalition also collaborates with individuals and organizations nationwide to ensure that patients with all types of chronic conditions have access to affordable, high-quality care and that the patient voice and perspective remain at the forefront.

Chronic Disease Coalition resources and programs include:

• The Chronic Disease Advocacy Toolkit to learn about the different types of advocacy, being an advocate, taking action and more
• The Ambassador Program
• Information on partners, allies and patient-founded/patient-driven groups
• State and national policy information

For questions, please visit Chronic Disease Advocacy’s About Us page and fill out the “Contact Us” form.