Lightways Peace of the Heart Kids Camp is for children and youth ages 7 to 13 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Guided by the Lightways Grief Support Team, kids will participate in activities to help process their grief and meet others who have experienced a loss. The four-day camp also includes hiking, fishing, arts and crafts, music and games.

Camp Erin Chicago is part of a national bereavement program for youth grieving the death of a significant person in their lives.  Free of charge for all families, Camp Erin combines traditional, fun camp activities with grief education and emotional support for children and teens ages 6 to 17 years old.

​Camp Erin Chicago takes place in Delavan, Wisc., in July. Registration usually opens in December for the following summer. ​If you are interested in enrolling your child or family in Camp Erin, please email Camp Director Bryan Heidel at bheidel@nush.org, or call (773) 569.9553.

REACH Learning and Resource Hub provides free, virtual training to help educators, clinicians, parents and caregivers better support the mental health and resilience of the children and youth in their lives. The interactive, on-demand resources focus on:

• Trauma-responsive practices
• Personal and professional resilience
• Social-emotional awareness
• Self-care

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) provides two internship programs offering professional and career development opportunities for students and recent graduates with disabilities. The programs help participants access meaningful employment, gain leadership skills and connect to the broader disability community.

Learn more about the programs and how to apply:

• AAPD Fall Internship Program
• AAPD Summer Internship Program

The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois (EFGSI) hosts an annual, overnight camp for children and teenagers with epilepsy. Camp Roehr provides campers ages 6 to 17 with seven days of fun, building friendships and learning about living with epilepsy. Camp registration typically begins in mid-April. Participant requirements include:

• Living in Illinois or surrounding states
• Having a primary diagnosis of epilepsy and well-controlled seizures
• Being able to care for their own basic needs and ready for an overnight camp experience

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

Give an Hour aims to create resilient communities of support for rare disease caregivers and families. Through one-on-one peer support, group support, professional training and research, Give an Hour strives to build a sustainable support system for rare caregivers.

Visit the Give an Hour Rare Caregivers website to find peer support, self-care tips, support groups and more.

Boyton Street Community Center in Marion provides children and their families opportunities for fun, learning, development and building self-esteem. The Center collaborates with local social service agencies to provide a variety of programs and services year-round. Programs at the Boyton Street Community Center include:

• Nutritious meals built around keeping kids fit and healthy
• An after-school program for children and youth in K-12
• Summer art, recreation, reading and tutoring programs
• Special events

For more information or to learn how to enroll in a program, contact the Boyton Street Community Center at (618) 997-1113.

RefugeeOne welcomes hundreds of refugees through the U.S. State Department’s Refugee Admissions Program. RefugeeOne provides support and services to help refugees with the resettlement process and becoming self-sufficient. The Chicago-based agency provides a full range of coordinated services that include:

• Resettlement services
• English language training
• Workforce development and sewing studio
• Wellness program and dental clinic

Documentation is very important when appealing a decision made by the health insurance plan. This Insurance Appeals Communication Log from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) can help you keep track of when you talk to people and what you talked about.

Insurance Appeals Communication Log in English

Insurance Appeals Communication Log in Spanish