Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (SIHF Healthcare) provides mental health, healthcare and health insurance enrollment assistance. SIHF Healthcare offers dedicated primary care providers and health centers in various communities. It also accepts most insurance plans and offers a sliding fee scale so everyone can access quality care.

SIHF Healthcare offers community health centers and resources in Alton, Arthur, Belleville, Bethalto, Bunker Hill, Centreville, Charleston, Collinsville, East St Louis, Effingham, Fairmont City, Granite City, Greenup, Mattoon, Millstadt, O’Fallon, Olney, Red Bud, Salem, Swansea and Vandalia. Resources include:

• Primary care provider services
• Free blood pressure machines
• Health education and promotion
• Health insurance enrollment assistance
• Help with locating similar services statewide at (618) 646-2545 or chwprogram@sihf.org

The Autism Hero Project champions inclusion and fosters an environment where everyone, regardless of neurodiversity, is valued and empowered to thrive. The organization helps support, equip and foster acceptance of people with autism.

The Autism Hero Project provides:

• Autism information and resources
• Annual medical insurance grants
• Family-friendly, inclusive events and more

The Autism Hero Project Medical Insurance Grant Application program application period usually runs from September through October. If you have any application questions, please email applications@autismheroproject.org.

The HAP Foundation provides patient-centered hospice and palliative care education, research, workforce development and support. The foundation helps any family of a child or adult living with a serious illness understand palliative and hospice care options, and connect to and strengthen care throughout their journey. The HAP Foundation resources also include:

• Palliative and hospice care information for families and medical professionals
• Help for finding and accessing care
• Missing Pieces support group for anyone grieving the loss of a child
• The Pediatric Resource Guide for patients, families and practitioners
• Chicagoland resources and events

WeGo Together for Kids brings together 70 community partners from across the Chicagoland region to support West Chicago families with children from birth through high school (12th grade). Using a collaborative, coordinated and comprehensive approach, WeGo Together for Kids offers family events, tip sheets in multiple languages, food and nutrition resources, playgroups and more.

WeGo Together for Kids also provides:

• Behavior and parenting tip sheets for all ages
• Back-to-school social stories and other school readiness tools
• Help with potty training

Association House of Chicago provides services promoting health and wellness, education and economic opportunity. Programs are provided in English and Spanish using a collaborative model that meets participants’ immediate needs while working toward long-term goals.

The Association House of Chicago focuses provides services in five key areas:

• Behavioral Health
• Child Welfare
• Community Health
• High School
• Workforce Development

Perkins School for the Blind College Readiness Resource Center helps students and the many people involved in assisting them prepare for success. Students, families and education professionals can access helpful planning and assessment tools, checklists and resources for going to college, pre-college training programs or heading straight to work.

The College Readiness Resource Center includes:

• Resources for families to start planning early
• Information on the laws that affect the transition from high school to college
• How to get students ready for life after high school
• The College Readiness Checklist and Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) Toolkit

The Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH) seeks to build generational wealth through housing counseling, financial education, advocacy and by connecting low-to-moderate income households to resources that create housing stability, homeownership and economic mobility. Services are based in Chicago and include workshops, homebuyer education, homeowner education and counseling, landlord certification and more. SCH programs also include:

• Financial education and coaching
• Rental and mortgage help
• Utility assistance
• Health and housing

Hoyleton Youth & Family Services‘ Puentes de Esperanza (Bridges of Hope) serves Spanish-speaking families in Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair counties. Puentes de Esperanza connects Hispanic families to community resources, including interpretation and translation, finding employment, immigration and citizenship information and other resources.

Puentes de Esperanza also:

• Partners with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) to help immigrants know their rights
• Hosts mobile events with the Illinois Secretary of State Department of Motor Vehicles

Generation Patient is a nonprofit organization created by and for young adult patients with chronic, complex, rare or undiagnosed medical conditions. The organization’s focus includes providing peer-support groups, roundtable discussions and helping to drive systems-level change through policy work, leadership programming and advocacy initiatives across healthcare and research spaces.

Generation Patient also offers:

• “Creating Spaces for Young Adults with Chronic Conditions,” a step-by-step toolkit with resources and strategies for finding and creating peer support
• Virtual community-led peer-support groups for young adults (ages 18 and up), including:
  •  A general group for young adults with chronic and rare medical conditions,
  • A higher education group for patients in college or graduate school,
  • A group for young adults with irritable bowel disease (IBD)

First Hand Foundation‘s pediatric medical grants provide vital financial assistance to uninsured or underinsured children up to 18 years old. The grants aim to help children receive timely, life-changing treatment that improves their health and quality of life. Families can apply for grants to cover critical medical expenses such as surgeries, prescriptions, medical equipment and travel costs. Each child is eligible for one grant every 12 months.

Learn more about applying for a grant, covered expenses and eligibility on First Hand Foundation’s website.

Applications can be submitted anytime. Grants are reviewed monthly.