Endeavor Health (formerly Northwest Community Healthcare) Mobile Dental Clinic offers family dental care for residents without access to a dentist due to financial barriers in Elk Grove, Palatine, Schaumburg or Wheeling Townships. Individuals must meet income guidelines and not have private dental insurance.

The clinic does not accept walk-ins. It may charge a copay for adult visits. Children’s services are free. To be eligible for services, patients must:

• Reside in Elk Grove, Palatine, Schaumburg or Wheeling Townships
• Undergone screening by their township before making an appointment
• Have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level or be on General Assistance or Medicaid

See the Mobile Dental Clinic flyer in English and Spanish for enrollment details and a contact number for each township.

The Center for Chronic Illness (CCI) is a nonprofit organization offering support and education to promote well-being and decrease isolation for people affected by chronic illness. CCI offers adults and teens living with chronic illness a variety of support groups and programs focusing on emotional well-being, health education and community. ​CCI provides:

• Chronic illness support groups for adults and teens
• Supporting loved ones and parenting children with health challenges support groups
• BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ support groups
• Health education programs
• Resources
• Events

Decatur Family YMCA provides swim lessons and aquatics programming for individuals with diverse abilities to ensure participants of all needs and skill levels are able to learn water safety and enjoy the pool. These lessons are tailored towards the skills of each participant. Instructors communicate with parents even more than usual to ensure that each swimmer is working towards an agreed upon goal.

Diverse Abilities – YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties provides programs to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age or background, can thrive. Diverse Abilities offers an opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other special needs to participate in a wide range of classes and activities based on their needs and comfort level. Its programs include:

• Art
• Fitness
• Monthly social hours
• Swimming

Creative Healing for Youth in Pain (CHYP) is a nonprofit organization serving youth between the ages of 13 and 24 who are experiencing pain, feelings of isolation and loneliness. CHYP provides educational resources, peer connection and exposure to creative healing experiences to help bridge the gap between common healthcare barriers such as cost, geographic location and long wait times for appointments. Resources are available for both youth and their parents.

CHYP resources include:

• Information on the science of pain
• Strategies for breaking the pain cycle
• On-demand webinars for youth and parents
• Monthly open Zoom meetings for youth (ages 13 to 24)
• Small group and Zoom meetings for parents
• Summer camp

After 22 is Richard J. Daley College’s comprehensive transition program for adults with disabilities ages 18 and older. The After 22 Pilot Program connects adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to career training, educational opportunities and jobs. This program also teaches students life skills, provides them with coaches and mentors, and allows them to experience social and extracurricular activities.

Students who complete this program will earn a Career Advancement Certificate from the college (not an academic degree).

To enroll in After 22, students must have been ensured a free public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), have a documented intellectual disability, have a high school diploma or GED, and be 18 or older.

Diverse Abilities – YMCA provides a wide variety of programs to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age or background, can thrive. Diverse Abilities offers an opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other special needs to participate in a wide wide range of classes and activities based on their needs and comfort level.

Diverse Abilities-YMCA programs include:

• SNAP (Special Needs Aquatics Program)
• Gymnastics
• Saturday Strikers providing friends, developing new skills, and learning to navigate the everyday world in a safe and welcoming environment.
• Sports

The St. Louis Dental Center offers comprehensive special care dentistry for patients with intellectual, physical and emotional disabilities and other special healthcare needs. It is a partnership of A.T. Still University (ATSU) and Affinia Healthcare.

The center’s special care suites include a wheelchair lift. The center accepts Medicaid and most dental insurance plans. Discounts are available to uninsured patients.

The Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub provides articles, books and other comprehensive resources to support adolescents and their communities as they navigate the grieving process and find a path towards healing. Resources are available for individuals, communities and school districts.

“Postvention” is a term to describe best practices after a suicide. The Adolescent Suicide Postvention Resources Hub offers information on topics including:

• Communicating and understanding postvention
• Parent resources and support groups
• 24/7 support

The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice is a national resource center for youth with disabilities. Youth Voice, Youth Choice provides self-advocates, their families and supporters with advocacy, teaching tools for alternatives to guardianship, plain language resources and more. It offers:

• Videos and youth stories
• Alternatives to guardianship tools with stories and resources to help make tough decisions
• A plain language series featuring a wide variety of important topics
• The Youth Ambassador Curriculum for building leadership and advocacy skills