If you cannot pay your energy bill due to financial difficulties, North Shore Gas has flexible payment arrangement plans or energy assistance options that may help.

They also include information about these programs:

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
• Share the Warmth, company- and customer-funded heating grants

Illinois Cares for Kids provides parents, caregivers, teachers and childcare providers a place to find information on statewide programs related to early learning and development, child care and family well-being in English and Spanish. The website includes information about:

• Child development and education for kids of all ages
• Healthcare coverage and emotional well-being
• Home visiting programs
• Child care subsidy programs
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• “Ready for K” (Ready4K), a statewide text messaging platform offering fun facts and tips on children’s learning and development in multiple languages

ABLE Accounts, which are tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families, were created as a result of the passage of the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 or better known as the ABLE Act

The ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience Act) National Resource Center provides information and best practices related to tax-advantaged ABLE savings accounts and federal and state-related ABLE programs and activities.

Rising Lights Project is dedicated to creating environments for individuals affected by disability to learn, laugh, thrive and engage with the Fox Valley Community.

Rising Lights Project provides opportunities that engage, encourage, educate and empower people from all areas of the community to change the way disability is viewed and create new opportunities to keep those with disability engaged and connected. The project hosts inclusive events that are accessible and sensory-friendly for all ages.

myFace is a nonprofit organization that provides individuals and families affected by cleft and other craniofacial differences access to personal stories, education and support.

Resources include:

• Information on craniofacial conditions
• Parent resources
• Virtual craniofacial support groups and networking opportunities
• Educational webinars and podcasts

The Summer Meals Program and Illinois No Kid Hungry collaborate with national and state partner organizations to provide free meals during the summer for children and youth who depend on school lunches during the school year. Meals are available at locations throughout Illinois for children and youth ages 18 and under.

To find a meal site near you:

• Visit Summer Meals Find Food Map or No Kid Hungry’s Free Meals Finder
• Call (800) 359-2163
• Text “Food” or “Comida” to 304-304

There is no application to receive a meal and you do not have to show proof of income.

The Arc’s Talk About Sexual Violence project provides materials and practical tools to help health care professionals, people with disabilities, and their families and supporters learn about the depth of the problem, support victims and work to prevent it.

Talk About Sexual Violence seeks to empower survivors with disabilities in the reporting process and give health care professionals the tools to more effectively identify victims, connect them to appropriate services, help build their self-advocacy skills and better prevent sexual violence.

In addition to the “Starting the Conversation Toolkit for Self-Advocates,”  put together by Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC), resources include short training videos for healthcare professionals, tools to help guide conversations and more.

The Swift Outdoor Accessible Recreation (S.O.A.R.) Foundation provides an individual adaptive equipment grant for spinal cord injury survivors with paraplegia and quadriplegia.

The grant is open to individuals of all ages and covers specific modifications or equipment needs that will help get you outdoors. Eligible items include:

• Wheelchair outdoor tires and attachments
• Vehicle modifications (i.e., hand controls or lifts)
• Exercise (FES Bike, Standing Frame) or recreational equipment
• Small home modifications (including a ramp)

Applicants must reside in the United States. They also must demonstrate financial need and may be required to provide documentation.

Every year, children and adolescents experience disasters and other traumatic events. Family, friends and trusted adults play an essential role in helping youth cope with these experiences.

The National Institute of Mental health has numerous resources to help children and adolescents cope with traumatic events.

The National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families provides a list of resources to help parents, caregivers and educators support children and youth after a school shooting.

Resources are available in both English and Spanish.