The University of Illinois Springfield’s Gender and Sexuality Student Services provides a list of advocacy and community groups in central Illinois for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, plus (LGBTQ+) youth.

The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

This flyer provides information about the TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, TrevorChat and its other crisis support services.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse.

Contacts to The Hotline can expect highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education and referral services in over 200 languages.

Call (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or (800) 787-3224 (TTY). You can also text “START” to 88788 or chat live on The Hotline website.

The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is available to help people with disabilities get vaccinated and access COVID-19 tests.  The hotline’s trained staff are available to:

• Help find local vaccination locations
• Assist  with making vaccination appointments
• Help connect to available testing options, including help with order free at-home test kits
• Connect callers to local services, such as accessible transportation, to overcome barriers to vaccination.

The hotline also can provide information and resources to answer questions and address concerns about the vaccines and can connect callers to information and services that promote independent living and address fundamental needs, such as food, housing and transportation.

Call, text or videophone DIAL Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m at (888) 677-1199.

You can also email the hotline at DIAL@n4a.org or start an online chat with an information specialist.

You can also connect to an agent in American Sign Language.

IllinoisJobLink.com is a robust, dynamic and comprehensive, web-based workforce development system for job seekers, employers, training providers and workforce professionals with realtime
data. For job seekers, it features job matching, resume creation and career management tools and resources.

See the IllinoisJobLink.com brochure for more information.

The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (MHDD) National Training Center has developed free, easy-to-read online learning modules for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their family members and their supporters to learn more about mental health. They also have modules designed for mental health professionals and clinicians. 

These training modules are available at www.mhddcenter.org/learn-now.

The training topics include anxiety, bipolar disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, preparing for a mental health assessment, supported decision-making and what to expect in a mental health therapy session.

CommunityGlo is a free hot meal program dedicated to serving Knox County.

Meals are served one night a week. There are no eligibility requirements to use the program to receive meals.

To sign-up for meals, email communityglo61401@gmail.com or call (309) 299-1802. For more details, visit the CommunityGlo Facebook page.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway has a list of organizations that provide information and resources for and about fathers and their important role in the lives of children.

The Dysphagia Outreach Project is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance for individuals with swallowing disorders across the lifespan.

The Dysphagia Outreach Project’s Dysphagia Food Bank aims to provide tangible assistance to low-income individuals with dysphagia across the lifespan by providing access to thickeners, pre-modified foods, therapy tools, oral care supplies and adaptive equipment.

The Chinese American Service League (CASL) is a nonprofit agency with 40-plus years of experience educating youth, caring for seniors, training the workforce, placing immigrants on the path to citizenship and securing the housing and financial wellbeing for families and individuals in the Chicago Chinese community and beyond.

CASL has programs centered around children and youth development, senior wellness and independence, employment and financial empowerment, community and family wellbeing, Center for Social Impact and legal services.