JCFS Chicago’s Respite Program provides support to families caring for children and youth with special needs.

Its program “takes a supportive, nurturing and therapeutic approach, combined with fun, social and recreational activities, while providing a well-deserved break for parents.”

For more information, visit the JCFS website, email ask@jcfs.org or call toll-free at (855) ASK-JCFS (275-5237).

It’s easy to view self-care as a low priority when your child is diagnosed with a serious illness. Your role as a parent and parenting partner has unexpectedly changed. The child has urgent and complex medical needs; you must manage appointments and service providers, and learn new information about the disease and medical treatment—all while tending to the needs of other family members, work and/or other responsibilities.

The Courageous Parents Network provides this guide to help parents make time and find ways to take care of themselves.

Apraxia Kids is a nonprofit that strengthens the support systems in the lives of children with apraxia of speech. The Apraxia Kids website provides resource guides and information about conferences, webinars, support groups and more.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is committed to ensuring that all people with speech, language and hearing disorders receive services to help them communicate effectively.

The ASHA website provides resources to help you understand communication and communication disorders.

The Illinois Resource Center has put together a library of videos for bilingual parents with videos in French, Tagalog, Urdu, Arabic, Polish, Spanish and English.

Each video showcases subjects and information relevant to parents, caretakers and community members, such as the role of Bilingual Parent Advisory Committees, financial aid for college, tenant rights, multilingual student rights and more.

Some people with disabilities may be more likely to get very sick from the flu, COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Underlying medical conditions can add to their risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a list of respiratory virus resources and tips for people with disabilities on its website.

The Menard County Housing Authority (MCHA) provides the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Project-Based Vouchers, Tenant Protection Vouchers, and Emergency Housing Vouchers in Alexander, Bond, Christian, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Douglas, Effingham, Fayette, Jackson, Jasper, Livingston, McDonough, Macoupin, Massac, Menard, Monroe, Moultrie, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Scott, Stephenson and Wabash counties.

The website also includes resources for Menard County residents for help with food, utilities, employment, education, and other programs and services.

For more information and to apply, visit www.menardcha.org. You can also call (217) 632-7723.

The National Organization for Rare Disorders’ (NORD) Respite Program is for caregivers (parents, spouses, family members, or significant others) of a child or adult diagnosed with a rare disorder. The program provides financial assistance to allow caregivers a break to attend a conference, an event, or have an afternoon or evening away from caregiving.

The Respite Program awards are granted to eligible individuals on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no fee to apply.

For more information about this program, contact NORD at (203) 616-4328 or email CaregiverRespite@rarediseases.org.

Entry Point’s purpose is to ensure all people experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness have fair and equal access to housing in suburban Cook County.

Individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness can access Entry Point throughout the region. Trained Entry Point staff at access locations work with households to understand their strengths and needs using a standardized assessment. Entry Point uses HUD homeless assistance eligibility guidelines and uniform prioritization policies to refer people to the right programs based on their preferences and levels of need.

Entry Point also helps suburban Cook County make the best matches between homeless assistance resources and the people who need them most.

If you need financial assistance with mortgage, rent payments, rent deposits, utility payments or other housing issues, please call the Homeless Prevention Call Center at 1-877-4-Cook-15 (1-877-426-6515).

Listen carefully to the prompts to choose which kind of help you need.