Equip for Equality provides this guide to help understand the purpose of an individualized education program (IEP), how to read one, rules to know, special education rights, Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements and more.

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.

Housing Forward aims to prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to housing crises when they do occur and stabilize people with supportive services and housing. It offers a full range of programs and services that include:

• Emergency financial assistance
• Emergency shelter
• Interim and transitional housing
• Respite services for a medical or behavioral health event
• Wraparound services, including employment, family support, community health nursing, behavioral health and legal clinic
• Rental support
• Permanent supportive housing
• Housing navigation services and more

Housing Forward serves 26 communities in west suburban Cook County: Bellwood, Berkeley, Berwyn, Broadview, Brookfield, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Forest View, Franklin Park, Harwood Heights, Hillside, Lyons, Maywood, Melrose Park, Norridge, North Riverside, Northlake, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, Riverside, Schiller Park, Stickney, Stone Park and Westchester.

For more information, call the Housing Forward Office at (708) 338-1724 or visit the Housing Forward About Us page.

Going to college is an exciting time filled with new friends and experiences. When you have congenital heart disease (CHD), it can be overwhelming or tempting to put your care on the back burner. It’s very important that you stay in care and are as prepared as possible.

The Adult Congenital Heart Association provides this resource with tips to help you maintain good health while you further your education.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides free consulting services for all employees, regardless of the condition. Services include one-on-one consultation about all aspects of job accommodations, including the accommodation process, accommodation ideas, product vendors, referral to other resources and Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance assistance.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are conditions that are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides fact sheets, articles, patient stories and more to help you understand CHDs and their affect across the lifespan.

The American Heart Association provides information and resources on congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Information is available in English and Spanish.

Children with congenital heart defects and disease (CHD) will need lifelong care from congenital heart experts. The Adult Congenital Heart Association provides this brochure to help parents of children born with CHDs support their child’s lifelong heart health.

“When Your Child Has a Heart Defect” brochure in English 

Cuando su Niño(a) Tiene Un Defecto de Corazón

Mended Little Hearts and St. Jude Medical partnered to create this digital resource guide for parents and caregivers of children with congenital heart disease or defects (CHD).

Medical professionals and parents worked together on this guide to provide accurate and honest information that addresses the tough feelings, questions and concerns parents and caregivers may have.

Go to The Mended Hearts, Inc. HeartGuides page and scroll down to see the Mended Little HeartGuide in English and Spanish.