The University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics is nationally recognized for its inclusive healthcare and policies related to LGBTQ patients, visitors and staff.

UI Health was named an “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer” by the Human Rights Campaign’s 2020 Health Equality Index, an annual survey that evaluates health systems on key criteria for non-discrimination policies and practices.

Strong Family Alliance’s mission is to save lives and preserve families by helping children come out and parents become informed supporters and allies.

The alliance strives to give parents and LGBTQ people accurate information, insights on this challenging transition for both parents and children, ways to keep LGBTQ children safe and healthy, and encouragement for parents to lead with love and solve problems over time. Its website includes parent guides and resources.

For more information, use the Strong Family Alliance’s Contact Us page.

The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health provides a survivor’s resource list that includes:

• State, national and Chicago-based domestic violence organizations
• Mental health recovery and peer support resources
• State mental health departments
• Disability rights organizations
• Resources on trauma
• Resources on child trauma

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 crisis support services, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText and TrevorChat.

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 Locator (DIAL) helps people with disabilities connect to local community resources that support independent living. DIAL provides information on essential services such as housing support, disability rights and more.

The DIAL database includes:

• Centers for Independent Living
• Protection and Advocacy Systems
• Assistive Technology Programs
• University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• State Developmental Disabilities Councils

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

See the Job Seekers frequently asked questions page for more details.

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.

CommunityGro equips people with the resources, education, and support to grow food for their communities. The program seeks to continue bridging the food security gap, creating self-sufficiency, and lasting solutions for food accessibility in Knox County.

To learn more contact communitygro61401@gmail.com or (309) 299-1802. You can also visit the CommunityGro Facebook page.

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.