Association House of Chicago provides services promoting health and wellness, education and economic opportunity. Programs are provided in English and Spanish using a collaborative model that meets participants’ immediate needs while working toward long-term goals.

The Association House of Chicago focuses provides services in five key areas:

• Behavioral Health
• Child Welfare
• Community Health
• High School
• Workforce Development

Perkins School for the Blind College Readiness Resource Center helps students and the many people involved in assisting them prepare for success. Students, families and education professionals can access helpful planning and assessment tools, checklists and resources for going to college, pre-college training programs or heading straight to work.

The College Readiness Resource Center includes:

• Resources for families to start planning early
• Information on the laws that affect the transition from high school to college
• How to get students ready for life after high school
• The College Readiness Checklist and Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) Toolkit

The Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH) seeks to build generational wealth through housing counseling, financial education, advocacy and by connecting low-to-moderate income households to resources that create housing stability, homeownership and economic mobility. Services are based in Chicago and include workshops, homebuyer education, homeowner education and counseling, landlord certification and more. SCH programs also include:

• Financial education and coaching
• Rental and mortgage help
• Utility assistance
• Health and housing

For questions, please email help@sc4housing.org.

Hoyleton Youth & Family Services‘ Puentes de Esperanza (Bridges of Hope) serves Spanish-speaking families in Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair counties. Puentes de Esperanza connects Hispanic families to community resources, including interpretation and translation, finding employment, immigration and citizenship information and other resources.

Puentes de Esperanza also:

• Partners with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) to help immigrants know their rights
• Hosts mobile events with the Illinois Secretary of State Department of Motor Vehicles

For questions, please contact Puentes@hoyleton.org, or call (618) 398-0557. You can also complete the online form.

Generation Patient is a nonprofit organization created by and for young adult patients with chronic, complex, rare or undiagnosed medical conditions. The organization’s focus includes providing peer-support groups, roundtable discussions and helping to drive systems-level change through policy work, leadership programming and advocacy initiatives across healthcare and research spaces.

Generation Patient also offers:

• “Creating Spaces for Young Adults with Chronic Conditions,” a step-by-step toolkit with resources and strategies for finding and creating peer support
• Virtual community-led peer-support groups for young adults (ages 18 and up), including:
  •  A general group for young adults with chronic and rare medical conditions,
  • A higher education group for patients in college or graduate school,
  • A group for young adults with irritable bowel disease (IBD)

First Hand Foundation’s pediatric medical grants provide vital financial assistance to uninsured or underinsured children up to age 18. The grants aim to help children receive timely, life-changing treatment that improves their health and quality of life. Families can apply for grants to cover critical medical expenses such as surgeries, prescriptions, medical equipment and travel costs. Each child is eligible for one grant every 12 months.

Learn more about applying for a grant, covered expenses and eligibility on First Hand Foundation’s website.

Applications can be submitted anytime. Grants are reviewed monthly.

For questions, fill out the online Contact Us to Learn More form on First Hand Foundation‘s website.

Camp Hope is an overnight summer camp for Chicago-area teenagers and young adults with developmental disabilities. Campers ages 15 to 30 have a one-on-one buddy providing care and participate in activities adapted to their unique needs. Campers experience five fun days filled with friendships and activities, including swimming, dancing, arts and crafts, adaptive sports, cookouts and more. Camp registration typically opens in December of each year. Space is limited.

Check out Camp Hope’s Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more. You can also contact camphopeillinois@gmail.com for more details.

The Child Mind Institute’s Family Resource Center provides information for parents, caregivers, and others supporting children who are struggling with mental health, behavioral, or learning challenges. Resources include parenting guides, podcasts, a glossary of terms and up-to-date information on learning and behavior disorders, sensory processing, milestones and more.

The Child Mind Institute offers a variety of free parenting guides in English and Spanish. Guide topics include:

• The Quick Guide to Anxiety in Children in English
• The Quick Guide to Anxiety in Children in Spanish
• Executive Function Issues in Kids in English
• Executive Function Issues in Kids in Spanish

If you have any questions, please visit the Contact Us page on Child Mind Institute’s website.

Oracle Health Foundation’s pediatric grants cover various clinical, equipment, and travel and lodging costs related to children’s healthcare needs. The foundation accepts applications from the United States and through select international providers.

Funding criteria include that the applicant must be 21 or younger (special consideration given for individuals 22-25 receiving pediatric treatment). You can find more details on the Oracle Health Foundation website on how to request a pediatric grant.

FreeFood.org is a website where people can find and add free food resources locally and nationwide.