Fresh Start Surgical Gifts provides reconstructive surgery at no cost to families of children who are uninsured, underinsured, denied procedures as cosmetic or the deductible would be a financial hardship to the family. Surgery weekends are held three times a year at Comer Children’s Hospital.

When you become an adult, your experience at the doctor’s office and the hospital might be different from what you are used to. This fact sheet explains some of the changes you might notice.

Pediatric Versus Adult Healthcare tip sheet in English

Pediatric Versus Adult Healthcare tip sheet in Spanish

The Special Recreation Associations Network of Illinois (SRANI) is a network of therapeutic recreation agencies. Special Recreation Associations provide community-based special recreation services to children and adults with disabilities. You can see a list of special recreation cooperatives available in Illinois.

For more information, visit the SRANI website.

Premier Kids is a medical home program for children birth to age 6 with special needs. It provides primary care services for children with medically complex conditions and/or developmental delays. To make an appointment, call (733) 256-5700, ext. 2.

 

Rides Mass Transit District (RMTD) offers clean, comfortable, and cost-effective public transportation in Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Lawrence, Pope, Richland, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White and Williamson counties. RMTD offers door-to-door and fixed-route services to anyone requiring transportation. RMTD also provides ADA paratransit services for people with disabilities who are unable to use fixed route bus services where available.

RMTD’s ADA paratransit service is by reservation only. For more details or to make a reservation:

• See the RMTD flyer in English
• See the RMTD flyer in Spanish/Folletto en español

For any questions, please call the RMTD Operation Center at (844) 220-1243.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) provides Illinois students with information and assistance to help make education beyond high school accessible and affordable.

ISAC offers free comprehensive, objective, and timely information on education and financial aid for students and their families. Help includes:

• The ISAC Student Portal with free online tools, events and resources for students, as well as short videos about college planning and financial aid.
• State scholarship and grant programs
• ISAC College Q&A, a free texting service that allows any student to submit their financial aid and college planning questions and receive a response from ISAC staff.

ISAC also offers assistance through the agency’s call center at (800) 899-4722 (ISAC).

Health care transition means moving from pediatric (child) to adult health care. A good transition takes planning. This tip sheet from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) can help you and your family plan for transition. It includes information on who should help with health care transition planning, where to find resources and steps you can take to get the services you need so you can lead the kind of life you want to have.

Health Care Transition tip sheet in English

Health Care Transition tip sheet in Spanish

RAMP Center for Independent Living (RAMP CIL) helps people with disabilities learn how to use public transportation in Rockford and Belvidere through a cooperative effort with the Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD). RAMP CIL can help individuals learn how to navigate fixed-route buses, read schedules and transition from paratransit to regular service. 

For more information, contact RAMP CIL at (815) 968-7467. Phone hours are:

• Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
• Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) is a nonprofit organization that focuses on programs and support to increase father involvement in children’s lives.  NFI provides webinars, resources to help strengthen families and lead to happier, healthier, and safer communities.that aims to end father absence. They provide a variety of free resources for dads and organizations.

For questions, please call (301) 948-0599 or email info@fatherhood.org.