Chicago Resources
DSCC and Illinois LEND’s Transition Resources for Hispanic Teens in the Chicago Area
The transition to adulthood can be a challenging time for both adolescents and their parents. These challenges can be more difficult when the adolescent has a disability.
Illinois LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities) and the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) partnered to provide helpful information about the unique challenges Hispanic families can face during the transition to adulthood. This resource list is aimed at transition-age teenagers and their families in the Chicago area:
National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG)
The National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who supports them. NACG resources include:
- Free GriefTalk Live events
- Webinars and continuing education
- Peer networking
DSCC’s Emergency Plan Template
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) developed this emergency plan template to help our participant families create an emergency plan to keep them safe and prepared in the event of a disaster or other emergencies.
Sections include emergency contacts, emergency prep tips, evacuation plans and plans for medical emergencies.
DSCC’s Paying for College Tip Sheet
The Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) created this tip sheet to help youth with special healthcare needs and their families learn more about available resources to help pay for college. The tip sheet includes details about possible funding sources and scholarship opportunities:
Illinois Emergency Rental Assistance Programs
The Illinois Emergency Rental Assistance Programs webpage provides updated information about COVID-19 emergency rental assistance programs throughout Illinois. Information is available in multiple languages and includes:
- Programs that are currently open
- Type of assistance provided
- Eligibility requirements
- Where to apply
- How to apply and the documentation needed
Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation – Ollie’s Branch
The Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation (OHHF) offers a variety of information, resources and mental health support for families caring for children with pediatric heart conditions and heart disease. OHHF resources include:
- Free mental health services through Ollie’s Branch. All sessions are completely free regardless of insurance status.
- Financial support for families whose heart warrior is currently inpatient or has been admitted within three months of the request. OHHF Community Outreach requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and can help with housing, utilities, transportation, medical bills, and more.
OHHF’s mental health access program is open to heart-warrior families anywhere in Illinois. Financial support requests may come from anywhere in the United States.
Accessible Chef is a collection of free visual recipes and other resources to help teach cooking skills to individuals with disabilities at home or in a special education classroom.
Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline
The Epilepsy Foundation’s Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline has trained information specialists to help answer your questions about epilepsy and seizures and provide you with help, hope, support, guidance and access to national and local resources. You can access the helpline in several ways:
- Online Help Form
- Phone (English): (800) 332-1000
- Phone (en español): (866) 748-8008
The helpline serves people living with epilepsy, caregivers and friends of someone with epilepsy and anyone who wants to learn more about epilepsy. It can provide information about current epilepsy treatment and alternative therapies, medication questions, support groups, seizure first aid, emotional support and more.
Fathering a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Child: An Onboarding Checklist for Dads
The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Parent to Parent Committee developed a checklist written by fathers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing(D/HH) for dads or any person who feels that they fulfill this role in a child’s life.
“Fathering a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Child: An Onboarding Checklist for Dads” provides information and action steps to support and encourage fathers to take an active role in every aspect of their child’s life from the start. The guide shares information from a dad’s perspective on topics including:
- The ” new dad” learning curve
- Language and communication
- School and legal rights
- Well-being
Guide for New Mental Health Caregivers
Mental Health America has created an online guide to help new mental health caregivers navigate their role. The guide includes information about getting started after a diagnosis, challenging stigma, navigating red tape, understanding challenges during recovery, knowing the role of legal caregivers, taking care of yourself and more.