Chicago Resources
Illinois COVID-19 Testing Sites
The Illinois Department of Public Health provides a list of COVID-19 testing sites at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/testing.html.
A list is also available at https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/testing-sites.
Complex Child’s COVID-19 Information
Complex Child, an online magazine written by parents of children with special healthcare needs and disabilities, has created a special section on tips and information about COVID-19 and children who are medically complex.
Children/Youth with Special Healthcare Needs – COVID-19 Checklist
The Ohio Department of Public Health developed this checklist for families of children with special healthcare needs to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Can Parents Find Safe Child Care in Emergencies?
Stop It Now! provides guidance about how to safely approach emergency care needs for children.
Young Children at Home During the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Importance of Self-Care
Information from Zero to Three in English and Spanish about why self-care is essential for parents during the pandemic.
A self-care assessment tool from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Coronavirus Resources & Tips for Parents, Children & Others
Prevent Child Abuse America provides concrete tips for physically distancing while staying emotionally and socially connected.
Illinois’ Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) SNAP Benefits Program
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program provides benefits to children who receive free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Program to help their families buy groceries.
P-EBT is a temporary food benefit program operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. P-EBT only provides benefits for days that students are remote learning, but without being offered a meal at school, or home for an approved COVID-related absence.
For each day that K-12 schoolchildren lack access to an in-school lunch, P-EBT provides eligible families with $6.82 in benefits per student, per day. These benefits are provided on a card that can be used like a debit card to purchase food at any grocery store that accepts LINK cards.
Beginning in March 2021, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will issue P-EBT benefits to families with eligible children for the 2020-21 school year. Families receiving regular SNAP and non-SNAP households can qualify for P-EBT benefits.
See the Frequently Asked Questions on P-EBT for more details. The Greater Chicago Food Depository also has helpful information on P-EBT on its website at www.chicagosfoodbank.org/p-ebt-benefits/.
Please contact IDHS with questions at (800) 843-6154. (Note that the Division of Specialized Care for Children does not operate this program.)
The Little Gym is sharing free online gymnastics classes for babies, toddlers and school children on its YouTube channel.
City of Chicago Emergency Assistance Registry for People with Disabilities or Special Needs
The City of Chicago has created a voluntary registry for individuals who may need assistance in the event of an emergency.
Individuals with disabilities or special needs or their caregivers can sign up at www.cityofchicago.org/voluntaryregistry/ or contact the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) at (312) 744-7050 for additional information.