Olney Resources
It’s easy to view self-care as a low priority when your child is diagnosed with a serious illness. Your role as a parent and parenting partner has unexpectedly changed. The child has urgent and complex medical needs; you must manage appointments and service providers, and learn new information about the disease and medical treatment—all while tending to the needs of other family members, work and/or other responsibilities.
The Courageous Parents Network provides this guide to help parents make time and find ways to take care of themselves.
Illinois Computer Equity Network
Illinois has launched a statewide network that will receive, refurbish and redistribute used computers to those in need.
This initiative responds to the 1.1 million Illinois households currently without computers and aims to bridge the digital divide for those without internet access to help improve connectivity essential for remote learning, work from home, telemedicine, and other requirements of everyday life.
The project is a partnership of the state of Illinois, PCs for People and various community partners.
To be eligible, residents must be below 200 percent of the poverty level or enrolled in income-based government assistance programs, such as free or reduced school lunch, Medicaid or SNAP.
Individuals can register for upcoming distribution events in their area to receive a computer, internet or both.
Visit www.pcsforpeople.org/illinois/ or call (618) 215-3787 for more information.
Vaccine Appointment Call Center
The Illinois Department of Public Health has launched the Vaccine Appointment Call Center to help people who do not have access to or who have difficulty navigating online services in making appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The toll-free Vaccine Appointment Call Center phone number is (833) 621-1284 and can take TTY calls.
The call center is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight. The call center has English and Spanish-speaking call agents with the availability for translation into other languages.
Call agents will help individuals who do have access to online services navigate the various registration sites. However, if the individual does not have access to online services or is unable to navigate the site, the agent will make an appointment on their behalf.
Bilingual Parents Video Library
The Illinois Resource Center has put together a library of videos for bilingual parents with videos in French, Tagalog, Urdu, Arabic, Polish, Spanish and English.
Each video showcases subjects and information relevant to parents, caretakers and community members, such as the role of Bilingual Parent Advisory Committees, financial aid for college, tenant rights, multilingual student rights and more.
V-Safe After Vaccination Health Checker
As more Illinois residents become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the Illinois Department of Public Health is encouraging those who receive a COVID-19 vaccination to use the V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker.
V-safe is a smartphone-based tool from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one.
“Social Story” About Getting a Vaccine
The Center for Dignity in Health Care for People with Disabilities at the Univesity of Cincinnati UCEDD provides this two-page “social story” about getting a vaccine.
Vaccine Considerations for People with Disabilities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides this information on what people with disabilities and their care providers need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Menard County Housing Authority – Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Menard County Housing Authority will begin accepting pre-applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Tenant-Based Vouchers).
The letter waitlist will open Feb. 15 and close at 3 p.m. on March 1, 2021.
The areas covered include the following counties: Alexander; Bond; Casey, IL; Clinton; Coles; Crawford; Douglas; Fayette; Jackson; Jasper; Livingston; Macoupin; Massac; Menard; Monroe; Moultrie; Perry, Pulaski; Randolph; Scott and Wabash.
For more information and to apply, visit www.menardcha.org/. Contact (217) 632-7723, option 3, for additional assistance to apply.
What to Expect During and After Your COVID-19 Vaccine
UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children put together this helpful fact sheet to help you know what to expect before and after you receive your COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
All Illinoisans age 5 and up are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) put together this frequently-asked-questions handout to help our participant families make informed decisions about receiving the vaccine.