Resource Directory /

Rockford Resources

  • Tools for Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Youth

    Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has left many children and youth vulnerable to feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine website features information and tools for teaching skills that can help children and youth cope with some of the challenges associated with the pandemic such as:

    • Changes in their routines
    • Breaks in continuity of learning or health care
    • Missed significant life events
    • Lost security and safety

    Individuals can explore the site’s tools focused on children or teens, learn more about the cognitive behavioral therapy practices that went into them, and find additional mental health and wellness resources. These resources are also available in Spanish.

  • Early CHOICES

    Early CHOICES is an inclusion initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education. It promotes increasing high-quality inclusive early care and education for each and every child from birth to age 5. Its goal is to increase the number of children with disabilities receiving specialized services in regular early care and education settings.

    Early CHOICES provides planning tools for families to help them think of inclusive options and prepare for the transition from Early Intervention into early childhood services.

  • Illinois Unidos – COVID-19 Resources for Latinx Families

    Illinois Unidos provides a collection of resources developed for and focusing on Latinx families to address:

    • Frequently asked questions regarding vaccinations and mitigation measures
    • Accessing health, economic and mental health community services
    • Stopping the growth of COVID-19
    • The devastating economic impact of COVID-19

    Illinois Unidos is a consortium of more than 150 Latino elected and appointed officials, health professionals and representatives of community-based organizations.

  • “We Can Do This” COVID-19 Vaccine Information, Toolkits and Resources

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services‘ “We Can Do This” campaign features consistent, fact-based COVID-19 public health information and shareable resources in multiple languages and formats all in one place.

    “We Can Do This” provides facts sheets, posters, social media posts, videos and outreach toolkits on topics including:

    • Tailored information for at-risk groups
    • Booster information
    • Finding and preparing for a COVID-19 vaccine
    • COVID-19 survivor stories and testimonials
    • Ask the doctor videos

  • The Arc’s Virtual Program Library

    The Arc’s Virtual Program Library is a free hub full of on-demand activities that people with disabilities, and their families and service providers can do at home.

    Topics include arts, community and life skills, health and wellness, virtual clubs, and more. Service providers can also find and share resources to facilitate or deliver live, remote programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

  • FoodFinder

    FoodFinder’s free website and app display an interactive food assistance map, helping users find their nearest food pantry or other free food programs anywhere in the United States.

  • RespectAbility’s COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Information for People with Disabilities

    RespectAbility has compiled an extensive list of COVID-19 resources for people with disabilities, including vaccine information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in easy-to-read formats, communications tools in a wide variety of languages and entire toolkits in American Sign Language (ASL).

    They also include a toolkit with steps for making events accessible for all and information focusing on accessibility, well-being and assistance programs from a variety of sources.

  • RespectAbility’s Virtual Education & Students With Disabilities Resource Guide

    RespectAbility’s Virtual Education & Students with Disabilities Resource Guide offers a student with a disability or an adult (parent, guardian, teacher or otherwise) who is championing success for a student with a disability a wide range of information for supporting student success in the time of COVID-19 and beyond.

    The toolkit includes virtual resource guides, homeschool programs, information on legal rights, special education resources, mental health resources and more.