Springfield Resources
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resources
This tip sheet from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) aims to help guide parents and caregivers through the steps to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). It links to several websites and provides general guidelines.
Please note information may change, so be sure to go directly to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) website to verify information remains accurate and up to date.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)’s Resiliency Toolkit is a collection of resources designed to foster safe and healthy school climates. In response to the growing mental health challenges that Illinois youth face, this toolkit offers developmentally appropriate tools to help students, parents, caregivers and school personnel build the resilience necessary to thrive.
ISBE’s Resiliency Toolkit topics include:
- Mental health
- Discrimination and harassment
- Preventing and addressing bullying
- Substance use prevention and more
Cook For Love is a nonprofit organization providing support, resources and education to individuals, families and clinicians managing phenylketonuria (PKU). The site empowers members of the metabolic disorders community to improve their health through cooking and education.
Cook for Love’s website includes:
- Recipes for creating low-protein foods
- Information about low-protein products to keep in your pantry
- Step-by-step instructions
- Videos for making meals and treats
Complex Care at Home for Children
The Complex Care at Home for Children website aims to provide an educational resource for parents and caregivers of children with medical complexity. The site offers information and tools to help facilitate daily care, ensuring a safe environment for the child and family. Topics include:
- Tracheostomy and other types of respiratory care
- Peritoneal dialysis
- Enterostomy care
- Enteral nutrition
- Parenteral nutrition
- Intravenous antibiotic therapy
- Intermittent bladder catheterization
Illinois Poison Center’s Caregivers Guide
The Illinois Poison Center’s Caregivers Guide webpage offers practical advice on keeping children safe from potentially harmful substances. The guide provides general safety tips along with concrete steps for medicine safety, handbag/purse safety and plant safety. It also offers:
- Related resources
- Free online poison prevention education training, educational materials and presentation tools
- Next steps for when children eat something they shouldn’t
You can also download a PDF of the guide:
In case of emergency, call the Poison Center Helpline at (800) 222-1222. Calls are free and confidential.
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) provides research, resources and advocacy to improve the quality of life and health of people of all ages with food allergy. Food allergy can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. FARE supports food allergy research, education programs for people with and without food allergy, and awareness around healthcare options and treatment.
FARE programs and services also include:
- “Teen Talk,” a monthly virtual hangout for preteens, teens, and young adults with food allergies
- Allergy alerts and ingredient notices
- A Food Allergy Guide, toolkits and other downloadable resources in English and Spanish
- Resources for dieticians and other healthcare professionals
- Recipes
- Support groups
University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center Sensory Friendly Initiatives
The UIS Performing Arts Center is a certified Sensory Inclusive Venue through KultureCity. Most sensory friendly shows are in the UIS Studio Theatre with limited lighting and sound changes. Audience members can also move, speak, sing along, and come and go as needed. Trained staff can also help guests with sensory needs. The UIS Performing Arts Center’s sensory-friendly initiatives also include sensory bags, weighted lap pads, quiet areas, social stories and more.
Junior Achievement USA and Illinois Chapters
Junior Achievement USA (JA) helps young people own their economic success, plan for their future and make smart academic and economic choices. The organization offers educational materials for schools and other organizations and hands-on learning experiences for students focusing on work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. JA Connect also provides online self-guided activities to help students learn, apply and practice new skills. JA outreach in Illinois also includes:
John Wood Community College Services for Students With Disabilities
John Wood Community College (JWCC) offers various support services to help students in Adams and Brown County succeed in the classroom. Students with disabilities can get help exploring career options, finding resources to pay for college, tutoring and more. Other programs include:
- College for Life (CFL) program
- JWCC Disability Services
- Perkins Student Support
- TRiO Student Support Services (TRiO SSS), a federal grant that provides free help to 175 qualifying JWCC students who are first-generation college students, meet income guidelines, or who have a disability.
Do It for the Love inspires hope and healing through music. The non-profit organization grants live concert wishes for people with life-threatening illnesses, children with severe challenges and wounded veterans. You can apply for yourself or your child or nominate someone for a live music wish.