COVID-19 Resources
Emergency Preparedness Planning for Families and People with Disabilities
Ready.gov provides emergency preparedness tools and information to help families before, during and after disasters. This site includes:
- Step-by-step checklists, tips and individual considerations important to planning for people with disabilities and their families
- Ready Kids age-appropriate materials for helping children and teens be prepared rather than scared
Resources are also available in American Sign Language (ASL) and other languages including Spanish, simplified and traditional Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
Ensuring People Have Access to Prescription Drugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Information from the National Health Law Program
Entry Point for Suburban Cook County
Entry Point’s purpose is to ensure all people experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness have fair and equal access to housing in suburban Cook County.
Individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness can access Entry Point throughout the region. Trained Entry Point staff at access locations work with households to understand their strengths and needs using a standardized assessment. Entry Point uses HUD homeless assistance eligibility guidelines and uniform prioritization policies to refer people to the right programs based on their preferences and levels of need.
Entry Point also helps suburban Cook County make the best matches between homeless assistance resources and the people who need them most.
Envision Unlimited’s Community Living Program
Envision Unlimited’s Community Living Program provides a variety of residential living arrangements and supports to adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Services are individualized and person-centered. The intent is to assist each individual to live in the community in a setting most aligned with his/her preferences and those of his/ her guardian. In-home respite is prioritized for individuals who are not receiving any other funded service and who are on the PUNS wait list.
Eviction Help for Illinois Residents
Eviction Help Illinois is a non-profit organization providing free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance to increase housing stability.
Expensify.org will reimburse families on SNAP benefits to purchase additional essential goods.
Family Caregiver COVID-19 Articles and Resources
The Family Caregiver Alliance provides links to coronavirus-related resources and articles that will be of interest to caregivers and those in their care.
Family Voices Coronavirus Information and Resources
Family Voices has put together COVID-19-related resources that are relevant to families of children and youth with special healthcare needs.
The resources page includes information on the virus itself, housing resources, resources for parents and caregivers, information regarding children and youth adults with complex medical conditions, mental health resources and information in multiple languages.
Family Voices Telehealth Toolkit, Tips and New Telemedicine Family Resource Center
Family-centered telehealth can help children and youth with special healthcare needs and families access health care, improve their experience with health care, reduce stress, improve communication between all team members and across systems, and improve quality of life and well-being. Family Voices features extensive resources to help families and individuals with disabilities better understand, access, prepare for and navigate telehealth appointments.
These resources are in Spanish and English.
“Before, During, and After” is a two-part toolkit providing a checklist and worksheet to help prepare for telehealth visits, note questions or key information during a visit, and provide guidance and clear follow-up steps for each appointment.
This issue of the Family Voices Resource eBlast looks at the special concerns around helping teens cope during this stressful time – from “in my feelings” to moving forward in times of uncertainty.