COVID-19 Resources
Home Activities for Families: Ideas to Help Keep Kids of All Ages Occupied and Entertained
The Arc of Illinois offers this list of possible activities/resources as a public service.
Home Visiting is Essential—Information for Families During COVID-19
Home visiting is an essential service for families as they navigate social isolation, economic uncertainty, the challenge of balancing work without child care, and other unique and heightened stressors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This fact sheet provides information on how to access virtual home visiting and how it can benefit families.
Homeless Assistance Community Contacts
Illinois has many designated Continuum of Care agencies in local communities that can help people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness to find affordable housing in local communities.
Homeless Prevention Program in Illinois
The Homeless Prevention Program in Illinois provides rental/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, approved case management and approved supportive services directly related to the prevention of homelessness to eligible individuals and families who are in danger of eviction, foreclosure or homelessness or are currently homeless. The program is designed to stabilize individuals and families in their existing homes, shorten the amount of time that individuals and families stay in shelters and assist individuals and families with securing affordable housing.
Contact a Homeless Prevention Provider from the list to receive services.
Housing Forward’s mission is to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. It offers a full range of programs and services that include emergency assistance, prevention and stabilization services; employment readiness; supportive housing; and homelessness prevention.
Housing Forward serves the following 21 communities in west Cook County: Bellwood, Berkeley, Berwyn, Broadview, Chicago (Austin), Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Forest View, Franklin Park, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, Schiller Park, Stickney, Stone Park and Westchester.
In addition, Housing Foward serves clients who choose to live in Brookfield, Lyons, North Riverside, Riverside and LaGrange through its supportive housing programs.
How Can Parents Find Safe Child Care in Emergencies?
Stop It Now! provides guidance about how to safely approach emergency care needs for children.
How Do Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind Communicate at the Hospital During COVID-19?
Information from the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center.
How Is the Flu Different From COVID-19?
Influenza and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to tell them apart. HealthyChildren.org put together information on both infections and ways to protect your family.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides these tips for how parents can help children with speech and language disorders succeed in a virtual and or modified in-person learning environment.
ASHA also provides tips for parents on maximizing success of virtual treatment sessions: infographic and video.
How Teenagers Can Protect Their Mental Health During Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Unicef provides six strategies for teens facing a new (temporary) normal.