Family and Caregiving Support Resources
Congenital Heart Disease Information and Resources
The American Heart Association provides information and resources on congenital heart disease (CHDs). It includes details on common types of heart defects, understanding risks, symptoms, the diagnostic process, care and treatment, personal stories, and tools and resources for families.
The page also includes an animated video from the American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation to help parents navigate difficult conversations with siblings (and other young family members) of children with CHDs. The video aims to help siblings and young people better understand how they can support a loved one living with congenital heart disease.
Conquering CHD provides awareness, knowledge, community and research to conquer congenital heart disease and defects (CHDs).
The Conquering CHD website includes resources to help patients and caregivers understand CHDs from childhood through the teen years and adulthood.
Contact Ministries in Springfield
Contact Ministries is a non-profit, faith-based, social service organization serving the greater Springfield community. It provides free on-site support services and emergency shelter to single women, women with children, families and individuals in poverty.
Contact Ministries provides:
- Referrals
- Food and clothing
- Emergency shelter and transitional housing
- Financial assistance and other programs
Call Contact Ministries at (217) 753-3939.
Conversation Guides for End-of-Life Care
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) provides free Conversation Guides to help you have conversations with a family member, friend, or other loved one about your – or their – wishes for care through the end of life.
All the guides are available to download and print at home for free. The guides include:
- Your Guide to Choosing a Health Care Proxy
- Your Guide to Being a Health Care Proxy
- Your Guide to Talking With a Health Care Team
- What Matters to Me Workbook
- Guide for Caregivers of a Child With Serious Illness
The guides are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.
The Courageous Parents Network (CPN) is a nonprofit that aims to empower, support and equip families and providers caring for children with a serious medical condition.
CPN presents educational resources in an array of formats — including video, audio story, downloadable guides, blogs, events and more — with a singular goal: to give parents confidence that they are being the best possible advocate for their child. Curated resources include:
- Navigating medical complexity
- NeuroJourney – information and support for families grappling with the medical, social and emotional aspects of Severe Neurological Impairment
- Coping with loss
- The “Managing Pain in Children with Complex Chronic Conditions” guide in English and Spanish
Creative Healing for Youth in Pain
Creative Healing for Youth in Pain (CHYP) is a nonprofit organization serving youth between the ages of 13 and 24 who are experiencing pain, feelings of isolation and loneliness. CHYP provides educational resources, peer connection and exposure to creative healing experiences to help bridge the gap between common healthcare barriers such as cost, geographic location and long wait times for appointments. Resources are available for both youth and their parents.
CHYP resources include:
- Information on the science of pain
- Strategies for breaking the pain cycle
- On-demand webinars for youth and parents
- Monthly open Zoom meetings for youth (ages 13 to 24)
- Small group and Zoom meetings for parents
- Summer camp
For questions, fill out CHYP’s online form or email admin@mychyp.org.
The Crisis Text Line serves anyone in any type of crisis, 24 hours a day. Trained crisis counselors will respond and help you:
- English, text HOME to 741741
- Spanish, text HOLA to 741741 or text to 442-AYUDAME in WhatsApp
If you are a caregiver, the Crisis Text Line and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) have teamed up to provide free, 24/7 support to help you navigate the stresses and demands of providing care. Caregivers needing mental health support can text TOUGH to 741741.
Crosswalk Community Action Agency
Crosswalk Community Action Agency (CCAA) offers a variety of programs and services to help individuals and families in Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson and Williamson Counties. CCAA programs address the “day-to-day” needs and help individuals work to become self-sufficient.
Programs include:
- A Diaper Program
- Emergency Services
- Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
- Food Pantry
- Homeless Prevention Services
- Home Repair and Rehabilitation
- Home Weatherization (IHWAP)
- Scholarships
For questions, please contact CCAA Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (618) 937-3581. You can also email reception@crosswalkcaa.com anytime.
CU Early – Birth to 3 Home Visiting Program
CU Early is a free home-visiting program that serves children from birth to age three and their families in Champaign, Urbana and Mahomet. Operated through the Urbana Early Childhood School, the program focuses on child development, family support and early literacy. Skilled parent educators provide families with child development resources, support and guidance through home visiting services. Services also include support for expecting parents, monthly playgroups, weekly support groups for teen parents, and individualized activities with parents to support their child’s ongoing development.
All CU Early services are free to families. For more information about CU Early, please call (217) 384-3616 or email Kelly Russell at krussell@usd116.org.
Cued Speech Program for Families of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
Cue College’s Cue Family Program provides a free, online Cued Speech class to families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Cued Speech combines a small number of simple hand cues with the natural mouth movements of speech to make the sounds or “phonemes” of spoken language clear through vision alone.
The Cue Family Program includes free access for one year to the online Cue College course, “CS100 – Introduction to Cued American English – Self Study”, for parents, guardians, additional family members and caregivers of a child with hearing loss or other communication challenges.