Family and Caregiving Support Resources
Sesame Street in Communities is an online community that provides multimedia tools in both English and Spanish for parents, caregivers and providers to support children from birth to age 6.
The site covers a wide range of topics including school readiness, healthy minds and bodies, emergency planning and tough issues such as divorce, hunger and other traumatic experiences. It features videos, activities, printables and digital interactives fearing Sesame Street characters.
Share Our Spare collects new and gently-used items for children ages 0-5 and donates them to low-income families living in Metropolitan Chicago. Items are not available directly: instead, Share our Spare reaches families in need by partnering with local social services organizations that provide their clients with needed social services such as parenting classes, early childhood education, housing referrals, job readiness training, and behavioral health services.
Share Our Spare partners with social service agencies representing 120 zip codes in the following counties: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, McLean, Will and Winnebago.
Sibling Grief and Bereavement Toolkit for Children and Teens
The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition’s (PPCC) Sibling Grief and Bereavement Toolkit aims to address the needs and concerns of children and teens who have experienced the death of their sibling with medical complexities. The toolkit provides information to help adults understand how children and teens may process their grief and how to provide comfort to help them heal.
The toolkit can help with:
- The many feelings siblings might experience
- Therapeutic activities families can do together
- More resources for encouraging and guiding conversations
The Sibling Leadership Network provides siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters. Their website offers ways to get involved, policy and advocacy information, and family-specific resources, including resources for teenage/young adult siblings, adult siblings, and parents and family members.
If you have any questions, please use the online Sibling Leadership Network contact form.
The Sibling Support Project is a national program dedicated to the lifelong and ever-changing concerns of millions of brothers and sisters of people with special health, developmental and mental health needs.
The project offers support, resources, opportunities to connect with other siblings and “Sibshops” for school-age brothers and sisters of kids with special needs.
The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition (PPCC) and Courageous Parents Network (CPN) provide resources to help parents, caregivers and medical professionals focus on giving special attention to siblings who are living and sharing their lives with a brother or sister with medical complexities.
Their Sibling Support Toolkit provides videos, activities, podcasts, a guided pathway and other resources to support parents and siblings as they navigate the ups, downs, setbacks and joys that make up their day-to-day lives.
Siblings with a Mission is an international organization that supports siblings and families of individuals with complex health conditions and developmental disabilities. The organization serves both siblings and sibling supporters (parents, grandparents, friends, healthcare providers, professionals, etc.) of all ages and backgrounds. It provides:
- Sibling support groups focused on a specific diagnosis or disability
- SibSpot, a place where siblings and sibling supporters can read stories about sibling heroes and meet other siblings from around the world
- Resource lists and more
For questions, email siblingswithamission@gmail.com.
Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois provides resources, education and support for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) and their caregivers. Its website includes information about:
- Current SCD treatment options
- Virtual monthly support groups on Zoom
- GroupMe app support groups (the app is for use on cell phones or computers)
- SCD testing and newborn screening
- Scholarships and camp opportunities
- Events
For questions, please contact the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois at (773) 526-5016 or sicklecelldisease-illinois@scdai.org.
SIP Arts Foundation, Inc. is an Illinois nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. It offers community education on special education laws, disability rights and advocacy. The foundation also offers opportunities to provide a voice and foster healing through creative expression in the arts. SIP Arts Foundation programs include:
- One-on-one person-centered planning that maps each family’s goals and next steps
- Free community meals that reduce isolation and bring families together
- Group advocacy workshops where every family leaves with a personalized binder organizing their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), rights and records
- Pathways to Expression, an inclusive studio arts program in Belleville for children ages 4 to 12 with and without disabilities
- Self-advocacy programming in St. Clair and Madison counties that helps young people find their voice and prepare for the transition to post-secondary education and employment
For questions, please visit SIP Arts Foundation’s “Let’s Connect” page or email info@sipartsfoundation.org.
Sleep Help for Individuals With ASD
Autism Speaks offers parents helpful tips for establishing good sleep hygiene and tool kits targeting sleep strategies for children, teens and adults on the spectrum.