Financial Assistance and Grant Programs Resources
The National Phenylketonuria (PKU) Alliance (NPKUA) provides help with understanding and managing PKU from diagnosis to adulthood. NPKUA resources include a New Parent Support Kit, a Kindergarten Kit for children entering kindergarten, a downloadable PKU Binder Toolkit, guides for educators and information on the latest treatments, insurance coverage and terms, a mentor program, cooking and food, research grants and more.
NPKUA hosts “Community Call.” These monthly peer support groups offer a place for sharing and connecting with others who understand the unique challenges of living with PKU. Please see the events calendar on NPKUA’s website for meeting times and other details for each of the following groups:
- Caregivers of children ages 0 to 3
- Caregivers of children ages 3 to 12
- Caregivers of teens ages 13 to 17
- Adults with PKU ages 18+
- Adults with PKU ages 40+
The National Resources for Access, Independence, Self-Determination and Employment (RAISE) Technical Assistance Center provides technical assistance and resources to support youth and young adults with disabilities and their families during the transition to adulthood. RAISE provides information, toolkits, webinars and support to help individuals:
- Better understand vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs and services
- Communicate more effectively with transition, rehabilitation and other professionals
- Understand the Rehabilitation Act and how it supports employment, supported employment and independent living
- Develop an Individualized Plan for Employment
RAISE’s resources include:
- The RAISE Youth Engagement Toolkit Series
- Parent Centers
- Resources for self-advocates, families, partners and parent centers
- Adult Ally Toolkit and Podcasts – to guide and empower adults in disability advocacy, post-secondary transition, education and beyond
Many of the resources are also available in Spanish.
For questions, email RAISE using the form on the Contact Us page.
NeedyMeds is a national non-profit organization providing information on healthcare and medication programs designed to help people afford their medications and other healthcare costs. NeedyMeds can help with paying for prescriptions, finding a free clinic and understanding your healthcare options. All the information is free, easy to access and updated regularly.
NeedMeds also offers:
- A toll-free helpline at (800) 503-6897 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- A directory of affordable health clinics for medical, dental, behavioral health and substance abuse services
- Assistance with finding a private or government-funded organization offering help with treatment costs associated with specific diagnoses
- A Patient Assistance Program (PAP) providing free or discounted medicines to people who are unable to afford them
- Information on coupons, savings cards, rebates and co-pays
New Kingdom Trailriders (NKT) in Sherrard offers therapeutic horseback riding lessons for children ages 4 and up and adults with autism, mental illness, disabilities and other challenges. The lessons help promote mental focus, fine and gross motor skills, coordination, social skills and self-confidence. NKT serves residents in the greater Quad City area and surrounding communities. A limited number of scholarships are offered per riding session to individuals with proven financial need.
For questions, please contact NKT at (309) 764-4220 or info@nktriders.org.
New Lenox Transportation Service
New Lenox Transportation Service provides safe, affordable and reliable transportation for all New Lenox Township residents. Transportation is provided within the New Lenox Township and Village, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Rides are also available to the Mokena, Frankfort and Joliet areas for medical and physical therapy appointments or employment for New Lenox Township residents ages 22 years and older with disabilities. You must make reservations by telephone.
Transportation office hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule a ride, please call transportation services manager Debbie Cunningham at (815) 485-6431.
NORD: National Organization for Rare Disorders
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) offers support, information and a variety of events for clinicians, researchers, patients and families affected by rare diseases.
NORD’s Resource Center provides patients and caregivers with free webinars, fact sheets, infographics, support and advocacy groups links, and referrals for rare disorders.
NORD’s RareCare Program website provides a list of financial assistance programs that can help patients obtain life-saving or life-sustaining medication they could not otherwise afford.
NORD’s State Resource Center contains local, state and national organizations listed by state or by topic offering free or low-cost services for people impacted by rare diseases.
NORD’s free, self-paced online course “From Records to Research: Making Sense of Health Data for Rare Diseases” provides help for understanding health data, research participation and how both contribute to improving treatments and care. The course is available:
North Shore Gas Assistance Options
If you cannot pay your energy bill due to financial difficulties, North Shore Gas has flexible payment arrangement plans or energy assistance options that may help.
They also include information about these programs:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
- Share the Warmth, company- and customer-funded heating grants
North West Housing Partnership (NWHP)
North West Housing Partnership (NWHP) programs cover a broad area of the suburban northwest, west and Chicagoland area. It offers a variety of housing and handyman programs for seniors 60 years and older and people with disabilities, 18 or over, in need of simple repairs in the communities of:
- Arlington Heights
- Buffalo Grove
- Mount Prospect
- Palatine
- Rolling Meadows
- Des Plaines
- All of Palatine and Wheeling Townships
- Oak Park Township (including Oak Park and River Forest).
NWHP also offers:
- Housing workshops and seminars
- Handyman and CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place Advancing Better Living for Elders) programs for people with disabilities ages 18 and up
- The Home Repair Accessibility Program (HRAP) in Cook, Kane and DuPage counties, funded by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), to help homeowners address home accessibility issues that affect the health or safety of their families
For more information, visit the Contact Us page on NWHP’s website.
Northeast Community Fund in Decatur
Northeast Community Fund helps families in the Decatur and Macon County community with food, clothing, household goods and funding for utility payments, obtaining IDs, baby formula and wipes, emergency lodging and prescription medicines. The organization’s food pantry provides monthly food baskets to those in need. It also operates a microfinance program and a program for families to work with a staff member and a mentor to achieve short- and long-term goals towards self-sufficiency.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank delivers food and healthy eating services across 13 counties (Boone, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago counties). The Northern Illinois Food Bank provides weekly drive-thru Mobile Markets with free and fresh groceries, an online food pantry, a recipes and nutrition hub, and free economic mobility learning resources.
