General Resources
CaringInfo, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers to make decisions about serious illness and end-of-life care and services.
The site provides guides and resources about topics including advance directives, palliative care, caregiving and hospice care.
Caritas Family Solutions is a non-profit social services agency that works to meet the physical, social and emotional needs of people in southern Illinois.
Services include adoption support, foster care, community integrated living arrangements, counseling, parenting classes, pregnancy care and more.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet serves people in need in Will, Grundy, DuPage, Kendall, Kankakee, Ford and Iroquois counties. Its programs and services include:
- Information and assistance
- Caregiver support groups
- Crisis intervention
- Volunteer opportunities for older adults and persons with disabilities
- Mobile food pantry
Catholic Charities Social Services Archdiocese of Chicago
Catholic Charities Social Services Archdiocese of Chicago provides help including homelessness prevention, food and basic needs, and crisis assistance. needshelp and crisis services. It also connects people to other organizations that can help with emergency assistance in Chicago, suburban Cook County and Lake County. Services include:
- Burial and funeral assistance
- Case management services
- Emergency rental assistance
- Utility assistance
- Emergency shelter services
- Stabilization services (pharmaceutical assistance, transportation assistance, clothing vouchers)
The organization also provides family support programs, including child care and pregnancy and parenting support services, domestic violence support, behavioral health programs, and immigrant and refugee support.
CDC’s Developmental Milestones for Children
From birth to age 5, your child should reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act and move.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides developmental milestones checklists to help track your child’s development and act early if you have a concern.
The CDC also has a free Milestone Tracker App with photos and videos that illustrate each developmental milestone. You can use the app to track your child’s development and find out what to do if you have concerns.
CEDA: Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County
CEDA: Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County offers a variety of services to families and individuals in need.
Its programs include:
- Utility bill assistance with gas, electric, water and furnace repair
- Home weatherization providing long-term home repair solutions to reduce energy costs and make homes more energy efficient
- Housing services including housing information counseling, education and advice for homebuyers, homeowners, renters and the homeless
- Services for women, infants and children including food, education and support for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children under age 5
Census Information Packet for People with Disabilities
Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition (Chicagoland DPOCC), the Institute on Disability and Human Development and Counting on Chicago Coalition came together to create a helpful tool for those who want to learn more about the 2020 U.S. Census and how it affects disability communities throughout the country, including people with disabilities who live in Chicago.
Census 101: #IAmCounted is a packet where you can find out what the census means, how the census can help communities (including the disability community), ways to complete the census and more.
If you would like to get the packet in a different language, email chicagolandpocc@gmail.com.
Center for Disability and Elder Law
The Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) provides free legal services to low-income seniors and people with disabilities throughout Cook County. CDEL offers programs and appointments at community sites on matters including:
- Adult guardianship
- Financial and housing stability
- Estate and end-of-life planning
- Divorce
The Center of Concern is a non-profit social service agency providing housing solutions, support services and counselors for individuals with disabilities, older adults and others in need in Cook County, enabling them to live safely and independently.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
A resource to search Medicaid Waivers for each state.