Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Champaign-Urbana Healthy Beginnings
Healthy Beginnings is a free, evidence-based initiative for moms in the Champaign, Urbana and Savoy area who are first-time moms less than 29 weeks pregnant and moms with other children who are pregnant. Its goal is to help ensure children and their families have an opportunity to be prosperous and live the healthiest life they can.
Healthy Beginnings works with eligible mothers and their families to help bring the healthcare, support and resources together that fit individual circumstances, including:
- Nurse home visiting care/support for pregnant moms & their families (with interpreter services)
- Mobile clinic services
- Child and family education
- Employment opportunities
- Access to healthy food
For more information or to make a referral, call (217) 365-7925 or email referral@cuhealthybeginnings.com.
Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation
The Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation provides opportunities and resources to critically and chronically ill children and their families.
The program includes The Tiana Fund, which provides assistance to economically at-risk persons or families in need that will strengthen their ability to care for themselves, enhance their stability and security, and improve their quality of life or their ability to contribute to the community. Applications are only available at Chicago-area hospitals or pre-approved community organizations.
The American Heart Association’s Support Network, in partnership with The Children’s Heart Foundation, provides a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Support Network for parents of young children diagnosed with CHDs or adults living with a CHD.
CHECK is an innovative health and behavioral health care delivery organization working to improve overall health and quality of life by making sure that patients and their families receive the resources and care they need.
The CHECK team provides comprehensive and coordinated health and behavioral health care coordination to patients across the lifespan. Its team consists of Care Coordinators and Behavioral Health Care Coordinators who provide assistance with navigating the healthcare system, referrals to health and social services, and offer ongoing patient and family support with the goal of improving physical, behavioral, and social well-being.
The CHECK program is located in the Department of Pediatrics in the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System (UI Health) and operates as the Department of Pediatrics Clinical Population and Behavioral Health Program.
CHECK also provides disease-specific education modules on sickle cell disease, diabetes, asthma and prematurity.
For questions, please call (844) 997-2273 or complete the online form on CHECK’s Contact Us page.
Cherished Creations grants two types of “wishes” to help children who are seriously ill or have disabilities (up to 21 years old). “Dreams Wishes” provide help with trips, attending special events or buying gifts to better a child’s life within the lower 48 states. “Support Wishes” fulfill practical needs such as ramps, medical equipment not covered by insurance and other needs, especially for children who might not be able to live at home otherwise.
You can find Cherished Creations eligibility rules and applications on its website.
Chicago and Illinois Mental Health Agencies and Organizations
The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health provides this list of mental health agencies and organizations in Chicago and statewide.
The list includes Asian Human Services, the Chicago LGBT Youth Resource Guide, counseling services, health centers and more.
Chicago Autism Network and Therapy Assistance Grants
The Chicago Autism Network is a nonprofit dedicated to helping locals find and afford effective autism therapy and supports.
The network offers therapy assistance grants for anyone living in Illinois with a current autism diagnosis. It also holds free monthly Autism Parent Workshops.
The Chicago Autism Network also provides a statewide Autism Services Directory to help families connect with services that meet their needs closer to home.
The Chicago Child Trauma Center (CCTC) serves Chicago-area children ages 1 to 18 affected by traumatic events including physical and sexual abuse, witnessing violence and complex trauma. The center aims to provide expert-level trauma care to children and their families and address social justice issues.
CCTC clinicians include psychologists, social workers, counselors and case managers who have specialized training and expertise in trauma assessment and treatment models. Care includes case management, advocacy and collaboration with outside providers.
If you are seeking services for a child who has been exposed to trauma and is in need of therapeutic services, contact CCTC’s intake coordinator at (773) 374-3748, ext. 2221, to determine if these services would be a good fit.
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Family Activities
Chicago Children’s Theatre shares a variety of instructional videos and activity ideas, including tapestry weaving, coloring books, making a shadow puppet theatre and more.
This site is a directory for locating dentists in the Chicago area.