Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS)
Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS) serves youth ages 11 to 17 who are involved in the legal system or at risk of crisis (homelessness, etc.). CCBY provides programs to help stabilize families and prevent or minimize involvement in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. Anyone can request services for an eligible youth, including the youth.
CCBY services include:
- Assessments
- Statewide 24/7 crisis intervention services
- Juvenile justice system intervention services
- Placement services for crisis youth – shelter, foster care, etc.
You can contact the toll-free CCBYS Information Line at (877) 870-2663.
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) Fact Sheets and Articles
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are conditions that are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides fact sheets, articles, patient stories and more to help you understand CHDs and their affect across the lifespan.
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.
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.
Cook For Love is a nonprofit organization providing support, resources and education to individuals, families and clinicians managing phenylketonuria (PKU). The site empowers members of the metabolic disorders community to improve their health through cooking and education.
Cook for Love’s website includes:
- Recipes for creating low-protein foods
- Information about low-protein products to keep in your pantry
- Step-by-step instructions
- Videos for making meals and treats
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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a series of YouTube videos on COVID-19 with information in American Sign Language.
COVID-19 Vaccine Preparation Checklist for Kids
The COVID-19 vaccine is now recommended for children ages 6 months old and up. To help you prepare for your child’s vaccination, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides information about the vaccine and a step-by-step checklist of questions or other health-related topics you may want to discuss with your child’s pediatrician or primary care doctor when scheduling your vaccine appointment.
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.