Resource Directory /

Medical/Health and Wellness Resources

  • Equestrian Connection in Lake Forest

    Equestrian Connection provides therapy programs for children and adults with mental, emotional and physical challenges and disabilities. Programs include hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, art therapy, job training and more. Class instructors are clinically licensed occupational and physical therapists, experienced clinicians and instructors, and trained volunteers.

    Programs are available in individual and group settings. For more information, call Equestrian Connection at (847) 615 8696.

  • Erie House

    Erie House is a social services nonprofit organization that aims to provide the most comprehensive support immigrant and low-income families in Chicago need to thrive. Its services include:

    • Legal service: Its in-house team of attorneys and legal representatives helps clients navigate the U.S. citizenship and immigration system, keeping families together, and allowing them to achieve a greater sense of security.
    • Mental health: Clinical therapists provide free, individual, social-emotional and behavioral counseling services to support children, teens, adults and families when they need it most. 
    • Children and youth: Erie House works with young people from infancy through high school graduation to equip them with tools and resources to build a bright future, including educational programs and activities, mentoring and family support. 
    • Adult education and training: Through foundational academic and professional programs like ESL (English as a Second Language), civics education, workforce development and more, Erie House aims to provide the tools adults need for long-term success. 
    •  Community wellness and support services: Erie House offers workshops, support groups and counseling, all through a trauma-informed and culturally-sensitive lens. 

    Visit the Erie House website for a list of its locations throughout Chicago and the contact form.

  • Every Step of the Way Resource Center for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

    Every Step of the Way (ESW) takes a hands-on, person-centered approach to providing support, networking opportunities and resources for individuals with mild to profound intellectual disabilities ages 20 and up and their parents/caregivers. ESW seeks to create a community where parents/caregivers in Chicago can:

    • Find resources for recreation, education, health (mental and physical), social and daily living skills, and behavioral intervention services
    • Network with each other
    • Brainstorm and collaborate to create programming and develop opportunities for their adult children
    • Advocate and network to accommodate the needs of their adult child and the adult children in the ESW community

    For questions or more information, contact ESW at (773) 231-6376 or info@esw2022.org.

  • Exceptional Learners Collaborative

    The Exceptional Learners’ Collaborative (ELC) is a special education cooperative and joint agreement between four school districts in Vernon Hills, Ill. (Lake County). The ELC provides services to students with special needs, ages 3 through 22. Its website offers information and resources on transition, employment, housing, mental health, parent advocacy and empowerment, the One Community parent-to-parent support group and more.

    ELC provides services and support in communities including Buffalo Grove, Kildeer, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods, Prairie View, Hawthorn Woods, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Lake Zurich, Mettawa, Fox Lake, and Spring Grove.

    If you have any questions, please call (224) 513-6444.

  • FacingDisability

    FacingDisability provides stories, hundreds of resources on paralysis, and up-to-date information on spinal cord injury. The organization works with medical experts from major hospitals, universities and rehabilitation institutions nationwide to provide insight and inspiration. FacingDisability resource topics include:

    • Disability advocates
    • Family and caregiver support
    • Assistive technology
    • Financial assistance and government programs
    • Education and employment

    If you have any questions, please contact FacingDisability at (312) 284-2525 or email info@facingdisability.com.

  • Families, Addiction and Mental Health Network

    The Caregiver Action Network’s Families, Addiction & Mental Health Network (FAM) is committed to helping and supporting caregivers, families, and patients navigate specialized supports and resources.

    FAM recognizes the diversity and specialized support caregivers need to navigate substance use disorders and mental health care. FAM can connect caregivers with tailored tools and news to help navigate the complex mental healthcare landscape and advocate for their loved ones, and take care of their own health. FAM also provides educational articles, webinars, training, and other resources with lessons from fellow caregivers, healthcare professionals, social workers and others.

    For more information, fill out the Contact form on FAM’s website.

  • Family Connections with Pediatrics

    “Family Connections with Pediatrics” is a series of family-written blogs summarizing research articles in Pediatrics Journal. Each blog explains the “scientific literature” findings and what they may mean for families, including:

    • Examples of how the findings apply to real-life situations
    • Suggestions for ways that families and healthcare professionals can work together for the health and well-being of children and families

  • Family Voices “My Language, My Care” Language Access Rights and Services Course

    Family Voices’ “My Language, My Care” is a free online, plain language course to help increase awareness, understanding and use of language access rights and services for families whose preferred language is not English. The course is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and American Sign Language.

    Family Voices’ My Language, My Care course will provide:

    • An understanding of their rights under the law
    • Information about interpreter confidentiality
    • Tools to advocate for high-quality language access services in the healthcare setting
    • A certificate of completion after finishing all six modules of the training course
    • Access to a free toolkit with information from the course in English, Spanish and Chinese

    For questions, contact Family Voices at (781) 674-7224 or use the online Contact Us form.

  • Family Voices Telehealth Toolkit, Tips and New Telemedicine Family Resource Center

    Family-centered telehealth can help children and youth with special healthcare needs and families access health care, improve their experience with health care, reduce stress, improve communication between all team members and across systems, and improve quality of life and well-being. Family Voices features extensive resources to help families and individuals with disabilities better understand, access, prepare for and navigate telehealth appointments.

    These resources are in Spanish and English.

    “Before, During, and After” is a two-part toolkit providing a checklist and worksheet to help prepare for telehealth visits, note questions or key information during a visit, and provide guidance and clear follow-up steps for each appointment.

  • Fathering a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Child: An Onboarding Checklist for Dads

    The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Parent to Parent Committee developed a checklist written by fathers of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) for dads or anyone who feels they fulfill this role in a child’s life.

    “Fathering a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Child: An Onboarding Checklist for Dads” provides information and action steps to support and encourage fathers to take an active role in every aspect of their child’s life from the start. The guide shares information from a dad’s perspective on topics including:

    • The ” new dad” learning curve
    • Language and communication
    • School and legal rights
    • Well-being