Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Illinois Unidos is a coalition of 150-plus Latino healthcare providers, policymakers, experts, nonprofits and leaders that aims to ensure every Latino family in Illinois has equal access to high-quality health care and comprehensive public services.
The coalition partners with the Illinois Department of Insurance to help uninsured and underinsured Latino residents. You can visit Illinois Unidos’ Get Covered page to enroll in a health plan with the help of its free Health Navigators. The page also includes frequently asked questions about the Affordable Care Act and Healthcare.gov.
For more information about Illinois Unidos, call (773) 492-3889 or email Support@illinoisUnidos.org.
If you or one of your family members has mental health and/or substance use challenges and would like to receive support by phone, call the Illinois Warm Line at (866) 359-7953.
Wellness support specialists are professionals who have experienced mental health and/or substance use recovery in their own lives. They are trained in recovery support, mentoring and advocacy.
The Illinois Warm Line is not a crisis hotline, but is a source of support as you recover or help a family member to recover. Illinois Warm Line hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) also provides a list of state and national helplines offering someone to talk to or help during a crisis.
Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana
Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana (ISCU) provides a welcoming hand and a variety of resources to help immigrant families build success. ISCU partners with over 45 faith-based, university and community groups and hundreds of individuals from across the greater Champaign-Urbana area. Help includes food, family liaisons and community guides, English-as-a-second-language classes, legal assistance and more depending on the families’ needs.
ISCU programs and services include:
- Case management
- Transportation to medical and legal appointments
- The New Beginnings Assistance Program offering gently used furniture and household items
- Community Health Program providing referrals, outreach events and health awareness
For questions, please call (217) 800-5725 or email ISCU@ISC-U.org.
The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) is a nationwide organization that can assist with finding specialists, providing financial assistance and providing educational materials. Primary immune deficiency diseases are a group of relatively rare conditions caused by intrinsic or genetic defects in the immune system.
For more information, contact IDF at (410) 321-6647 or IDF@primaryimmune.org.
Immunization Resources for Families
The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics provides a wide range of immunization resources for families to help you make the best, most informed decisions for their health. You can find information in English and Spanish on:
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine
- Translation and vaccine support
- COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines
- Helping your child through vaccinations
- Vaccine immunization schedules and information
- Resources for teens and more
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes a free appropriate public education available to eligible children with disabilities nationwide and ensures special education and related services for those children.
The U.S. Department of Education’s IDEA website has information for parents, students, educators, service providers and more on resources for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. The site includes the IDEA Parents and Families Resource page.
InfantSEE is a public health program that provides a no-cost comprehensive eye and vision assessment for infants 6-12 months old, regardless of a family’s income or access to insurance coverage. The assessment is designed to detect problems early to ensure babies have the opportunity to develop the visual abilities they need to grow and learn.
The InfantSEE assessment is completed by a doctor of optometry. It includes discussing the patient’s and family’s health history and testing for excessive or unequal amounts of:
- Nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism
- Eye movement ability
- Eye health problems
InfantSEE is managed by the Optometry Cares – The American Optometric Association (AOA) Foundation.
iTaalk Autism Foundation
iTaalk (Interactive Technology Assisting Autistic Little Kids) Autism Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides resources, training and assistive technology to help individuals with autism and other disabilities develop greater independence at all stages of life.
iTaalk’s App Facilitator Program provides grants to individuals of all ages and with all disabilities (not just autism) to help them access apps that are key to their communication. Applicants must own the device for which they are requesting apps.
iTaalk also provides a searchable list of grants and resources for families of children with special needs.
For questions, please contact iTaalk.
Jack’s Basket supports new parents of a child with Down syndrome by providing information, a support system and a welcome basket to let them know they’re not alone. Baskets are available from the time of diagnosis (prenatal or at birth) up to the baby’s first birthday. Parents, friends, family members, healthcare providers, or Down syndrome organizations can request baskets.
The website also includes local and national resources to support people with Down syndrome and their families.
For questions, please contact Jack’s Basket at (651) 456-8321 or info@jacksbasket.org.
Jackson County Health Department
The Jackson County Health Department (JCHD) in Murphysboro provides a wide array of public health services to provide education and promote health, prevent illness, protect the environment and prepare for emergencies.
JCHD offers:
- Vaccines and immunizations for children and adults
- Chronic disease management and health education programs
- Emergency preparedness guides and more
For more information, contact JCHD at (618) 684-3143.