Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income households pay for home energy services (primarily heating during winter months).
Illinois residents with a household income that does not exceed an amount determined annually by the Department of Commerce are eligible. The program determines annual eligibility levels based on available funding and may not exceed 200 percent of the federal nonfarm poverty level.
See the How to Apply for LIHEAP page for more information. To help find an office serving your area, visit this complete list of LIHEAP application agencies based on county.
For more program information, check out the LIHEAP frequently asked questions or call the Help Illinois Families Call Center at (833) 711-0374.
Luella’s Lodge provides resources, retreats, support groups and non-traditional holistic therapies for families grieving the death of a child.
The non-profit includes a secluded log cabin on 10 acres in Oakwood, Ill., offering a private lake, hiking and biking trails, and other amenities to help families connect with one another through grief and healing.
For questions, visit Luella’s Lodge website.
Lynda P. Bollman Pediatric Program and Resource Guide
The HAP Foundation’s Lynda P. Bollman Pediatric Hospice Program collaborates with hospital systems, hospices, families and supporting organizations dedicated to optimizing the quality of life for every child in Illinois living with childhood cancer or medical complexities from serious illness, their families and the teams that care for them. The program is focused on providing education, research, advocacy and workforce development to improve the lives of children and families involved in pediatric hospice and/or palliative care.
The program also provides an online, comprehensive Pediatric Resource Guide to help caregivers, families and practitioners in caring for children with serious illness throughout their journey.
The guide’s categories include financial support, transportation support, emotional wellness support, respite, camps and more. You may also sort some sections by geographic area. You can also print sections in a PDF version to share with others.
Magical Moments Foundation is a wish-granting organization for children with facial differences. Working with the children and their families, the foundation creates experiences and adventures to comfort, inspire, and encourage children who face the world with a difference. Family members, medical professionals, teachers and others may nominate a child for a magical moment. To be eligible, a child must:
- Have a congenital or acquired facial difference
- Be between the ages of 3 and 18
- Not yet received a wish from another wish-granting organization
Visit the Magical Moments Foundation website for more details.
Margaret Hackett Family Program
Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS) are congenital disabilities of the physical structure of the brain or spinal cord that occur during fetal intrauterine growth, such as spina bifida, hydrocephalus and other conditions. The Margaret Hackett Family Program (MHFP) at the University of Chicago provides individuals and families with help in diagnosing, understanding, caring for, and addressing the challenges of living with CNS congenital anomalies. MHFP also provides research and research grants.
The Margaret Hacker Family Program also offers:
- A monthly, virtual “Connect Group” for individuals and families affected by CNS anomalies
- In-person quarterly socials
- In-person events twice a year featuring food, giveaways, fun activities and resources
- Help with finding resources and medical care
For questions, please call (773) 795-0622 or email mhfcp@bsd.uchicago.edu.
Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center
Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center provides care to children, ages newborn to 21, with complex medical needs. Services also include caregiver training to feel confident in taking care for their child when he/she transitions homem, and both transitional and respite care.
To learn more about the Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center, please call (773) 205-3606.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Digital Library
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Digital Library serves the MCH community by providing a wide array of evidence-based information and resources to help strengthen and support State Title V programs, community agencies, educators, students, researchers, policymakers and families. The MCH Digital Library provides quick access to evidence-based/informed resources and programs to support states in developing, implementing, and evaluating Evidence-based Strategic Measures (ESMs) in support of their National Performance Measure (NPM) efforts.
MCH Digital Library resources include:
- Seminal and historic materials from federal, state and local programs
- Resource guides
- Professional resources
- School and family resources
- Title V toolkits
Visit MCH Digital Library’s FAQ page to learn more about how to use the website.
McLean County Functional Needs Registry
The McLean County Functional Needs Registry helps individuals with special needs during emergencies. The registration form documents the needs of people with physical, mental or medical limitations due to impaired vision, hearing or mobility, and language barriers. The program seeks to ensure that residents with functional needs get the assistance they need during a weather disaster or some other local emergency.
Registration for the program is free, voluntary and confidential. You can fill out an online form or print out a hard copy registration form in English or Spanish on the registry website.
Medical Grants Through United Healthcare Children’s Foundation
United Healthcare Children’s Foundation’s (UHCCF) mission is to help fill the gap between what medical services/items/equipment a child needs and what their commercial health benefit plan will pay for.
UHCCF grants provide financial help/assistance for families with children that have medical needs not covered or not fully covered by their commercial health insurance plan.
To be eligible for grants, children must be 16 years of age or younger at the time of application and have a Social Security number. Eligible families must also meet UHCCF’s economic guidelines.
Families could receive up to $5,000 annually and $10,000 a lifetime per child for eligible medical services, treatment therapies, items and equipment.
For questions, visit the Contact UHCCF website page, email uhccfcustomerservice@uhc.com, or call 1 (855) 698-4223.
MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. It is a service of the National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library, which is part of the National Institutes of Health.