Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Parents of Extraordinary Children
Parents of Extraordinary Children (PEXC) is a nonprofit that aims to inform, empower, support and help advocate for families of children and young adults with disabilities within the southeast side of Chicago.
With the help of volunteers and representatives from city-wide organizations, PEXC provides opportunities for Individualized Education Program (IEP) training, learning to navigate the special education process, understanding terminology, initiating the process of evaluation, the transition to adulthood and more.
PEXC has a Sensory Space and Resource Center and offers an “All Inclusive Support Group” on a monthly basis for families.
For more information, call (312) 600-5479 or email admin@pexc10thward.com.
Pediatric First Aid and Safety Training for Teachers and Caregivers
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Pediatric First Aid and Safety Training for Teachers and Caregivers” online course is for anyone who works with or cares for infants and children. The six-unit training provides caregivers with an understanding of first aid and safety procedures, recognizing everyday medical emergencies and providing care for an injury or illness until professional help arrives.
Each unit takes about an hour to complete. You can complete the course at your own pace. The course costs $25 and is available through March 30, 2028. It covers:
- Administering mental health first aid
- Effectively communicating with emergency responders
- Disaster planning
- Identifying and managing common pediatric medical emergencies
- Using first aid equipment and child-specific procedures for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Pediatric Tracheostomy Tube Emergency Management Video
In this video, nurses from Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago describe and demonstrate emergency management for pediatric patients with tracheostomy (trach) tubes. The video covers:
- Prevention and assessment of emergency situations
- How to manage a mucous plug
- How to replace a trach tube that has become dislodged
- What to do if the trach tube is difficult to replace
- When to provide manual ventilation using bag to trach tube, bag and mask to mouth, and mouth to mouth
Pediatrician Guidance on Telehealth
Telehealth is a tool that can help connect your child to many different types of healthcare services using various types of technology, such as live, interactive audio and video and special diagnostic tools. Healthychildren.org provides tips for talking to your pediatrician and using telehealth effectively. The information is available in several languages.
People’s Resource Center (PRC) serves DuPage County residents. It offers a food pantry, computer access, financial assistance, an art program, a clothes closet and more. Residents need to register to receive services.
Download the PRC flyer for a list of locations, services and times for:
- The food pantry
- The clothes closet
- Empowerment services
- Social services
Peoples Gas Payment Arrangements and Energy Assistance
If you cannot pay your energy bill due to financial difficulties, Peoples Gas has flexible payment arrangement plans or energy assistance options that may help.
Peoria Friendship House/La Familia
The Peoria Friendship House offers wraparound services to empower families and meet changing community needs. Its services include a program supporting the Latino community, citizenship classes, a food pantry, health support services and youth programs. The Peoria Friendship House also provides:
- A parent mentor program
- S.T.E.A.M.S Academy for students focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math
- La Familia healing support across the lifespan
- A financial stability program
- Pantry on the Move to help reduce barriers to receiving food
For more information, call (309) 671-5200 or email ceo@friendship.house.
The PKU Organization of Illinois provides resources and support to teens, adults and families with PKU and 16 allied disorders.
Their website includes information about understanding and managing phenylketonuria (PKU), diet, local resources, events, what to expect at different life stages and a PKU binder toolkit.
For questions, please email the PKU Organization of Illinois at pkuillinois@gmail.com.
A portable medical summary is helpful for summarizing your medical information in one to two pages. You can use this summary across healthcare systems, including:
- With the emergency department
- In the transition to adult providers
- With your college campus health services and more
The summary can help provide quick and concise communication with all providers involved in your care as you transition to adulthood.
Postpartum Support International
Postpartum Support International (PSI) provides a worldwide network of peer support, information, professional trainings and coordinators in all U.S. states. Its mission is to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in every country worldwide. PSI has more than 400 local support volunteers who provide support, information, encouragement and connection with local providers and support groups.
PSI offers 50-plus free online support groups to connect with other parents, including groups for special needs and medically fragile parenting, birth trauma support, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) postpartum parents and more. PSI also moderates closed Facebook groups for moms and dads.
PSI also has a helpline for anyone to get basic information, support and resources. You can call or text daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. central standard time at:
- Call (800) 944-4773 for English and Spanish support
- Text in English to (800) 944-4773
- Text en Español to (971) 203-7773
Resources are available in English and Spanish.
