Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Reach Out and Read provides resources for families as well as information and training for pediatricians and clinicians working with children with disabilities. The nationwide program focuses on increasing literacy by helping all families learn how to build literacy skills by talking, reading, and singing with their babies from birth.
Reach Out and Read offers resources for families, pediatricians and clinicians, including:
- Tips for reading, booklists and more for families with young children
- Training opportunities for clinicians on building connections, understanding disabilities and more
- Current research and podcast
Ready.gov provides tips for building an emergency supply kit. The information is available in a variety of languages.
Reliance Children’s Health Center
Reliance Children’s Health Center in Plainfield, Ill., provides specialized care in a home-like setting for children who are medically fragile and technology-dependent and under the age of 22. The center has a maximum capacity of 12 children and offers skilled nursing care, respite care, transitional care, therapies, medical daycare and more. Reliance Children’s Health Center services include:
- Respiratory care
- Medical day care
- Respite and transitional care
- Weekend camps
- Diagnostic studies
For more information, contact Reliance Children’s Health Center at:
- Office – (630) 385-0016 or (630) 385-0017
- Mobile – (630) 946-3156
- Email – Info@reliancechildrens.com
RentAssistance provides a directory of rental assistance agencies and organizations that will help you pay your rent. Some listings are government organizations other are non-profits and charities that offer rental assistance programs.
Each organization has its own eligibility rules and conditions and you are encouraged to call directly to find out what you need to do.
This resource directory from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides contact information, descriptions of programs, state agencies, and non-profit organizations in Illinois that provide support for families of young children experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
The directory includes food resources, housing resources, clothing and diaper resources and more.
Resource Guide “When a Child Dies: Planning Acts of Love and Legacy”
The loss of a child is never easy. The Funeral Service Foundation’s free guide “When a Child Dies: Planning Acts of Love & Legacy” offers guidance, support and inspiration to families saying goodbye. Topics include:
- The funeral planning process
- Talking with children about death
- Ideas for planning a meaningful tribute
- Carrying forward and dealing with your grief
For questions, please visit the Funeral Service Foundation’s Contact Us page.
Resources for Inclusion in Physical Activity for Youth with Disabilities
The National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability (NCHPAD), at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Health Professions, provides individuals with disabilities, families and caregivers, professionals and communities with information, research and the tools needed to promote health and create inclusive environments for all.
NCHPAD offers videos and resources for children and adults with disabilities and mobility limitations on topics including:
- Fun and leisure
- Physical activity
- Healthy eating and nutrition
- Mindfulness and more
For questions, please email nchpad@uab.edu or call (866) 866-8896.
The Arc’s Talk About Sexual Violence project provides materials and practical tools to help health care professionals, people with disabilities, and their families and supporters learn about the depth of the problem, support victims and work to prevent it.
Talk About Sexual Violence seeks to empower survivors with disabilities in the reporting process and give health care professionals the tools to more effectively identify victims, connect them to appropriate services, help build their self-advocacy skills and better prevent sexual violence.
In addition to the “Starting the Conversation Toolkit for Self-Advocates,” put together by Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC), resources include short training videos for healthcare professionals, tools to help guide conversations and more.
Resources to Help Children After a School Shooting
The National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families provides a list of resources to help parents, caregivers and educators support children and youth after a school shooting.
Resources are available in both English and Spanish.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Fact Sheet for Parents
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.
The Illinois Department of Public Health provides this fact sheet for parents to help them understand how RSV spreads and how to prevent it.