Resource Directory /

Medical/Health and Wellness Resources

  • Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois

    The Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois provides resources, education and support for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) and their caregivers. Its website includes information about:

    • Current SCD treatment options
    • Virtual monthly support groups on Zoom
    • GroupMe app support groups (the app is for use on cell phones or computers)
    • SCD testing and newborn screening
    • Scholarships and camp opportunities
    • Events

    For questions, please contact the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois at (773) 526-5016 or sicklecelldisease-illinois@scdai.org.

  • Signed by Stories

    Signed By Stories aims to raise mental health awareness, advocacy, education and support for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, late-deafened and deaf-disabled through storytelling.

    Signed By Stories is working to create a community where deaf and hard-of-hearing people can:

    • Join together and share their mental health stories
    • Receive validation for their experiences
    • Learn how to better support their own and the larger community’s mental health needs
    • Have a platform where both deaf and hearing people have the knowledge, tools and feel empowered to take action to improve the current state of mental health care for deaf people

  • SIU School of Dental Medicine Special Needs Patient Care Clinic in Alton

    The Southern Illinois University (SIU Edwardsville) School of Dental Medicine offers comprehensive dental care for patients with physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities and other special healthcare needs. Children and adults in central and southern Illinois with special needs can receive dental care at their Special Needs Patient Care Clinic in Alton.

    Dental services are available at a reduced cost. The clinic accepts Medicaid and most dental insurance plans.

    For questions or to become a patient at the SIU School of Dental Medicine, please call (618) 474-7000.

  • SkyHope Patient Airlift Services

    SkyHope Patient Airlift Services (PALS) is a nonprofit that arranges free flights with volunteer pilots to help families and individuals needing access to critical medical care, diagnosis, rehabilitation services or follow-up care. It also arranges flights for family members to ensure patients have support during long-term medical or rehabilitation services. The SkyHope network of volunteer pilots provides free regional medical flights and receives no compensation. SkyHope does not provide any ground transportation.

    Visit SkyHope’s website to see frequently asked questions and to request a flight.

  • Sleep Help for Individuals With ASD

    Autism Speaks offers parents helpful tips for establishing good sleep hygiene and tool kits targeting sleep strategies for children, teens and adults on the spectrum.

  • Smart911 Emergency Service

    Smart911 allows individuals to provide critical details about themselves and family members so that in emergencies 911 call takers have the information they need to quickly assess and address special concerns or safety needs.

    Smart911 is a free, private and secure nationwide service that automatically delivers your safety profile to local law enforcement, medical and fire responders and public safety agencies that have installed the Smart911 technology. To determine if Smart911 is available in your city or town, visit the SMART911 website, scroll to the bottom and click “Find Services in Your Area.”

  • SNAP Online Purchasing Program

    The Illinois Department of Human Services is offering online purchasing for more than 1.8 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers across a million households.

    Online SNAP will give families easier access to food during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Busy parents will no longer have to stress about how they can pick their kids up from school and make it to the grocery store before dinner. And those working multiple jobs or the late shift won’t have to rush to make it before the store closes. All families will have another option to independently secure the food they need.

  • Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (SIHF Healthcare)

    Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (SIHF Healthcare) provides services in central and southwestern Illinois, including family medicine, behavioral health, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and dental services for children. It also offers health insurance enrollment assistance and dedicated primary care providers and health centers in various communities. SIHF Healthcare accepts most insurance plans and offers a sliding fee scale so everyone can access quality care.

    SIHF Healthcare offers community health centers and resources in Alton, Arthur, Belleville, Bethalto, Bunker Hill, Centreville, Charleston, Collinsville, East St Louis, Effingham, Fairmont City, Granite City, Greenup, Mattoon, Millstadt, O’Fallon, Olney, Red Bud, Salem, Swansea and Vandalia. Resources include:

    • Primary care provider services
    • Free blood pressure machines
    • Health education and promotion
    • Health insurance enrollment assistance
    • Help with locating similar services statewide at (618) 646-2545 or chwprogram@sihf.org

  • Special Education and Inclusion in Early Care and Education

    The Illinois Early Learning (IEL) Project provides this Special Education and Inclusion in Early Care and Education resource list for early childhood special education and inclusive childcare for children ages 3 to 5 years old. The resources include tip sheets on choosing child care for infants and toddlers, choosing a preschool, inclusion in preschool classrooms and special education assessment for preschool-aged children.

    If you have questions, please contact IEL online or call (877) 275-3227. EIL will try to reply to inquiries within one week.

  • Special Father’s Network

    Special Father’s Network is a dad-to-dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs.

    The program connects new fathers of children with special abilities with another father (a Mentor Father) who has experienced a similar situation. The program matches Mentor Fathers as closely as possible based on the child’s special needs, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic group and relationship to the child e.g., .father, stepfather, grandfather).

    The Special Father’s Network is available through the 21st Century Dads Foundation, which raises awareness and resources for greater father involvement and seeks to inspire dads to be present, caring and nurturing.

    For questions, please use the 21st Century Dads Contact form or email info@21stCenturyDads.org.