Medical/Health and Wellness Resources
Stress and Coping Skills Resources
If left unmanaged, stress can negatively impact our physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, work, and many other things in our lives. To effectively manage stress, one must identify the stressor and take active steps to reduce the impact of the stressor by using effective and individualized coping tools.
Illinois Extension provides this list of resources to help reduce stress and enhance coping skills.
For questions, please email the Illinois Extension at extension@illinois.edu.
Suburban Cook County Homeless Prevention Call Center
If you need financial assistance with mortgage, rent payments, rent deposits, utility payments or other housing issues, please call the Homeless Prevention Call Center at 1-877-4-Cook-15 (1-877-426-6515).
Listen carefully to the prompts to choose which kind of help you need.
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals and snacks to children 18 and under when school is out for the summer.
SFSP meals and snacks are served free at participating program sites. Sites may be located in various settings, including schools, parks, community centers, libraries, apartment complexes, churches and migrant centers.
To find a meal site near you:
- Visit the “We Got You Illinois” Find Food Map or No Kid Hungry’s Free Meals Finder
- Call (800) 359-2163
There is no income requirement to participate in open-site summer meal programs.
Certain summer meal sites, such as camps or closed programs that require an application to participate, may ask about income during the application process.
SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education
SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education provides free resources to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds learn about the dangers of drugs and how to help those who may be affected by substance use. Educational materials are available in English and Spanish and include engaging videos targeting kids, teens, parents, teachers, employers and more.
SUPE offers up-to-date, easy-to-understand information on topics such as:
- Edibles and vaping education and prevention for kids
- Tips for talking to grandchildren about substance use
- The link between bullying and substance use
- Do’s and don’ts for teachers speaking to students about drugs
Supporting Your Young Child in the Hospital Toolbox
Having a child in the hospital can be one of the most stressful and emotional experiences for families. With medical appointments, therapies, medications and routine changes, life can become overwhelming. It can not only affect your child’s development and well-being, but also your family’s schedules, relationships and self-care.
The Early Intervention Clearing House’s “Supporting Your Young Child in the Hospital Toolbox” aims to help make this journey a little easier. The toolkit includes practical tools, supportive resources, family stories and the “Early Intervention: A NICU Parent’s Guide to Early Intervention Services and Resources” booklet. (Complete the EI Clearinghouse Contact Form to request hard copies of the booklet.)
The “Supporting Your Young Child in the Hospital Toolbox” can help guide you through your child’s hospital experience – whether you are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), navigating ongoing hospital care or preparing to return home.
The Survivor Empowerment Center provides a safe and secure environment for southern Illinois domestic violence survivors and their children.
The Center provides free, confidential services around-the-clock, 365 days a year to domestic and sexual violence survivors. Women, men, adolescents and children from Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Perry, Saline, Williamson, Union and Gallatin counties are welcome.
Help includes:
- A 24/7 hotline
- A safe place/shelter away from an abuser
- Counseling
- Education and training
- Assistance through medical, reporting and legal procedures
The center has offices in Harrisburg and Franklin County. For more information, call (618) 549-4807 or (866) 979-6636 (TTY). You can also use the center’s Contact Us form.
Swann Special Care Center is a non-profit organization located in Champaign that offers residential and educational programs for people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. Its programs serve residents from throughout Illinois and include residential nursing care, adult day training and an accredited year-round school. Swann Special Care Center also offers:
- Restorative and long-term habilitation
- Palliative and end-of-life care
- Evaluation on an individual and ongoing basis
- Physical, occupational and speech therapies
For questions, please visit Swann Center’s Contact Us page online, or call (217) 356-5164.
Synapse House provides a range of programs for individuals affected by brain injury, stroke and other neurological conditions. Located in Downers Grove, Synapse House programs and services include:
- The Clubhouse day program
- Employment programs
- KNZ NeuroFitness Gym
- Community integration therapeutic activities
- Community support services
- Family support
For more information or to set up a tour, please contact Deborah Giesler at deborah@synapsehouse.org or call (877) 932-1120.
The Organization for Understanding Congenital Hearts (T.O.U.C.H.) provides support and information to empower families, children, youth and adults with congenital heart defects.
For additional information, contact touchhearts365@gmail.com
Take N.O.T.E. of Learning Differences
Take N.O.T.E. is an initiative developed by Understood in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics. It aims to help parents identify the signs of learning or thinking differences in their children.