Resource Directory /

Medical/Health and Wellness Resources

  • 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.

  • Summer Meals Program

    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:

    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.

  • Sunshine Foundation

    The Sunshine Foundation helps make dreams come true for children ages 3 to 18 who have severe or profound illnesses or conditions. Referrals can come from anywhere in the United States for children with severe or profound physical/developmental/intellectual challenges or trauma from physical/sexual abuse and whose families have limited income.

    Dream requests can include:

    • Staying at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village and visiting area theme parks and attractions
    • Funding towards a special gift or item of interest
    • Funding towards medical or adaptive equipment that insurance may not cover

  • 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 Children With Limited Verbal Skills Tip Sheet

    This Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides strategies that are helpful to all children but are particularly helpful for those with limited verbal skills.

    IEL offers a wide variety of one-page, easy-to-read tip sheets covering a wide range of topics for parents and teachers of young children.

    All tipsheets are available in Spanish and English. Selected tipsheets are available in Polish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French.

  • Survivor Empowerment Center

    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

  • Swann Center in Champaign

    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

    Synapse House provides services to adults with an acquired brain injury, such as an accident, stroke, gunshot wound or overdose, and traditional developmental disability services may not be appropriate. Located in Downers Grove, Synapse House programs and services include:

    • The Clubhouse/employment programs
    • KNZ NeuroFitness Gym
    • Community integration  therapeutic activities
    • Community support services
    • Family support

  • T.O.U.C.H.

    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.