Medical/Health Resources
First Hand Foundation‘s pediatric medical grants provide vital financial assistance to uninsured or underinsured children up to 18 years old. The grants aim to help children receive timely, life-changing treatment that improves their health and quality of life. Families can apply for grants to cover critical medical expenses such as surgeries, prescriptions, medical equipment and travel costs. Each child is eligible for one grant every 12 months.
Learn more about applying for a grant, covered expenses and eligibility on First Hand Foundation’s website.
There will be five opportunities to apply for First Hand Foundation 2025 grants:
- July 16 to Aug. 15
- Aug. 16 to Sept. 15
- Sept. 16 to Oct. 15
- Oct. 16 to Nov. 15
- Nov. 16 to Dec. 15
FIRST.IL Mental Health Program
FIRST.IL is a program of the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health. It is a specialized treatment approach that helps individuals who are between the ages of 14 to 40 and who have had a treated or untreated psychotic illness for no more than 18 months.
The program aims to reduce the symptoms of psychotic illnesses, improve individual and family functioning, promote recovery, reduce the chance of relapse and more.
Eligible diagnoses are schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder or other specified/unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, major depressive disorder with psychotic features and PTSD with dissociative symptoms.
Individuals can call the FIRST.IL agency in their service area for an assessment. If the agency determines that FIRST.IL treatment is appropriate, they will expedite an appointment with their team psychiatrist.
flok for Individuals with an Inherited Metabolic Disorder
Formerly known as PKU News, flok provides resources, support and an app for individuals with an inherited metabolic disorder and the people and clinicians who care for them. These conditions include Classical Homocystinuria (HCU), Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), Phenylketonuria (PKU), Tyrosinemia and more.
The flok website includes:
- Opportunities to connect and share in person and virtually
- Annual flok Family Camps
- Food science information guided by a staff dietitian and collaborations with partner organizations and Genetic Metabolic Dietitians International
- The flok app for individuals managing an inherited disorder of protein metabolism
Flu: A Guide for Parents of Children or Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions
Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old, and children and adolescents with chronic health conditions are at greater risk for serious flu complications. HealthyChildren.org provides information on how to determine your chid’s risk and what steps to take to protect your family.
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) provides research, resources and advocacy to improve the quality of life and health of people of all ages with food allergy. Food allergy can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. FARE supports food allergy research, education programs for people with and without food allergy, and awareness around healthcare options and treatment.
FARE programs and services also include:
- “Teen Talk,” a monthly virtual hangout for preteens, teens, and young adults with food allergies
- Allergy alerts and ingredient notices
- A Food Allergy Guide, toolkits and other downloadable resources in English and Spanish
- Resources for dieticians and other healthcare professionals
- Recipes
- Support groups
Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources
The Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR) is a private, non-profit, grassroots organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all children affected by hearing and communication disorders.
Parent resources and programming include:
As of late September 2024, every home in the United States is eligible to order another round of free at-home tests through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) at https://special.usps.com/testkits. You can learn more at www.covid.gov/tests.
- Each order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests.
- The program will ship orders for free starting Sept. 30, 2024.
Individuals who are blind or have low vision can learn about ordering more accessible at-home COVID-19 tests here.
For those who cannot access the internet or need help placing an order, please call (800) 232-0233 or the TTY line at (888) 720-7489.
If you have COVID-19 tests at home, you can see the full list of extended expiration dates on the Federal food and Drug Administration’s website.
Free Resources for People and Families with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
The JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) has shared this one-page information sheet that lists available resources for those living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts provides reconstructive surgery at no cost to families of children who are uninsured, underinsured, denied procedures as cosmetic or the deductible would be a financial hardship to the family. Surgery weekends are held three times a year at Comer Children’s Hospital.
G-Tube Notebook Videos from Children’s Wisconsin
Children’s Wisconsin’s G-tube Notebook videos offer information and step-by-step help for taking care of a child’s feeding tube. The videos include an introduction to understanding feeding tubes as well as videos specific to caring for and changing tubes in English and Spanish.
Children’s Wisconsin’s PEG tube video provides information and demonstrations on what to expect after the tube is placed, including:
- Care after surgery and helping the site heal
- Types of PEG tubes
- Tips for caring for and stabilizing the tube
- Primary tube change
- Common problems