Parenting/Caregiving Resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
The national NAMI website provides information on supports, services and treatment options that may help. The NAMI National Helpline is (800) 950-NAMI (6264). You can also text “HELPLINE” to 62640 or go to NAMI.org/help to chat with a HelpLine specialist.
Visit the NAMI Illinois website for information about Illinois programs and services.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network Resources for Parents and Caregivers
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides a variety of resources for parents, caregivers and youth related to different types of childhood trauma, including coping with hard times, grief, hospitalizations and more.
Resources are available in English and Spanish.
Offers emotional support from a trained advocate to help you become an empowered and stronger parent. Parent advocates can list, offer emotional support, help you problem-solve, connect you with local resources, help you explore new resources and more.
The National Parent Helpline is available Monday through Friday from 12 – 9 p.m. at (855) 427-2736 (855-4A PARENT).
Parent and Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides information for parents and caregivers to help them think about how an infectious disease outbreak might affect their family — both physically and emotionally — and what they can do to help their family cope.
Information is available in both English and Spanish.
Positive Parenting in COVID-19 Isolation
Parenting experts have created a new set of evidence-based resources for parents and caregivers to support their children’s growth – and interact with them constructively – during this time of confinement.
Preparations for Caregivers During COVID-19 and Beyond
Parents and caregivers of children with medical complexity often focus solely on their child’s health and wellbeing. But what happens when the parent/caregiver gets sick?
It’s a crucial question that families must consider. Advance preparations can help parents/caregivers reduce stress, lighten their mental load and protect the child’s health and safety during a family illness and other emergencies.
Pediatric doctors from Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provide advice on how to start these conversations with your pediatrician during the pandemic and beyond.
Project Connect Pandemic Helpline for People With Disabilities
The Arc of California and the Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare have partnered to offer Project Connect, a free telehealth support line for individuals with disabilities, their families, direct support professionals, and others who support individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The Project Connect support line is staffed by graduate students in the School of Social Welfare and supervised by licensed social workers. The graduate students are able to offer a wide range of support services including counseling, wellness checks, depression screening and referral to community services.
Call the 24-hour support line at (888) 847-3209.
Protecting Youth Mental Health – U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory
The U.S. Surgeon General has released a report that highlights the critical state of youth mental health and the impact of COVID-19. It includes suggested actions and resources for family members and caregivers as well as young people, educators, community organizations and government agencies.
Providing and Receiving Respite Care Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center provides these voluntary national guidelines for “Providing and Receiving Respite Care Safely during the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
The guidelines provided in this document are designed to assist providers as well as family caregivers with careful and thoughtful planning and implementation strategies to provide and receive respite care as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PTSD During a Pandemic for Parents with Medically Fragile Children
It’s not uncommon for parents and caregivers of children with neurologic conditions to experience PTSD.
In this video from the Child Neurology Foundation, a caregiver and a psychologist discuss the impact that this has – especially during times of isolation and stress like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.