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Resource Directory

Find resource information for families and children with special healthcare needs.

Some of these resources are specific for families and children enrolled in our programs. Others may be of interest to any family or child with special healthcare needs.

You can use the search box below to narrow your view. For example, you can search for support groups, respite, grant programs, a specific topic or by condition.

You can also browse by category or by region using the links on the right side of this page.

Here is a quick video showing how to use the search and display features for our resources and events.

Check back often for updates. If you don’t find what you need, please call us at (800) 322-3722 or send us an email.

Education Resources

  • U.S. Department of Education

    The U.S. Department of Education is America’s education agency. Its website includes guidance, resources and technical assistance related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

    IDEA is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children, supports early intervention services for infants and toddlers and their families, and awards competitive discretionary grants.

  • YWCA La Voz Latina

    YWCA La Voz Latina‘s services include:

    • Information and referral services
    • One-on-one parenting classes and adult education workshops
    • Advocacy for at-risk families
    • Immigrant and refugee assistance, information, orientation and referral to services
    • Language proficiency assessments and services for businesses and offices
    • Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP) classes for men in both English and Spanish

    These programs are not limited to the Latino/Hispanic population. The organization serves Boone, Jo Daviess, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties.

  • Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

    The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) provides scholarships, including scholarships for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and grants to charitable organizations in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. Visit CFNIL’s scholarship opportunities page to learn more.

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Family Resources

  • 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 with special needs children to 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.

  • Illinois Respite Coalition

    The Illinois Respite Coalition (IRC) is a not-for-profit organization of caregivers and respite providers dedicated to supporting families and ensuring access to quality respite services for the residents of Illinois. The IRC assists caregivers by connecting them to resources in their area, providing training on respite topics and having funding available for emergency respite. The IRC helps caregivers of individuals across the lifespan with any disability.

    The Emergency Respite Care Program offers funding and resources to support caregivers who are not receiving any respite services and have an urgent need for respite care in the absence of any other funding source.  Emergency respite care may be for an unplanned or planned event for reasons including:

    • Caregiver illness (physical, mental or emotional)
    • Caregiver hospitalization
    • Work-related situation
    • Reduction of stress level

    The website gives examples of qualifying circumstances and information on how to apply. See the emergency care flyer for more details. (The flyer is also available in Spanish.)

    For more information, contact:

  • Almost Home Kids

    Almost Home Kids provides a bridge from hospital to home through an innovative community-based care system for children with medical complexities. It responds to the needs of families, trains caregivers, offers respite care, advocates for accessibility and inclusion and educates healthcare professionals.

    Almost Home Kids offers transitional, respite and respite transportation care. It has locations in Chicago, Naperville and Peoria.

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Medical/Health Resources

  • Get Covered Illinois - The Official Health Marketplace

    If you are looking for health insurance for yourself or your family, or if you own a small business or lead a nonprofit organization this website is the official site in Illinois for signing up for health insurance.

  • ClinicalTrials.gov

    ClinicalTrials.gov is a place to learn about clinical studies from around the world.

  • WCG CenterWatch Clinical Trials

    WCG CenterWatch can help clinical trial participants and caregivers identify clinical research opportunities and take the first steps to participate. 

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