Resource Directory /

Medical/Health and Wellness Resources

  • Illinois Guide By Your Side

    Illinois Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side (GBYS) is a free program providing unbiased information, one-on-one support and resources and trained Parent Guides to talk and/or meet with you if you have a child with hearing loss or a suspected hearing loss.

    Parent Guides are adults who have children with a hearing loss. They provide unbiased information and resources regarding communication, educational and technological choices. They help families identify their options and not tell them which options  to choose. They support families and can help them navigate through the many systems and services available in Illinois. They work as a team with professionals offering a well rounded care system for families.

  • Illinois Hands & Voicessun-icon

    Illinois Hands & Voices is a parent-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to helping families with children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

    Families can learn about the variety of resources and options available to them and how to access them. Through this network of resources, families can make informed decisions about their future in regards to educational options, the changing landscape of assistive technologies and many other issues facing families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

    Families within the same geographic region within the state can share experiences and information as they support each other. They can receive the opportunity to gain knowledge and direction from families who have faced the same challenges and choices.

  • Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances (24/7)

    If you or someone you know is suffering from an opioid use disorder or other substance use disorders, call the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances at 833-2FINDHELP to speak with a trained professional for support and advice or to be directed to customized resources. You can also visit www.HelplineIL.org.

  • Illinois Life Span’s COVID-19 Resources

    The Arc of Illinois provides COVID-19 resources for Illinois residents with developmental disabilities. The topics include general COVID-19 information, Illinois Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services and Supports information and webinar recordings on COVID-19 issues and services.

  • Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Transportation Toolkit in English and Spanish

    The Illinois Medicaid Managed Care Consumer Benefits Transportation Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to help you get to medical appointments. The toolkit flyer provides a code to scan with your smartphone for quick access and contact information on who to contact if you don’t know which Medicaid Health Plan you have.

    Use the transportation toolkit to learn:

    • How to set up a ride
    • What additional rides your plan covers
    • What to think about when planning ahead

    The flyer and toolkit are also available in Spanish:

    The following organizations developed the toolkit: Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans (IAMHP), FIMR Community Action Team, Aetna Better Health of Illinois, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, CountyCare Health Plan, Humana, Meridian and Molina Healthcare.

  • Illinois Mental Health Collaborative for Access and Choice

    The Illinois Mental Health Collaborative for Access and Choice is a partnership devoted to the recovery and resilience of children and adults with mental illness. The collaborative is committed to making it easier for people in need of mental health services to get the right care, at the right time and in the right amount.

  • Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

    The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) is a statewide organization that partners with the state’s 16 local Child Care Resources and Referral (CCR&R) agencies. It is a recognized leader, catalyst and resource for making high-quality, affordable early care and education and school-age care options available for children and families in Illinois.

    CCR&R’s connect and coordinate programs and services for young children and their families. CCR&R’s manage the application and information for families to receive child care assistance, allowing them to work and/or go to school while their children have access to quality early care and education.

    Visit www.inccrra.org/about/sdasearch to find your local CCR&R.

  • Illinois Poison Center’s Caregivers Guide

    The Illinois Poison Center’s Caregivers Guide webpage offers practical advice on keeping children safe from potentially harmful substances. The guide provides general safety tips along with concrete steps for medicine safety, handbag/purse safety and plant safety. It also offers:

    You can also download a PDF of the guide:

    In case of emergency, call the Poison Center Helpline at (800) 222-1222. Calls are free and confidential.

  • Illinois Provider Directory for Children with Disabilities

    This online directory can be used to locate providers serving Illinois children. Search by specialty, search by services, or search by city or county where you wish to obtain care.

  • 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. For more details see the:

    For more information, contact: