Resource Directory /

Medical/Health and Wellness Resources

  • Newborn Screening: IDPH Genetics Programsun-icon

    This explains the Illinois newborn genetic screening program.

  • NORD: National Organization for Rare Disorders

    The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) offers support, information and a variety of events for clinicians, researchers, patients and families affected by rare diseases.

    NORD’s Resource Center provides patients and caregivers with free webinars, fact sheets, infographics, support and advocacy groups links, and referrals for rare disorders.

    NORD’s RareCare Program website provides a list of financial assistance programs that can help patients obtain life-saving or life-sustaining medication they could not otherwise afford.

    NORD’s State Resource Center contains local, state and national organizations listed by state or by topic offering free or low-cost services for people impacted by rare diseases.

    NORD’s free, self-paced online course “From Records to Research: Making Sense of Health Data for Rare Diseases” provides help for understanding health data, research participation and how both contribute to improving treatments and care. The course is available:

  • Normal Moments

    Normal Moments supports Chicagoland families with critically ill/medically complex children up to age 17 by providing help with many household and outdoor tasks.  The organization matches volunteers based on the families’ needs, volunteer location and interests. Support includes:

    • In-home help with necessary chores such as house cleaning, laundry, pet care and other errands
    • Outdoor services such as lawn maintenance and snow removal
    • Annual holiday programs

    Note that Normal Moments volunteers may not provide care for dependents. A responsible adult over 18 must be in the house while a volunteer is in the house with children.

  • North Shore Gas Assistance Options

    If you cannot pay your energy bill due to financial difficulties, North Shore Gas has flexible payment arrangement plans or energy assistance options that may help.

    They also include information about these programs:

    • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
    • Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
    • Share the Warmth, company- and customer-funded heating grants

  • North Suburban Special Recreational Association

    NSSRA offers year-round recreation programs and services for children and adults with disabilities.

  • Northeast Community Fund in Decatur

    Northeast Community Fund helps families in the Decatur and Macon County community with food, clothing, household goods and funding for utility payments, obtaining IDs, baby formula and wipes, emergency lodging and prescription medicines. The organization’s food pantry provides monthly food baskets to those in need. It also operates a microfinance program and a program for families to work with a staff member and mentor to achieve short- and long-term goals to move towards self-sufficiency.

  • Northern Illinois Foodbank

    The Northern Illinois Food Bank delivers food and healthy eating services across 13 counties (Boone, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago counties). The Northern Illinois Food Bank provides weekly drive-thru Mobile Markets with free and fresh groceries, an online food pantry, a recipes and nutrition hub, and free economic mobility learning resources.

  • Northern Will County Special Recreation Association

    Northern Will County Special Recreation Association (NWCSRA) provides year-round, community-based recreational programs and inclusion services for children, teens and adults with special needs.

    NWCSRA collaborates with the Bolingbrook Park District, Lockport Township Park District, Plainfield Park District, the Village of Romeoville, Brookeridge Park District and Justice Park District to provide recreation opportunities and special events for area families.

    For more information, contact NWCSRA at (815) 407-1819.

  • Northwest Special Recreation Association

    Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) provides general recreation therapy programs, day camps, athletics, inclusion, trips, special events, leisure education, community adult day programs, and one-to-one therapy opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. NWSRA serves 17 northwest suburban Chicago communities in partnership with member park districts.

    NWSRA partners with Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Mt. Prospect, Palatine, Prospect Heights, River Trails, Rolling Meadows, Salt Creek, Schaumburg, South Barrington, Streamwood, and Wheeling park districts.

  • Nourishing Hope in Chicago

    Nourishing Hope helps individuals and families in Chicago by meeting them where they are to overcome barriers. Help includes food programs, trauma-informed mental health counseling in multiple languages, domestic violence support and a wide range of social services. Nourishing Hope offers a choice-based food distribution program that also includes:

    • Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickups through five different food access programs.
    • A home delivery services for people with disabilities, older adults and homebound neighbors.
    • Life-changing social services such as case management, job search support, domestic violence intervention and public benefits assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, healthcare, government forms).