Resource Directory /

Medical/Health and Wellness Resources

  • Stepping Stones Bereavement Camp for Children in Eureka, Missouri

    BJC Hospice hosts Stepping Stones Bereavement Camp each year for children and teens who have experienced the death of a family member or close friend. The weekend-long, overnight camp provides a safe place for campers ages 6 to 15 to explore their grief and emotions.

    The camp usually takes place in August and is free for all children who have lost loved ones, not just families served by BJC Hospice (service areas include Macoupin, Montgomery, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Fayette, Clinton, St. Clair, Monroe, Calhoun, Marion, Greene and portions of Pike and Perry counties).

  • Storyline Online

    Storyline Online features famous people reading books aloud to kids – no login needed

  • Stress and Coping Skills Resources

    If left unmanaged, stress can negatively impact our physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, work, and many other things in our lives. To effectively manage stress, one must identify the stressor and take active steps to reduce the impact of the stressor by using effective and individualized coping tools.

    Illinois Extension provides this list of resources to help reduce stress and enhance coping skills.

  • Strong Family Alliance

    Strong Family Alliance’s mission is to save lives and preserve families by helping children come out and parents become informed supporters and allies.

    The alliance strives to give parents and LGBTQ people accurate information, insights on this challenging transition for both parents and children, ways to keep LGBTQ children safe and healthy, and encouragement for parents to lead with love and solve problems over time. Its website includes parent guides and resources.

  • Suburban Cook County Homeless Prevention Call Center

    If you need financial assistance with mortgage, rent payments, rent deposits, utility payments or other housing issues, please call the Homeless Prevention Call Center at 1-877-4-Cook-15 (1-877-426-6515).

    Listen carefully to the prompts to choose which kind of help you need.

  • Summer Meals Program

    The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals and snacks to children 18 and under when school is out for the summer.

    SFSP meals and snacks are served free at participating program sites. Sites may be located in various settings, including schools, parks, community centers, libraries, apartment complexes, churches and migrant centers.

    To find a meal site near you:

    There is no income requirement to participate in open-site summer meal programs.

    Certain summer meal sites, such as camps or closed programs that require an application to participate, may ask about income during the application process.

  • Sunshine Foundation

    The Sunshine Foundation helps make dreams come true for children ages 3 to 18 who have severe or profound illnesses or conditions. Referrals can come from anywhere in the United States for children with severe or profound physical/developmental/intellectual challenges or trauma from physical/sexual abuse and whose families have limited income.

    Dream requests can include:

    • Staying at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village and visiting area theme parks and attractions
    • Funding towards a special gift or item of interest
    • Funding towards medical or adaptive equipment that insurance may not cover

  • SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education

    SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education provides free resources to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds learn about the dangers of drugs and how to help those who may be affected by substance use. Educational materials are available in English and Spanish and include engaging videos targeting kids, teens, parents, teachers, employers and more.

    SUPE offers up-to-date, easy-to-understand information on topics such as:

    • Edibles and vaping education and prevention for kids
    • Tips for talking to grandchildren about substance use
    • The link between bullying and substance use
    • Do’s and don’ts for teachers speaking to students about drugs

  • Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills Tip Sheet

    This Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides strategies that are helpful to all children but are particularly helpful for those with limited verbal skills.

    IEL offers a wide variety of one-page, easy-to-read tip sheets covering a wide range of topics for parents and teachers of young children.

    All tipsheets are available in Spanish and English. Selected tipsheets are available in Polish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French.

  • Survivor Empowerment Center

    The Survivor Empowerment Center provides a safe and secure environment for southern Illinois domestic violence survivors and their children.

    The Center provides free, confidential services around-the-clock, 365 days a year to domestic and sexual violence survivors. Women, men, adolescents and children from Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Perry, Saline, Williamson, Union and Gallatin counties are welcome.

    Help includes:

    • A 24/7 hotline
    • A safe place/shelter away from an abuser
    • Counseling
    • Education and training
    • Assistance through medical, reporting and legal procedures