Caregiver Resources

Helpful Links

American Academy of Pediatrics

Dedicated to the Health of all Children, this physician-run academy provides an excellent source of information to parents.
www.aap.org

American Cancer Society

Whether your child has just been diagnosed with cancer, is going through treatment, or is trying to stay well after treatment, we can help you find the answers you need.  
Information on childhood cancer

American Lung Association of Illinois – Greater Chicago

This statewide health organization has the state’s leading experts on lung disease as members. The mission is to make a world free of lung disease and to promote lung health.
www.lung.org/about-us/contact-us/illinois-chicago

The ARC of Illinois

Statewide Health Information Resource for Families of Children and Youth with Special Needs. It is committed to empowering persons with disabilities to achieve full participation in community life through informed choices.
www.thearcofil.org
Family Support Network

Access Living

We equip people with disabilities with the tools to overcome societal barriers to inclusion by imparting independent living skills, teaching economic self-sufficiency, and enabling people with disabilities to transition to autonomous community living.
www.accessliving.org

Center for Disability & Elder Law

The Chicago Bar Association founded this nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of low-income persons with disabilities and senior citizens in Cook County.
www.cdelaw.org

The Center for Independence through Conductive Education

Provides unique intensive group method of special education which expects and demands active learning and participation by the child in attempting to overcome his/her motor disability (i.e., cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury), The founder’s motto: When you do not educate the child to be independent, you educate the child to be dependent. Dr. Andras Peto.
www.center-for-independence.org

Children’s Respite Homes of America

Children’s Respite Homes of America (CRHA) is an awareness program of the National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes (NCPPCH). Our shared mission is to scale, strengthen, and sustain community-based home care models that provide a temporary haven for families with children who have medical complexities to receive much-needed overnight respite and support.
www.childrensrespitehomes.org

Community Support Services

A private not-for-profit service agency that initiates provides and promotes services for people with developmental disabilities and their families, within their communities.
www.communitysupportservices.org

Easter Seals Disability Services

Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region provides services for infants, children and adults with disabilities to achieve maximum independence, and to provide support for the families who love and care for them.
www.easterseals.com/dfv/

Ever Thrive Illinois

Ever Thrive Illinois works to improve the health of women, children, and families over the lifespan through community engagement, partnerships, policy analysis, education, and advocacy.
www.everthriveil.org

Make-a-Wish Foundation

Since 1980 this foundation has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work.
www.wish.org

Medline Plus

Providing “Trusted Health Information for You” this government website has topics and news on conditions, diseases and wellness.
medlineplus.gov

National Center for Learning Disabilities

Special Education Services for students with learning disabilities are covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Learning Act (IDEA) which provides states with federal funds to help make special education services available to students with disabilities.
www.ncld.org

Normal Moments, Inc.

Helping parents of children with critical illnesses by providing support to them in the home, in hospital and via web resources.
www.normalmoments.org

PACT, Inc

An independent Services Coordination Agency in DuPage County, providing individual service coordination for people with disabilities.
www.pactinc.net

The Kids Equipment Network

We are a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to connecting children with special needs, from birth to 21 years of age, who have little or no funding, with needed durable adaptive equipment.
www.tken.org

Governmental Agencies

Illinois Department of Health

Your resource for many Health Services: mental health, community and environmental health.
dph.illinois.gov

Specific websites for childhood immunizations and the WIC programs in some Northern Illinois counties are given below:

WIC: Women Infants & Children Clinics

WIC is a federally funded program to aid low income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and children up to the age of 5 who are at nutritional risk. The Food and Nutrition Services branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture makes grants to states to provide supplemental foods, health care referral and nutrition education to women, infants and children.

Use the Office Locator for a listing of local agencies providing WIC services.

Childhood Immunizations

Resources on Immunizations for Children from Illinois Department of Health

Department of Human Services – Illinois

Illinois Department of Human Services provides services to help families meet basic needs and to become self-sufficient.

Division of Specialized Care for Children

DSCC information library and resources for families and children with special health care needs.

The DSCC Facebook page is always being updated with resources, new products and local events.