Resource Directory /

Medical/Health and Wellness Resources

  • Housing Forward

    Housing Forward aims to prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to housing crises when they do occur and stabilize people with supportive services and housing. It offers a full range of programs and services that include:

    • Emergency financial assistance
    • Emergency shelter
    • Interim and transitional housing
    • Respite services for a medical or behavioral health event
    • Wraparound services, including employment, family support, community health nursing, behavioral health and legal clinic
    • Rental support
    • Permanent supportive housing
    • Housing navigation services and more

    Housing Forward serves 26 communities in west suburban Cook County: Bellwood, Berkeley, Berwyn, Broadview, Brookfield, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Forest View, Franklin Park, Harwood Heights, Hillside, Lyons, Maywood, Melrose Park, Norridge, North Riverside, Northlake, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, Riverside, Schiller Park, Stickney, Stone Park and Westchester.

    For more information, call the Housing Forward Office at (708) 338-1724 or visit the Housing Forward About Us page.

  • Housing Opportunities for Women Inc. (HOW)

    Housing Opportunities for Women Inc. (HOW) empowers individuals and families in the Chicagoland area to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. HOW aims to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with housing as quickly as possible along with individualized support services to help them build success and self-sufficiency. Its services and programs include:

    • Permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities
    • Employment and life skills
    • Children and youth after-school enrichment activities and Saturday teen programs
    • Advocacy for individuals/families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
    • Housing and support for Families in Transition (FIT)

  • How to Fill Out DSCC Forms in Spanish

    There are a number of forms that our Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) participants must fill out. We’ve created three instructional videos to help our Spanish-speaking families fill out some of our most commonly used forms. These videos provide step-by-step instructions:

  • How to Teach Children About Disabilities and Inclusion

    Inclusion is the law, but it takes more than legal compliance to create an environment where all children feel included and valued. Educating children about disability and inclusion can protect vulnerable students from bullying and encourage empathy and kindness among students.

    Baylor University’s “How to Teach Children About Disabilities and Inclusion” outlines age-appropriate ways to teach children about disabilities and strategies for fostering empathy and understanding in school or any social environment.

  • Icing Smiles

    Icing Smiles is a nonprofit organization that provides custom celebration cakes and other treats to families affected by a child’s critical illness or an illness that requires frequent hospitalizations.

  • IEP Organization Tips

    Understood.org gives parents step-by-step instructions for how to create an individualized education program (IEP) binder that sorts their child’s evaluation reports, IEP, report cards and other paperwork. The site includes an IEP binder checklist, school contact sheet, parent-school communication log and IEP goal tracker that parents can download and print.

  • igrow Home Visiting

    igrow is the Illinois symbol for quality evidence-based home visiting services to expectant parents and families with new babies and young children.

    igrow home visiting provides family support and coaching to young parents who may be inexperienced and often do not have family support. Trained professionals are matched with families based on each family’s needs.

  • ILHousingSearch.org

    ILHousingSearch.org is a free bilingual online resource for renters and property providers in Illinois.

    You can search for affordable, accessible and market-rate housing to fit your needs and budget.

    For additional assistance, call (877) 428-8844  (toll-free) Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dial 7-1-1 for TTY.

  • Illinois Association of Education of Young Children (ILAEYC)

    The Illinois Chapter of the Association of Education of Young Children (ILAEYC or Illinois AEYC) works to enrich the quality of care and education of the young child by:

    • Increasing communication among parents, caregivers and professionals involved in the care and education of young children
    • Providing in-service training for the early childhood community
    • Hosting opportunities for community learning

    ILAEYC has chapters and volunteers throughout the state.

  • Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for Transition-Age Youth in Care

    Information and resources for youth in care and their foster families on promoting independence and self-sufficiency. The website includes the Foster Care Transition Toolkit and Supporting Emancipated Youth Services Program (More information is available on Emancipated Youth Services at https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/brighterfutures/independence/Documents/
    Getting_There_Tip_Sheets.pdf    .)