Non-English / Multilingual Resources Resources
Brave Health Online Mental Health Services
Brave Health provides online mental health services and accepts more than 200 insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare. Physicians, nurse practitioners, therapists and counselors with specialized training in mental health care provide care virtually in English and Spanish. Services include one-on-one and group therapy sessions, medication management, specialized programs and help managing complex medical and behavioral health challenges for adults and youth ages 13 and up.
Brave Health has a closed-loop referral process and also accepts patients who do not have insurance. Patients, referrers and providers can visit Brave Health’s website for information on how to get started and other resources.
Bright by Text is a free text messaging service that delivers high-quality information to families to help them foster a child’s healthy growth, based on their exact age and developmental stage.
Available in English and Spanish, the service covers children from prenatal through age 8. Topics covered include brain development, speech and language skills, social-emotional development, reading and writing skills, nutrition, mental health, school readiness, and more.
All information is provided by trusted content partners, including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sesame Street, PBS Kids for Parents, and Zero to Three.
Families can sign up by texting BRIGHT to 274448, or by using the form on the Bright by Text website. Text messages are customized by the child’s due date or age and zip code.
Carbondale Area Interfaith Refugee Support
Carbondale Area Interfaith Refugee Support (CAIRS) is a network of community members that helps refugees from around the world adjust to and build a new life in Southern Illinois. CAIRS provides the support necessary to navigate the transition, become citizens, find employment and become neighbors and friends.
CAIRS provides resources that include:
- A “New to the Area” resource page in English and Spanish
- Immigration support services and legal help
- Money to help with housing and other expenses
Catholic Charities of Rockford
Catholic Charities of Rockford serves people in need in Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, Whiteside and Lee counties. Its programs and services include:
- Counseling and a mental health ministry
- Immigration and refugee services
- Emergency help
- Food pantry and clothing closet
- Project Hire employment training and services
- Volunteer opportunities
Catholic Charities Social Services Archdiocese of Chicago
Catholic Charities Social Services Archdiocese of Chicago provides help, including homelessness prevention, food and basic needs, and crisis assistance. It also connects people to other organizations that can help with emergency assistance in Chicago, suburban Cook County and Lake County. Services include:
- Burial and funeral assistance
- Case management services
- Crisis assistance
- Rental and utility assistance
- Emergency shelter services
- Stabilization services (pharmaceutical assistance, transportation assistance, clothing vouchers)
The organization also provides family support programs, including child care and pregnancy and parenting support services, domestic violence support, behavioral health programs, and immigrant and refugee support.
Center for Parent Information and Resources (formerly NICHCY)
The Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) is a central “hub” for the network of Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities nationwide. Materials on CPIR’s website are user-centered and created for and by Parent Centers around the country to help provide support and services to the families they serve. Resources include parent guides, training materials, information on special education and transition planning, webinars and more. CPIR also provides information in Spanish to help parents understand specific disabilities, the special education process and where to find help.
CPIR also offers:
- A family-friendly resource library
- A monthly e-newsletter featuring new resources, upcoming events, and materials to share
- Native American resources
- The Office of Special Education Program (OSEP)’s Glossary of Common Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Terms in Spanish and in Korean
- An events calendar
- A Parent Center locator tool
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resources
This tip sheet from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) aims to help guide parents and caregivers through the steps to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). It links to several websites and provides general guidelines.
Please note information may change, so be sure to go directly to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) website to verify information remains accurate and up to date.
The Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) provides a wide range of programs to support families and connect people who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing. Its services include:
- Hearing evaluations and assistive technologies
- American Sign Language classes in English and Spanish
- Community outreach and youth programs
- Interpreter services and captioning
Chicago Survivors (CS) provides crime victim services and support to family members of Chicago homicide victims. Services are free, voluntary and open to all. Services include a crisis helpline and response services, protecting victims’ rights and compensation assistance, funeral planning, counseling, wellness kits, support groups and more. Help is available in Spanish and English. Real-time translation services for other languages is also available.
The Chicago Survivors Crisis Helpline is open 24/7 at (877) 863-6338.
Chicago Survivors resources and services also include:
- Counseling for youth and adults
- Comprehensive referral services (e.g., grief counseling, legal aid, housing, utilities)
- Protecting victims’ rights and compensation assistance
- Court advocacy and unsolved case assistance
- Community of Survivors adult and youth workshops, events and groups
Child & Family Connections of McHenry County
Child & Family Connections (CFC) is the starting point for the referral of children under 36 months of age to the Part C Early Intervention Service System in McHenry County. Early Intervention services are designed to meet an infant’s or toddler’s needs if they are experiencing issues related to five specific areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional and adaptive.
For more information, click on the brochure in English or Spanish.