Consumer health/family resources
This very selective list serves as a gateway to consumer health information for families and children. Highlighted web sites are deliberately chosen to lead families to general web resources that direct users to more specific information about the special health and disability issues that they and their children face. See the disclaimer below.
Evaluating health information on the web
These three online tools can help consumers judge the accuracy, reliability, and currency of information found on the Internet.
U.S. Government health agencies
MedlinePlus
The best "first stop" for consumer health information from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health. Its "trusted health information" covers drugs, health topics and clinical trials; access to PubMed to find medical literature; as well as helpful links to an array of other health resources.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
"Healthy People in a Healthy World - Through Prevention" is the goal of this information on disease prevention and control, environmental health sites, and health promotion and education activities. A good source of data and statistics.
Healthfinder
"Your guide to reliable health information." The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers this key resource to government and nonprofit sources of consumer health information. This authoritative source is visually less formal than MedlinePlus.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
From the National Institute of Health, this web site explains complementary and alternative medicine, details treatment information and provides advisories and alerts.
U.S. Surgeon General's Family Health Initiative
This computerized tool helps users create a sophisticated portrait of their family's generations and health disorders. "My Family Health Portrait," also available in Spanish, provides a graphical representation of a family's generations and health disorders that may have moved from one generation to the next.
Local Resources
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
A state agency that provides "a range of services to help you become healthy and self-sufficient" Here find information about child protection, foster care, adoption, day care licensing and much more.
Illinois Department of Human Services
This agency offers assistance with basic family needs (food, shelter, housing), mental health resources, financial help and rehabilitation services. The department's site for people with disabilities covers employment, education, independent living, etc. Also within Illinois’ Human Services site, find information about nutrition for low-income women, infants and children, including who can apply, and office locations.
Illinois Department of Public Health
A wealth of information is found here on heath issues and statistics, diagnoses, adoption, blood lead levels, emergency medical services for children and how to access vital records.
Social Security -(Spanish)
Apply here for benefits for yourself or your child
Division of Specialized Care for Children
Care coordination for childrens with special health needs, including disabilities in infants, toddlers, chjildren and youth; special education services and research on effective education for children with disabilities. A page with information on how to apply for DSCC benefits is also included. This agency may help with finances where insurance stops..
State of Illinois, Developmental Disabilities - (Spanish)
Look here for information on what developmental disabilities are, what services are provides, who would qualify, location of a local coordination agency and frequently asked questions.
Children's Memorial Hospital Resources
There are resources in the hospital that can help patients and families by means of social work and financial assistance.