You are part of a community that has your back. We want to see you thrive at Oakton College and in your personal life. In addition to supporting you with on-campus connections, the Health and Wellness Center builds relationships with community organizations that can bridge the challenges that you may be facing with unexpected crises, mental health or physical concerns, or basic needs. We have compiled a list of community resources in the area, by zip code or by topic.
Student Care Coordinators are here for you; we are available to guide and support you through these resources. Email us at care@oakton.edu to set-up an in-person or virtual appointment. Or, give us a call at 847.376.7426. To learn more about all the physical or mental wellness offerings at Oakton, visit Health and Wellness.
Resource Search Engines to locate services by zip code:
FindHelp is a website where you can search and get connected to help by zip code; financial assistance, food pantries, medical care and free or reduced-cost help starts here.
Metro Chicago Resource Connection to speak with or text with a trained resource navigator; available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Evanston Care Network is a search engine where you can filter by location and type of support needed.
Please note: These community resources are external to Oakton and could change. If you experience this, let the Wellness Center know at 847.635.1885.
Crisis Resources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA): Mental Health/Substance Treatment Locator is a search engine for treatment resources where you can search by your location and needs.
National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Cook County North Suburban offers education, resources and support groups both online and in person.
Chicago and Northwest Suburbs:
Behavioral Services Center provides outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, in-person and virtual appointments.
Josselyn Center provides outpatient therapy, medication management and crisis support for individuals and families.
Lutheran Social Services provides counseling and other support resources to individuals, families, children, teens and adults.
Evanston:
Family Institute provides family, children and adult services, in-person and virtually.
Park Ridge:
MaineStay Youth and Family Services provides counseling services for adults, teens and children (in-person and virtually).
Skokie:
Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center provides counseling, case management, and crisis support to adults, teens and children (in-person and virtually).
Early Action for Children (Illinois) is a website where you can check if you qualify and apply for financial assistance through the Child Care Assistance Program.
Family Resource Guide was compiled by the Evanston Early Childhood Council; it shares information on topics such as: early learning programs, home visit programs, speech/occupational therapy and more.
Northshore Senior Center (NSSC) offers information and groups for grandparents/other non-biological gaurdians raising children.
Youth Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) offers programs for after-school and during the summer for school aged children in districts 65 and 68.
Evanston:
Childcare Network of Evanston (CNE) provides services for early childhood care and education programs.
Niles Township:
Early Childhood Alliance provides early childhood (0-5 years old) support resources for Niles Township.
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline is a 24/7, multilingual confidential call line that can be used by survivors, concerned family and friends and helping professionals. They offer support with counseling, legal and domestic violence shelter services.
One Love is an online resource to help young people in recognizing healthy and unhealthy relationship patterns.
Sarah's Inn provides free and confidential support and assistance with shelter placement for DV occurrences.
Evanston:
Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault offers confidential support services for survivors.
YWCA provides support regarding equality, violence prevention and reducing discrimination.
Skokie:
Zacharias Center offers 24 hour support line for sexual violence survivors and prevent resources.
Ascension Holy Family Micro Pantry is 24/7 self-serve food pantry near the main hospital entrance. You can donate and take goods as needed. (Location: 100 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, IL, 60016).
Greater Chicago Food Depository search for a network of food pantries and programs in Chicagoland area.
Northwest Compass Inc. Nutrition Support supplements neighbors in need with perishable and non-perishable food items.
Vineyard Food Pantry serves everyone from low income families with pre-bagged nonperishable staples and meat, produce, bread and dairy.
Chicagoland:
Alliance to End Homelessness Suburban Cook County offers assistance with transitional living programs and housing waitlists.
Entry Point provides resources to those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW) requires you get connected with a care coordinator to have support with housing waitlists and some emergency housing.
Evanston:
Connections for the Homeless offers housing assistance with transtional living programs and housing waitlists.
Open Communities provides education and promoting for fair housing; supports people with eviction prevention and counseling.
Maine Township:
Center of Concern offers various homeless prevention resources and support for Maine Township and surrounding areas.
Park Ridge:
The Harbour provides emergency shelter support for girls ages 12-24, assistance with transitional or temporary housing.
Arlington Heights:
Shelter, Inc. provides support to reduce youth homelessness, transitional housing support for youth ages 12-21.
Evanston:
Moran Center provides legal aid on various subjects.
Highland Park:
North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic provides legal aid services around housing, domestic violence, immigration and more.
Chicago:
Center on Halstead offers programs and services supporting and affirming gender and sexual orientation inclusions.
Lurie Children (gender development program) provides outpatient services supporting progression toward gender identity development.
Howard Brown Center supports services for gender and sexual orientation inclusion and primary health needs.
National:
The Trevor Project supports LGBTQ+ youth and adults with suicide prevention and crisis intervention.
TogetherAll is a free and anonymous online peer-to-peer mental health support community with 24/7 access. Use your Oakton email address to register.
Mindwise is a free and anonymous online screening tools to identify symptoms of mental health and substance use conditions.
Kognito is an online platform that provides an experiential learning simulation to build knowledge and skills around mental health and suicide prevention.
Psychology Today to search for providers by insurance, location and presenting issue.
Therapy Den to search for provider by insurance, location and presenting issue.
Open Path Collective to search for providers offering sliding scale options for services.
Inclusive Therapists offers a simple way to find a social justice-oriented therapist, counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Evanston:
Eerie Evanston/Skokie Health Center provides a variety of primary medical, dental and behavioral health services, including school check-up's and shots.
Lurie's Children Primary Care offers primary health care resources for children: immunizations, physicals, minor injuries and medication.
Multiple Locations:
Northshore Community Health Clinic is available throughout the NorthShore Hospital Systems; it provides resources for uninsured individuals and families.
Skokie:
Tapestry provides accessible and affordable health services for uninsured, underinsured people (including immigrants and refugees).
Lurie's Children Primary Care offers primary health care resources for children: immunizations, physicals, minor injuries and medication.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) offers medical and nutritional coverage through Medicaid/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Apply online for benefits here.
CEDA offers a variety of services to families and families in need of resource support, such as: utility bill assistance; home weatherization; family support and community engagement; pregnancy resources; housing counseling.
Des Plaines
Alcoholics Anonynous (AA) offers peer support for individuals who are working on sobriety.
Narcotics.com helps people find local Narcotics Anonymous meetings and provides resources for various types of treatment including inpatient, outpatient and support groups.
Addictions.com provides info for people at any stage of their recovery journey, including info on different types of therapy/recovery options, warning signs, how to talk to a family member, definitions of different types of treatment and a local treatment center directory.
Evanston:
Peer Services provides community-based substance use prevention and treatment services.
Skokie:
Gateway Foundation is a substance use disorder treatment center with locations in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. They offer residential, outpatient, virtual, and detox services.