EPICenter is an emerging non-profit providing social/support groups. We are hoping to add more support groups and activities as the year progresses.

Providing 100 % virtual affirmative, empathetic, and ethical mental healthcare specifically for the LGB+, transgender & non-binary community.

Clinical services available: Letters of support for gender affirming care (surgery/hormones), gender affirming individual therapy, LGBTQ+ affirming therapy, therapy for health habit change, therapy for adjusting to and coping with chronic illness

Non-Clinical services available: LGBTQ+ health education & consultation

The Evergreen Initiative, LLC is queer & trans led & run

"LGBTQ immigrants in the United States encounter unique obstacles to securing protection and safety, particularly when caught up in the immigration enforcement and detention systems. One in four substantiated incidents of sexual abuse in immigration detention involved a transgender individual over a four-year period. Further, LGBTQ immigrants pursuing claims to protection that are related to their sexual orientation or gender identity often face discriminatory attitudes in the immigration court system that lead to denials of immigration protection and longer periods of detention.

NIJC's LGBT Immigrant Rights Initiative provides legal services to LGBTQ immigrants across the country and engages in impact litigation targeting systemic flaws in the immigration system including the discriminatory adjudication of sexual-orientation and gender identity based claims and errors in the interpretation of refugee and asylum law."

"Established in 1998, Youth Outlook is the first and longest-running social service agency in Illinois solely dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. We work in seven counties in northern Illinois, offering drop-in centers for youth, caregiver, and parent support, plus community education and professional development."

Support programs include Drop-In Centers, Caregiver Support Groups, Community Education & Professional Development, Health & Wellness Navigation.

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"Our Drop-In Centers meet weekly and are a social setting for youth to meet other LGBTQ+ young people and talk about various topics that really matter to them, providing a place for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe, supported, and celebrated. Trained staff and volunteers lead all programming, which includes identity and self-esteem, physical and mental health, political awareness, healthy relationships, and other topics requested by attendees. *Most groups welcome youth ages 12-20, exceptions are noted by each location."

Drop-in centers currently offered in DeKalb, Peoria, Naperville, Joliet/Lockport, Ottawa, Sterling, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Bolingbrook, Palatine, and virtually.

"The National Center for Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression (The National SOGIE Center), provides a centralized site for accessing resources on providing culturally responsive care to children, youth, young adults with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE) and their families across systems, including child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health (including school mental health), substance use systems, and housing and homelessness."
"The work of the SOGIE Center is grounded by the following principles:

LGBTQ+ young people must be supported to thrive with their family in their communities.
Young people and their families are the experts in their lives, strengths, and needs and must be centered in all of our work.
*Families are the best supports for raising strong, healthy, and happy children, youth, and youth adults.
Systems are not replacements for families or communities.
An intersectional analysis that examines power and identity must be applied to all our work. SOGIE must be understood as interconnected with race, ethnicity, class, ability or immigration status, which together impacts the experiences, opportunities, and health status of LGBTQ+ young people and their families.
People deserve access to services that are proven to work.
Communities, families, advocates, and allies should hold systems accountable for better policies and practices to ensure that LGBTQ+ youth and their families are supported.
In order to create equitable care for LGBTQ+ youth, we work to acknowledge the history of anti-Black racism and the genocide and forced assimilation of Native peoples that has impacted our laws, policies, and practices even to this day and we must recognize and work to dismantle the harm this causes to all youth, specifically LGBTQ+ youth.
*Families include families of origin and families of choice."

"A vast hub of helpful information and resources for LGBTQIA+ individuals looking for positive mental health and therapy support."

From the website:
"Finding an affirming, empathetic therapist can be life changing. Taking these steps could make the process easier for you:
- Clarify your goals.
- Identify your deal breakers and must-haves.
- Gather referrals from people you trust.
- Leverage LGBTQIA+ organizations in your search.
- Consider online therapy and support groups.
- Ask all the questions.
- Reach out to a helpline if you’re in immediate need.
- And last — but definitely not least — keep searching until you find a therapist who meets your needs. Your well-being is worth the effort, intuition, and time you’ll invest."

Family Service Agency of DeKalb County has been providing counseling, advocacy, and other essential services to DeKalb County since 1956. We can assist individuals and families from birth through the end of life, no matter the circumstances.

Addiction Center's tag line is "Your guide for addiction and recovery."

Their LGBTQ guide states:
"Rates of drug abuse and addiction in the LGBTQ community are disturbingly higher than those of other groups. Discrimination, societal pressures, and co-occurring disorders are just a few potential triggers for drug abuse in this population."

Webpage also includes 'Challenges The LGBTQ Community Faces', 'Common Co-Occurring Disorders In The LGBTQ Community', 'Drugs Of Choice Within The LGBTQ Community', 'Treatment Centers For The LGBTQ Community', and 'Get the Help You Need.'

Website offers chat function.

“The List was fundamentally created to collect and showcase resources that are beneficial for trans+* individuals, their families, allies, and providers. We want this website to be a place where people can come to find support, community, and information.
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*trans+ is used as an umbrella term to include all gender and sex minorities.”

From the website: "We offer an inclusive, safe and welcoming environment for all the communities we serve. The LGBTQ+ community is no exception."

LGBTQ Health Service Offered Include:
-Primary Health Care
-Care/Case Management
-Infectious Disease Care
-STI Testing and Treatment
-HIV Testing and Treatment
-Rapid HIV Testing and Counseling
-HIV Prevention Treatment (PrEP)
-Anal Pap Smears
-Women’s Health & Gynecology
-Hormone Replacement Therapy
-Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
-Substance Use Disorder Services
-Dental Health Services
-Insurance Enrollment
-Free Condoms
-Outreach and Prevention Education