Web Guide - Social Services

Edited 5-9-12

For information on Learning Disabilities, see the Learning Disabilities section on the Health and Medicine Web Guide page.

GENERAL

AllAboutCounseling.com
Good information on many aspects of counseling from definitions of terminology and approaches, to links to organizations and other sites. Covers all sorts of issues from chronic illness or sexual abuse to aging or domestic violence.

Social Psychology Network
Endeavors to be "the largest social psychology database on the Internet". In these pages, you'll find more than 20,000 links to psychology-related resources." Includes links to associations, educational institutions, reference tools, and funding information.

HEALTH CARE

Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs
Helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need through the program that is right for them.  Many will get medications free or for very low cost.  Also describes medicines currently in clinical trials or at FDA for approval.  Search by drug name, disease or company.

Medicare
The official US Government site for Medicare.

CAREGIVERS

ElderWeb
An excellent site for all eldercare and long term care issues with thousands of reviewed links to legal, financial, medical and housing issues, plus policy, research and statistics.

DISABILITIES

U.S. Access Board
The federal agency which develops minimum guidelines and requirements for standards issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), accessibility guidelines for telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment under the Telecommunications Act, accessibility standards for electronic and information technology under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, technical assistance on those guidelines and standards, and enforces the Architectural Barriers Act.

DRM Guide to Disability Resources on the Internet
Established to promote and improve awareness, availability and accessibility of information that can help people with disabilities become more independent. This site endeavors to disseminate all forms of information and organizations to help people with disabilities.

Disability.gov
Federal government site for "conprehensive information on disability programs and services in communities nationwide". More than 14,000 links to help find answers to everything from Social Security to employment to affordable and accessible housing.

National Dissemination Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
Comprehensive information on “disabilities in children and youth (birth to age 22)". Includes specific disabilities, early intervention services for infants and toddlers, special education and related services for school children, research on effective educational practices, resources and connections in every state, education rights, what the law requires and more.

VETERANS

AMVETS

Provides free assistance to veterans to insure they’re getting all the compensation claims to which they’re entitled.

Veteran News and Information Service
A not-for-profit service for military veterans.

United States Department of Veteran's Affairs
Comprehensive federal resources for veterans, with information on all veterans' benefits and services including health care benefits and services, veterans' crisis line, vocational rehab and employment, and home loan guaranty services.

SENIORS

Access America for Seniors
"We designed this site to provide senior citizens, and anyone who works on their behalf, with one site where they can access government services and information." Includes information about benefits, consumer protection, employment, taxes, and much more.

Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home
Published by the Health Care Financing Administration (Medicare and Medicaid U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), this guide offers step-by-step instructions and criteria to help you make a very important choice.

National Center on Elder Abuse

Maintained by the U.S. Administration on Aging, site provides guidelines on how to detect and take action to prevent further abuse; provides information on technical assistance and training to states and community based organizations.

Nursing Home Compare
Offered by the Health Care Financing Administration, this site allows you to choose nursing homes in a state and compare them to each others. Reports offer notes from recent inspections (including criticism), ownership information, and more.

CHILDREN

ADOL: Adolescent Directory Online
"Adolescence Directory On-Line (ADOL) is an electronic guide to information on adolescent issues. It is a service of the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University. Educators, counselors, parents, researchers, health practioners, and teens can use ADOL to find Web resources."

Adoption Network Law Center
Help for couples wishing to adopt as well as for those seeking assistance with unplanned pregnancies.

Child Care in Texas
Provided by The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, this site offers listings of child care,general information on child care and facilities, information for child care professionals, and child care facility guidelines and standards. Searchable by zip code.

International Adoption
"Adoption.com has been providing information and community services to the adoption community since 1996. These Web sites are part of a small, family-run business, Adoption Media, LLC, located in Gilbert, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix."

International Parental Child Abduction
U.S. State Department site.

Child Welfare Information Gateway
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

National Institute on Drug Abuse
"NIDA is not only seizing upon unprecedented opportunities and technologies to further understanding of how drugs of abuse affect the brain and behavior, but also working to ensure the rapid and effective transfer of scientific data to policy makers, drug abuse practitioners, other health care practitioners and the general public. The NIDA web page is an important part of this effort. The scientific knowledge that is generated through NIDA research is a critical element to improving the overall health of the Nation. Our goal is to ensure that science, not ideology or anecdote, forms the foundation for all of our Nation's drug abuse reduction efforts."

Alcohol and Drug Information
"The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) is the information service of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NCADI is the world's largest resource for current information and materials concerning substance abuse."

OTHER

Foundation Center: Your Gateway to Philanthropy on the World Wide Web
Search for grants, foundations, and more.

Idealist
A listing of over 92,000 non-profit/government agencies

Low-Income Housing for Abilene
Finding affordable housing in the Abilene area.

National Endowment for the Humanities

“NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the U.S. government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.”

2-1-1 A Call for Help
Access to information about services in the 19 counties of West Central Texas