A new, integrated healthcare project is about to kick off in deep southern Illinois, thanks to private funding.
The Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation, a private foundation working to address the healthcare needs of children in Illinois, is awarding a 100-thousand dollar grant to Family Counseling Center, which serves the Southern 7 counties of Illinois.
Family Counseling Center executive director Sherrie Crabb says the Southern Illinois Children's Integrated Healthcare project will launch in January.
"Our country is moving towards an integrated type of program when it comes to everyone's health. So, what that means is that we're talking about physical health, we're talking mental health, behavioral health. Everything that encompasses health around a human being the federal government's really pushing for. We recognize that it's a need, not only in our country, but also in southern Illinois."
Crabb says the funding will allow for clinical staff at the Hardin County General Hospital and in the Vienna School District. Crabb says she hopes one of the outcomes will be a reduction in the number of children in hospital emergency rooms.
"There's only three hospitals in the whole Southern 7 counties. Johnson County doesn't even have a hospital in its county. So, what we're hoping by providing this, kind of innovative care at the schools, is yes we're encompassed into the classroom setting, but then were available on site to work with the nurse and educate their staff about mental health needs and behavioral health needs for children."
Crabb says private funding, like this grant from the Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation, is vital since her organization is receiving very little support from the state during the ongoing budget impasse.
The new, integrated healthcare project will launch in January. It's guaranteed for two years with hopes it will be extended for much longer if it proves to be successful.
