Family Planning
*Goal*
To assist women to understand and take responsibility for
their reproductive health through education, counseling and
medical services; to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies;
to provide Family Planning reproductive health care education
and services to adolescents and reduce adolescent pregnancy;
and to encourage parental involvement. Family Planning services
are available to all regardless of age, gender, race, nationality,
religion, disability, or ability to pay.
Services
(Services are provided on a sliding fee scale)
Clients only
- Contraceptives (birth control)
- Pap smears
- Breast exams
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing
- Preconceptual counseling
Anyone
- Pregnancy testing
- FREE condoms
- Sterilization counseling
For more information about Family Planning call 309-837-9951
or e-mail michellechurchill@mchdept.com.
Please call to make an appointment.
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WiseWoman
*Goal*
To provide low-income, under- or uninsured 40-64 year old
women with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to improve
diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle behaviors to prevent,
delay and control cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.
Services Screening for chronic
disease risk factors.
- Dietary, physical activity, and smoking cessation interventions.
- Referral and follow-up as appropriate.
For more information about WiseWoman call 309-837-9951 or e-mail cynthiasheffler@mchdept.com
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Maternal and Child Health
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
*Goal*
To safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and
children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing
nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy
eating, and referrals to health care.
What is WIC?
WIC is a supplemental program that provides nutritious foods,
nutrition counseling, and referrals to health and other social
services to participants at no charge. WIC serves low-income
pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and infants and
children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. WIC is not an
entitlement program through which Congress sets aside funds to
allow every eligible individual to participate in the program.
It is a federal grant program. The grant monies are dispersed
to the various sites nationwide that participate in the WIC program.
How WIC helps:
WIC reduces fetal deaths and infant mortality, reduces low birth
weight rates and increases the duration of pregnancy, improves
the growth of nutritionally at-risk infants and children, decreases
the incidence of iron deficiency anemia in children, improves
the dietary intake of pregnant and postpartum women and improves
weight gain in pregnant women. Pregnant women participating in
WIC receive prenatal care earlier. Children enrolled in the program
are more likely to have a regular source of medical care and
have up to date immunizations. It also improves children’s
diets as well as their cognitive development.
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Family Case Management
*Goal*
To reduce the rate of infant mortality in McDonough County
and to promote wellness and healthy lifestyles in pregnant
women and children, providing assistance to pregnant women,
families with children under the age of two, and high-risk
families.
Services
- Client assessments
- Clinic services
- Health education
- Referrals
La Leche League
*Goal*
To encourage, promote and provide mother-to-mother breastfeeding
support and educational opportunities as an important contribution
to the health of children, families and society.
Is there a La Leche League for this area?
Yes, it meets the third Tuesday of the month at the McDonough
County Health Department.
- Eligibility: All interested
women, especially pregnant mothers and mothers with nursing
babies.
- Area Served: McDonough County
and surrounding area
- Services Provided: 24 hour
phone consultation; information; encouragement, and support
to mothers who wish to breast-feed their babies; free lending
library; access to medical advisory board; information sheets
on all aspects of breast-feeding; books for sale; monthly meeting;
breast pump rental.
- Contact information: 309/456-3715
Links
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Teen Parent Services
*Goal*
To assist the teen parents to become self-sufficient, graduate
from high school and avoid subsequent pregnancies.
What is Teen Parent Services?
Teen Parent Services offers case management to pregnant teens
and/or teen parents who are under the age of 20 and have not
graduated from high school (diploma/GED).
How can I get more information about Teen
Parent Services?
For more information about Teen Parent Services, please call
309-837-9951 or e-mail shellybeyer@mchdept.com.
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Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Reporting System
(APORS)
*Goal*
To reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes, infant mortality and
developmental disabilities in McDonough County.
What is APORS?
Hospitals providing maternity and newborn care report deliveries
which result in congenital anomalies, life-threatening illness,
birth weight less than 1501 grams (3lbs.4 3/4 oz.), fetal death
and neonatal death. Doctor's offices may also report high-risk
patients. What is McDonough County Health Department’s
Role? Public Health Nurses make home visits at regular intervals
to pregnant women, infants, and children who are at risk. These
visits allow nurses to make assessments of the family, provide
education and make referrals to other community services as needed.
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Genetics Program
*Goal*
To provide genetic screening, utilizing the Genetic Screening
Tool to families in the Women, Infant and Children program
and the Family Planning Clinic, by trained professionals following
the Illinois Department of Human Services’ guidelines;
and to provide referral services to genetic counselors ensuring
families have access to genetic information they need to make
informed health care choices.
What does the genetics program do?
It provides screening, identification and referral of individuals
who may benefit from genetic services. Follow up home visits
by a Public Health Nurse may also be made through this program.
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Lead Testing and Screening
*Goal*
To prevent lead poisoning through screening and testing
by trained professionals following the guidelines of the Illinois
Department of Public Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning
Prevention Program; and to provide education, referral, and
follow-up to parents and caregivers and make lead testing available
regardless of the public’s ability to pay.
What are the effects of lead?
Children:
- Damage to the brain and nervous system
- Behavior learning problems (such as hyperactivity)
- Slowed growth
- Hearing problems
- Headaches
Adults:
- Difficulties during pregnancy
- Other reproductive problems (in both men and women)
- High blood pressure
- Digestive problems
- Nerve disorders
- Memory and concentration problems
- Muscle an joint pain
Facts about lead
- Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before
they are born.
- Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of
lead in their bodies.
- People can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing
lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead.
- People have many options for reducing lead hazards. In
most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is
not a hazard.
- Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger
to your family.
Who
should be tested?
- Children 6 months to 6 years of age in high risk areas
must have blood lead test prior to entry in daycare, preschool
programs, or kindergarten.
- Children in low risk areas are evaluated through a risk
assessment questionnaire and tested only if the health care
provider determines a danger of lead poisoning.
- Blood lead testing appointments are available; call for
more information.
Where can I get more information
about lead?
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Division of Specialized Care for Children
*Goal*
DSCC’s mission focuses on public service, education
and research as a basis to provide, promote and coordinate
family-centered, community-based, culturally competent care
for eligible children with special health care needs in Illinois.
Where do I go to get more information
or help from DSCC?
- Regional Office staff are available the third Wednesday
of each month from 10-2 at the McDonough County Health Department
to meet with families, answer questions, take referrals, and
offer assistance with any special health care needs.
- Springfield Regional Office 217/524-2000
- http://www.uic.edu/hsc/dscc
Services provided
Diagnostic and medical programming services are provided at
no fee. Specialized treatment services for medically eligible
conditions which include orthopedic, cardiac, or neurological;
defects which respond to plastic surgery, such as cleftlip/palate
or burn scars; hearing loss; cystic fibrosis; PKU and hemophilia.
Financial assistance is available.
Eligibility
Persons 21 years of age and under who live in Illinois and have
an illness or handicap that will respond to treatment, which
prevents or improves a handicapping condition.
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Communicable (Infectious) Disease
Communicable Disease Reporting
Health care providers and hospitals must report any suspected
or confirmed case of certain diseases to the local health authorities
within a certain number of days or hours depending on the disease.
The following link is a complete list of reportable diseases
in Illinois.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases
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HIV Testing and Counseling
Confidential HIV testing and counseling is offered weekly
by appointment. People who may be at risk are individuals with
multiple sex partners, men who have sex with other men, and
intravenous drug users. Results can usually be obtained within
a week. These services are based on a sliding fee scale.
For more information about HIV testing and counseling, please
call 309-837-9951 or e-mail cynthiasheffler@mchdept.com.
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Immunizations
*Goal*
To prevent the occurrence and transmission of vaccine-preventable
diseases including; diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping
cough), measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), poliomyelitis,
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), hepatitis B and Varicella
(chicken pox), Hepatitis A and Influenza.
What are the vaccine preventable childhood
diseases?
Immunization Schedule Recommendations
Where can I get more information about
each vaccine?
What is McDonough County Health Department’s
Role?
- Childhood immunizations are provided by appointment. Any
child 0-18 years of age is eligible.
- Adult immunizations are offered by appointment.
- Clinic Schedule
For more information about immunizations, please call 309-837-9951
or e-mail cynthiasheffler@mchdept.com.
Links
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International Travel
Immunizations
For information about immunizations needed before traveling,
please call 309-837-9951.
Links
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Tuberculosis (TB)
*Goal*
- To protect McDonough County’s residents from tuberculosis
- To ensure that persons with active TB are identified
and fully treated; to ensure contact of infectious person
are screened and offered preventive therapy;
- To ensure that person at high risk for TB infection and
reactivation receive appropriate screening and preventive
therapy; and
- To provide surveillance and monitor the trend of TB in
McDonough County.
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually attacks
the lungs, but can attack almost any part of the body. It is
spread from person to person through the air. When people with
TB in their lungs or throat cough, laugh, sneeze, sing, or even
talk, the germs that cause TB may be spread into the air. If
another person breathes in these germs there is a chance that
they will become infected with tuberculosis. Repeated contact
is usually required for infection. It is important to understand
that there is a difference between being infected with TB and
having TB disease. Someone who is infected with TB has the TB
germs, or bacteria, in their body. The body's defenses are protecting
them from the germs and they are not sick. Someone with TB disease
is sick and can spread the disease to other people. A person
with TB disease needs to see a doctor as soon as possible. It
is not easy to become infected with tuberculosis. Usually a person
has to be close to someone with TB disease for a long period
of time. TB is usually spread between family members, close friends,
and people who work or live together. TB is spread most easily
in closed spaces over a long period of time. However, transmission
in an airplane, although rare, has been documented. Even if someone
becomes infected with tuberculosis, that does not mean they will
get TB disease. Most people who become infected do not develop
TB disease because their body's defenses protect them.
What is the role of the McDonough County
Health Department? With the assistance of augmented funding
from the McDonough County Tuberculosis Sanitarium Board (TB
San Board), a comprehensive TB surveillance program is provided.
This includes:
McDonough County Tuberculosis Sanitarium
Board
The McDonough County Tuberculosis Sanitarium Board is a board
established by the McDonough County Board for the detection,
treatment, and care of persons affected with tuberculosis. The
TB San Board contracts with health care provider agencies in
McDonough County, such as the McDonough County Health Department,
WIU Beu Health Center, and McDonough District Hospital. Its role
is to ensure care and services related to tuberculosis are available
for county residents, including TB skin testing and follow-ups
on positive reactors to TB skin tests. The TB San Board also
supports preventive medications, chest x-rays, and medical care
if the person has no other way to pay for it. The TB San Board
consists of concerned citizens from various fields interested
in the control and prevention of tuberculosis in McDonough County.
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