Community & School Health
The Community and School Health Program identifies chronic and communicable health conditions present in Ford and Iroquois counties and the school systems within the jurisdiction. A wide variety of confidential services, screenings and educational programs are available including:
Programs
The Diabetes Program offers community members educational and supportive measures to manage diabetes. Evidence based education programs help the person diagnosed with diabetes to understand and learn management techniques towards positive change and healthier living. The program also aides those in a caregiving role of persons with diabetes to understand supportive ways in how they can help manage the day-to-day events - making it easier to live with a chronic disease, such as diabetes. The program collaborates with sponsoring partners to make available all exisiting services to the members of Ford and Iroquois counties. These "Team Based" oriented services include support groups, workshops, dietetic services and other client-based services.
Collaborating Partners of the Diabetes Program are:
- Riverside HealthCare - Contact- Kelly Cuffe
- Carle Physician Group - Contact Karen Mbanza
- Gibson Area Hospital - Contact Eileen Woolums
- Iroquois Memorial Hospital - Contact - DiAnne Schoolman
For further information concerning each of the Collaborating Partners of the Diabetes Program and the supportive programs, see each partner's program link.
The Chronic Disease Management Program (CDSMP) (Also known as Live Well, Be Well Program) is a 6 week self-managment course offered to the residents of Ford and Iroquois Counties to help manage chronic health conditions. The evidence based program helps the participate learn to help take steps towards positive change and healthier living, helps to build confidence and one's ability to manage the day-to-day life events. Topics of the program include:
-Working with your doctor
-Medication "how to's"
-Personalizing a fitness & exercise program
-Relaxation techniques
-Dealing with negative emotions
-Managing symptoms
-Improving communication
-Tips for eating well
-Setting goals
-Effective Problem Solving
The Immigration and Naturalization Program provides aliens, of any age, with services necessary to adjust the status to one of lawful permanent resident of the United States.
The Jails and Institution Program provides physical assessment, consultation (as necessary) and referrals (as appropriate) for incarcerated prisoners in Iroquois County; thereby, identifying at risk prisoners and reducing the spread of communicable diseases.
The Coordinated School Health Grant Program enhances the physical and mental health of all within the Unit 9 school system by providing specific education and interventions to promote the 8 essential components of Coordinated School Health: (1) Parent & Community Partnerships; (2) Health Education; (3) Physical Education; (4) Nutritional Services and Education; (5) Healthy and Safe School Environment; (6) Mental Health Services; (7) Health Services; and (8) Staff Health Promotion. The focuses of this program include:
-improved physical and mental well-being through promotion of proper nutrition;
-increased physical activity;
-increased capacity to learn;
-reduction of absenteeism;
-strengthening of community resources and relationships;
-decreased bullying, violence, crime and substance abuse;
-as well as obesity and chronic disease prevention.
The Communicable Diseases Program protects residents within this jurisdiction from contracting and transmitting infectious diseases through active surveillance and by completing investigations, providing diagnostic screenings, providing referrals as appropriate and reporting as mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The Emergency Preparedness and Bioterrorism Program provides citizens of Ford and Iroquois counties with a plan ensuring comprehensive emergency preparedness and response to any overt threat, whether natural or man-made. Emergency preparedness includes identifying the crisis at hand, implementing plans, providing education and media information as appropriate and pertinent to the event, plus providing appropriate treatment in a timely manner, if available.
In the event of a bioterrorism attack, a plan for the distribution of strategic national stockpile medication dispensing has also been completed. The purpose is to establish policies, procedures and guidelines for the dispensing of mass medications and/or vaccinations to the residents of Ford and Iroquois counties and to anyone who may be traveling through the two counties in the event of a bioterrorist attack, diseases outbreak, or other natural or man-made disaster. The overall responsibility for the plan is with the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department. In order to respond to an actual event in initiating this Plan, coordination and support of multiple agencies and community partners will be necessary.
The Community and School Health Division works closely with the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Planning Grant Program through the Illinois Emergency Managment Agency (IEMA). The program objectives are to:
-Support the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs)
-Enhance hazardous chemical emergency plans
-Determine flow patterns of hazardous materials
-Conduct emergency response drills and exercises of the hazardous chemical emergency plans
-Assess local response capabilities
-Hazard analysis
-Community awareness and public education
The Community and School Health Division is involved with notifying first-response communities by using the State of Illinois Rapid Electronic Notification (SIREN) warning system. The SIREN system allows all community entities in both counties to be notified simultaneously of any alerts that may arise. SIREN cuts the response time dramatically for our local agencies to respond to natural or man-made disasters.
The Vision and Hearing Screening Program identifies preschool through high school children with suspect hearing and/or vision impairments through a screening process as established by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The program provides appropriate referral, follow-up, and education.
The Tuberculosis Program reduces the incidence of infectious disease in Ford and Iroquois counties by providing investigations, education, screening and referral and treament of active and passive tuberculosis for residents of any age. TB skin tests are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays with the exception of holidays. Cost is $10. The Medical card is accepted for clients through age 18 years of age.
The goal of the Tobacco Initiative Program is to assure the public has the opportunity to live and work in a smoke-free environment through eforcement of the Illinois Smoke-free Act. The program supports effective K-12 school based programs for tobacco prevention to reduce initiation and encourage cessation of tobacco use among young people. The department also offers free nicotine replacement therapies to those wishing to quit smoking.
The School Nurse Program reduces the morbidity and mortality in children and adolescence who are injured or become ill at school by providing a wide range of nursing services to schools in Iroquois County, through contractual agreement. These services include but are not limited to:
- educational presentations
- monitoring of appropriate immunizations
- monitoring of required physical and dental exams and eye exams
- providing nursing services during illness or injuries at school
Genetic screening for adult and infant clients identified by the Illinois Department of Human Services are completed to establishing parentage. At this time FIPHD does not provide paternity testing for private individuals. Genetic screening is provided by court order only.
Education for preschool children through the adult aged population emphasizes health concerns appropriate to the age of the audience. Education increases the public's awareness and knowledge of various life skills topics. Some of the topics that are included in the Life Skills Education Program are:
- Puberty Program for Girls (4th - 6th grade level)
- Pubery Program for Boys (5th - 6th grade level)
- Nutrition
- Handwashing
- Health Department Services
- STDs
- Disease Detectives
- Anatomy
- Heart Health
Dental education is provided in Ford and Iroquois counties in an effort to reduce the incidence of dental caries and gum disease. A dental sealant program is also provided on site at schools throughout the jurisdiction for students meeting income guidelines.
This program works to reduce the incidence of long term diseases and the potential for complications through education, screenings, and appropriate referrals for citizens of all ages in Ford and Iroquois counties. Free Blood pressure screenings are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Diabetes and Cholesterol Screenings are scheduled periodically and require an appointment. Diabetic information and education is provided through a free quarterly newsletter.
HIV/AIDS Surveillance and Education decreases the incidence and spread of HIV/AIDS. Education and referral services are available for community members, to enhance community awareness and knowledge of signs and symptoms, treatment and resources that are available.
Adult Immunization Program
The Adult Immunization Program provides adults in Ford and Iroquois counties with appropriate immunizations to prevent the spread of communicable and vaccine preventable diseases, thereby reducing morbidity rates and improving the quality of health.
Adult immunizations include:
- Flu
- Pneumonia
- TD
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- HPV - to age 26 (private pay) to age 20 (medical card)
- Shingles - Must be age 60 or older
- Chickenpox
- MMR
- Meningitis
- TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis [whooping cough])
Related Files
Upcoming Events
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May 18, 2012
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May 18, 2012
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May 21, 2012
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May 23, 2012
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May 28, 2012
