Schools and Community Health

The School and Community Health Program works to identify 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:

Adult Immunization Program

This 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 their 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 with whooping cough booster)

AIDS/HIV Education

To decrease the incidence and spread of AIDS/HIV, education and referral services are available for community members.

Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Cholesterol Screenings

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.

Dental Program

Dental education is provided to all first grade students 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.

Eye Spy Program

This program provides education to fourth grade students regarding eye safety and protection.

Family Case Management Program

To assure women of childbearing age the optimum opportunity for wanted pregnancies and successful outcome of pregnancies, this program, works to prepare the client for the role of parent.

Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program

This program provides free breast screenings to eligible women 40 through 64 years of age and cervical cancer screenings to eligible women ages 35 through 64. The breast screening service includes a clinical office visit, breast exam, instruction on self-breast exam, and a screening mammogram. Other services such as diagnositc mammogram, ultrasound, breast biopsy and surgical consult are also provided free through the program if needed. The screening for cervical cancer includes a clinical office visit, pelvic exam, and pap smear. Other services such as colposcopy, surgical consult and endocervical curettage are also provided at no charge to the patient if deemed necessary.

To be eligible for the program:

• you must be without medical insurance or under-insured and can not be on Medicare Part B or Medicaid.
• you must reside in Ford or Iroquois counties

Life Skills Education

This program provides education for preschool through the adult age population emphasizing health concerns appropriate to the age of the audience thereby increasing public awareness and knowledge of various life skills topics.

Some of the topics included are:

• Menses Program for Girls (4th or 5th grade level)
• Pubery Program for Boys (4th or 5th grade level)
• Nutrition
• Handwashing
• Health Department Services

Paternity Testing

To provide genetic screening for adult and infant clients identified by the Illinois Department of Human Services in need of establishing parentage.

School Nurse Program

To reduce 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 Ford and Iroquois counties through a contractual agreement.

These services include but are not limited to:

• educational presentations
• monitoring of appropriate immunizations
• monitoring of required physical and dental exams
• providing nursing services during medical emergencies at school

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

The purpose of this program is to decrease the incidence and spread of STDs by providing education, testing or referral services, and treatment or referral services for community members at risk for STDs or for those who have had contact with an infected person. State mandated reporting is done in accordance with the Illinois Department of Public Health Standards.

Tobacco Initiative

The goal of this 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 cessation classes at various locations throughout the bi-county jurisdiction.

Tuberculosis Program (TB)

This program works to reduce the incidence of infectious disease in Ford and Iroquois counties by providing 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 $5. The Medical card is accepted for clients through age 18.

Vision and Hearing Screenings

Works to identify 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; and to provide appropriate referral, follow-up, and education.