Health Departments team up with Society of Growth to support mental wellness
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments recently announced their partnership with the Society of Growth offices in Wyoming and Henry, Ill. to bring the following services to our rural communities:
● Mental Health Services
● Peer Recovery Services
● Community Support Services
To make confidential referrals or call one of the participating sites for more information: Henry Society of Growth, 411 Edward St., Henry, 815-620-4182; Wyoming Society of Growth, 101 W. Williams St., Wyoming, IL 309-948-6983; Stark County Health Department & Toulon First Choice Healthcare Clinic, 120 E. Court St., Toulon, IL 309-852-5272.
This partnership and services are partially funded by the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program – COSSUP.
Mental Health Matters — Learn, support, connect Oct. 5–11
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments announced that Oct. 5-11, has been designated as Mental Illness Awareness Week. The theme for Mental Illness Awareness Week 2025 is “Community: Supporting Mental Well-Being Together”.
This theme emphasizes the importance of building strong social connections and fostering supportive communities to promote mental health and well-being. Millions of Americans are living with a mental health condition — mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends, neighbors or coworkers. During Mental Illness Awareness Week – MIAW the goal is to raise awareness about mental health and provide support and treatment options for mental health conditions.
Consider the following Mental & Behavioral Health Facts:
● 1 in 5 US adults experience mental illness each year, and less than half of them receive treatment.
● 1 in 6 US youth experience mental illness each year, and only half of them receive treatment.
● 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
● The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.
● 60% of Americans are concerned about the stigma and around mental illness.
With limited resources for mental health in the community and the current circumstances we are facing locally and globally, it is now more important than ever to provide individuals with the behavioral/mental health support they need. Through the hard work and dedication of their psychiatric nurse practitioner, clinic and school-based mental health therapists, mental health nurses, and community support workers; First Choice Healthcare is able to offer this support to the community.
For more information on mental health services or to schedule an appointment call First Choice Healthcare in Kewanee at 309-852-5272. Help and understanding are just a phone call away.
Health Departments offer $15 Radon Test Kits for Healthy Lung Month
October has been proclaimed National Healthy Lung Month. The Health Department believes this important health observance is a good time to remind local residents that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall and the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. Therefore, they have Radon Home Test kits available for purchase at a cost of $15 per kit through their offices in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon while supplies last.
Many people are unaware that radon gas is such a health threat. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in the soil and water that can build up to dangerous levels in the home. Radon gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and invisible and the only way to know if a home has a radon problem is to test for it. Breathing radon can increase one’s risk of lung cancer. If you are a smoker, your risk is even more heightened.
“Radon gas is found in 65% of homes in Henry County and 82% of homes in Stark County. Radon is a Class A human carcinogen, meaning there is actual evidence that exposure to radon causes lung cancer. It is the cause of 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States annually.” said a representative of the Health Department.
Testing your home is the only way to know if you have elevated levels of radon. If radon levels, above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s -USEPA action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), are detected in your home; the Health Department can provide you with information regarding radon mitigation on our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or through our Environmental Health Division.
For more information on the $15 Radon Home Testing Kits call their location nearest you Kewanee 309-852-0197; Colona 309-792-4011; and Toulon 309-852-3115. You can also find them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
‘Get Covered Illinois’ Health Insurance Navigators at upcoming events
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Program asks, “Do You Need Health Insurance?” Their Health Insurance Navigators will be present at some upcoming local events to assist anyone looking to set up health insurance coverage:
McDonald’s, 1022 S. Oakwood Ave., Geneseo, Ill.
Thursday, Oct. 9
11:30am-3:30pm
McDonald’s, 315 S. Tenney St., Kewanee, Ill.
Thursday, Oct. 16
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
“Get Covered Illinois” Navigators can help you:
● Find affordable health coverage that meets your needs
● Fill out and submit your application
● Compare quality health plans side-by-side
● Find out if you qualify for financial help to lower your monthly premium
● Find out if you qualify for Medicaid or an affordability program
● Understand your benefits
● Understand health insurance terms
You may also be eligible to enroll in a Get Covered Illinois health plan outside of the usual Open Enrollment, or make changes to your existing coverage, if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period – SEP. The SEP may require you to enroll within 60 days of a Qualifying Life Event. A qualifying life event is a life change, such as:
Loss of Health Coverage, due to:
● Losing job-based coverage
● Losing Medicaid coverage
● Losing Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors or Health Benefits For Immigrants Adult coverage
● A divorce or legal separation
● Turning 26 years old, no longer eligible for parents’ coverage
Other Qualifying Life Events include:
● Getting Married
● Having a baby or adopting a child
● Moving to a new ZIP code or county
● Becoming a US Citizen
● Leaving incarceration.
For more information on this Get Covered Illinois Navigator event or assistance in enrolling in a Get Covered Illinois Healthcare Marketplace please call 309-852-5272.
Drive-thru flu clinic set for Oct. 17 in Kewanee
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare in conjunction with the Henry County Office of Emergency Management – OEM announced they will be conducting a Drive-Thru Adult Flu Shot Clinic in Kewanee on Friday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. in the Henry & Stark County Health Department’s West Parking Lot, 110 N. Burr Blvd.
This drive-thru flu clinic is for adults -18 years of age and older only. Flu shots will only be given on a “drive-thru” basis, no “walk ups.” In addition, participants must have working car windows. Bring your Medicare and/or Insurance card, $60 cash or check at the time of vaccination.
According to the CDC, flu activity most commonly peaks in the US in January or February; so this is a great time to get your seasonal flu shot. This year the Health Department announced that they will be administering the 3-component Trivalent seasonal flu shot at their upcoming Kewanee drive-thru flu clinic and at their First Choice Healthcare Clinic locations in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon. They believe this vaccine is going to give the area residents the most comprehensive protection from influenza this year.
They also are encouraging that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against the flu this year. People at high risk of serious flu complications are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated. These “at-risk” persons include small children, pregnant women, people with chronic health problems like asthma, diabetes, smokers, heart and lung disease, health care workers, and people 65 years and older.
For more information on the Health Department’s Oct. 17 Drive-Thru Flu Clinic call the Department’s First Choice Healthcare Clinics at 309-852-5272 Kewanee or visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
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