Illinois Department of Human Services deploying teams to help vaccinate long-term care residents and staff as quickly as possible
In order to increase the limited supply of vaccine to eligible recipients, the State of Illinois is working with Walgreens and CVS pharmacies to temporarily redirect approximately 97,000 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine doses that have not yet been used for the federal Pharmacy Partnership Program to providers across the state.
After this transfer, approximately 110,000 doses will still remain available for the federal effort to vaccinate long term care residents; the federal program is administering approximately 36,000 doses per week. IDPH will continue to closely monitor the program and additional doses will be directed to the program if needed or if the rate of vaccination accelerates.
By Kyle Hutchinson
Jan 26, 2021 2:17 PM
Memorial Behavioral Health opened The Living Room, where adults experiencing emotional distress can go to get the help they need in a safe and calm environment. (Photo: Bobbi Wiseman / Memorial Health System)
SPRINGFIELD â In order to help reduce the pressure on local hospital emergency departments, Memorial Behavioral Health has opened a center where adults experiencing emotional distress can go to for a safe and calming environment where they can get help.
Dubbed The Living Room, the center is at 710 N. Eighth St. in Springfield and is open from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The entrance is at Eighth and Miller streets.
Thu, 01/21/2021 - 11:07am admin
Public health organizations and state medical programs are banding together to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations for employees of the Choate Developmental Center in Anna.
A joint press release sent out on Wednesday from the Southern Seven Health Department, Illinois Department of Human Services, AFSCME Council 31 and the Illinois League of Advocates for the Developmentally Disabled.
In the statement, Choate staff personnel were urged to take the vaccine for COVID-19. Choate Development Center has made the COVID-19 vaccine available onsite since Friday, Jan. 15.
“The health, safety, and well-being of the staff and residents of the Choate Developmental Center is crucial to our community,” the press release stated.
Names begin to emerge to replace Manar in Illinois Senate
With Andy Manar’s resignation from the Illinois Senate taking effect Sunday, the process to find his replacement has officially begun.
But discussions over who might fill Manar’s seat have been ongoing in political circles ever since the announcement of the three-term senator’s early departure for a senior role in Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration two weeks ago.
Possible candidates that have emerged include Springfield Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner, who is also the Sangamon County Democratic Party chair; Springfield Park District board member Lisa Badger; former Springfield Ward 2 Ald. Frank McNeil; Chase Wilhelm, an Army reservist who ran unsuccessfully against state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, in 2020; Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe; and Macoupin County board member Roberta Vojas.
Northern Star
DeKALB – The Illinois Department of Human Services is providing a $30,000 Healing Illinois grant to fund local community work focused to help make headway for racial healing, according to a Tuesday news release.
The Dekalb County Community Foundation has also donated $5,000 in support of the Belonging creation. The grant is in partnership with NIU, the City of Dekalb, Family Service Agency, Ellwood Museum and the Dekalb County History Center, according to the news release.
The grant from the State of Illinois is aimed toward accelerating progress toward the creation of a Belonging Leadership Council and public art and engagement activities.