GOV. BLAGOJEVICH ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $1.6 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE
Grants dispersed throughout the state to raise awareness and help prevent common diseases and health conditions in women
CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced more than $1.6 million in grants for women’s health programs geared toward awareness and prevention of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, menopause and eating disorders – some of the leading health conditions facing women.
“Women so often play the important role of caretaker and end up putting their families’ needs ahead of their own. That can have a devastating impact on their health. By making women aware of the major threats to their health, and the keys to prevention, we can help them live longer, healthier lives. These grants will go to non-profit organizations, hospitals, local health departments and schools that are working to raise awareness and educate women on the main health issues facing them today,” said Gov. Blagojevich.
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s Office of Women’s Health administers the grants, which are awarded to programs that provide guidance on issues related to nutrition, exercise, risk assessment, treatment options and prevention strategies.
"Last year, nearly 11,000 women and girls participated in these community education programs,” Dr. Whitaker said. “What’s especially impressive is that nearly three-fourths of the participants reported an increase in knowledge, and nearly two-thirds reported behavior changes resulting in healthier lifestyles.”
Heart Smart for Women is a 12-week community-based program designed to change unhealthy behavior while promoting the benefits of exercise and nutrition. Heart disease is the number one killer among women nationally and statewide. According to 2002 Illinois data, nearly 22,000 females died from cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke.
The Adams County Health Department has been offering this program to women in their community for the last five years and they have seen tremendous success.
“More than 700 women have participated in the Heart Smart program since 1999 and we continually get positive feedback about success stories and how the program has improved their lives. Women gain more confidence and are empowered to have the ability to make healthier choices,” said Becky Woodward, health educator, Adams County Health Department.
The Women’s Health Initiative Grants are funded through state general revenue funds. A total of 77 grant recipients will be able to utilize the money for local programs including the following:
- Heart Smart for Women, a 12-week community-based program designed to change unhealthy behavior while promoting the benefits of exercise and nutrition.
- Heart Smart for Teens, a nine-week nutrition and exercise curriculum geared toward school-aged girls.
- Building Better Bones, which offers group education sessions, as well as bone density screening for osteoporosis.
- Understanding Menopause, which offers educational sessions that help women understand perimenopause and menopause and inform them about related health issues.
- Eating Disorder Professional Education, which helps adults who work with young women and girls to understand and recognize disordered eating patterns and to refer those at risk.
Gov. Blagojevich has made other significant contributions to promote and improve women’s health including:
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Breast and Cervical Cancer Funding : Provided increased funding to screen additional women for breast and cervical cancer. Nearly 39,000 women in two years, 44 percent of whom are minorities, received free screenings through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP). Since taking office, the Governor has also added $4 million more in state funding to support breast and cervical cancer screening and education. In FY 05, the total amount of state and federal funds supporting breast and cervical cancer programs is $11.45 million. Gov. Blagojevich also passed legislation in December creating a 12-member Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force to help educate the public about cervical cancer and develop a statewide comprehensive prevention and control plan.
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Women’s Health Education : In addition to the $1.6 million in grants announced today, i n January of 2005, $100,000 in state funds was awarded to 26 groups for health awareness events and walking campaigns, many of which target specific minority groups, including African-American, Asian and Latina women.
- Women’s Health-Line : Increased access to services through Women’s Health-Line and other informational resources. In FY04, the state-funded toll-free Women’s Health-Line responded to more than 3,000 requests, referring women to services and providing nearly 345,000 free educational materials to women and community providers. These materials are also available through the department’s website.
- Responsible Family Planning: In April 2004, Gov Blagojevich launched the Healthy Women program under the Department of Public Aid (now Department of Healthcare and Family Services). The free program offers low-income women who are leaving the Medicaid program the tools to prevent unplanned pregnancies and to assist women in making a successful transition from welfare to work. As of November 5, 2004, more than 80,000 women have participated in the program.
- First state to require pharmacists to dispense female contraceptives: In April, Governor Blagojevich issued an emergency rule requiring pharmacists whose pharmacies sell contraception to dispense birth control to women with valid prescriptions. The Governor’s emergency rule became permanent this summer. In addition, the state launched a new website, www.contraceptives.illinois.gov, to help women know which insurers now cover contraceptives.
For more information on women’s health and programs offered through IDPH visit www.idph.state.il.us or call the Women’s Health-Line at 888-522-1282 or for TTY, (hearing impaired use only) 800-547-0466.
A list of this year’s 77 grant recipients follows:
Illinois Department of Women’s Health
Office of Women’s Health
Women’s Health Initiative Grantees
Fiscal Year 2006
Organization |
City |
Project Title |
Amount Awarded |
ABTC Educational Services/Urban Life Line |
Chicago |
Understanding Menopause |
$10,000 |
Adams County Health Department |
Quincy |
Heart Smart for Women |
$32,000 |
ANAD
|
Highland Park
|
Eating Disorders Professional Edu.
|
$25,000
|
Asian Human Services |
Chicago |
Heart Smart for Women |
$30,000 |
Boone County Health Department |
Belvidere |
Heart Smart for Women |
$14,000 |
Bureau County Health Department |
Princeton |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$14,000 |
Cass County Health Department |
Beardstown |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$7,000 |
Chinese American Service League |
Chicago |
Building Better Bones |
$16,000 |
CLESE |
Chicago |
Building Better Bones |
$26,000 |
Clinton County Health Department |
Carlyle |
Building Better Bones |
$14,000 |
Coles County Health Department |
Mattoon |
Understanding Menopause |
$9,000 |
Community Medical Center of Western Illinois |
Monmouth |
Building Better Bones |
$21,000 |
Council for Jewish Elderly |
Chicago |
Building Better Bones |
$22,000 |
Country Club Hills School District 160 |
Country Club Hills |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$15,000 |
Crawford County Health Department |
Robinson |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$25,000 |
Decatur Memorial Hospital |
Decatur |
Understanding Menopause |
$20,000 |
Dewitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department |
Clinton |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$14,000 |
East Side Health District |
East St. Louis |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$35,000 |
Family Focus, Inc. |
Aurora |
Heart Smart for Women |
$25,000 |
Fulton County Health Department |
Canton |
Understanding Menopause |
$15,000 |
Greene County Health Department |
Carrollton |
Building Better Bones |
$8,000 |
Hancock County Health Department |
Carthage |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$25,000 |
Henderson County Health Department |
Gladstone |
Heart Smart for Women |
$20,000 |
Henry County Health Department |
Kewanee |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$13,000 |
Howard Brown Health Center |
Chicago |
Building Better Bones |
$25,000 |
Ingalls Wellness Center, Inc. |
Homewood |
Heart Smart for Women |
$30,000 |
Jackson County Health Department |
Murphysboro |
Heart Smart for Women |
$30,000 |
Jasper County Health Department |
Newton |
Understanding Menopause |
$8,000 |
Jersey County Health Department |
Jerseyville |
Building Better Bones |
$20,000 |
Kendall County Health Department |
Yorkville |
Understanding Menopause |
$15,000 |
Knox County Health Department |
Galesburg |
Heart Smart for Women |
$19,000 |
Korean American Community Services |
Chicago |
Building Better Bones |
$25,000 |
Lake County Health Department |
Waukegan |
Building Better Bones |
$35,000 |
Livingston County Health Department |
Pontiac |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$20,000 |
Logan County Health Department |
Lincoln |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$15,000 |
Macoupin County Health Department |
Carlinville |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$25,000 |
Madison County Health Department |
Wood River |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$42,000 |
Marion County Health Department |
Salem |
Heart Smart for Women |
$18,000 |
McHenry County Health Department |
Woodstock |
Understanding Menopause |
$25,000 |
McLean County Health Department |
Bloomington |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$30,000 |
Memorial Hospital of Chester |
Chester |
Heart Smart for Women |
$13,000 |
Menard County Health Department |
Petersburg |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$10,500 |
Mercer County Health Department |
Aledo |
Heart Smart for Women |
$21,000 |
Michael Reese Hospital |
Chicago |
Building Better Bones |
$29,000 |
Midwest Heart Foundation |
Lombard |
Heart Smart for Women |
$25,000 |
Montgomery County Health Department |
Hillsboro |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$17,000 |
Oak Park DPH |
Oak Park |
Heart Smart for Women |
$16,000 |
OSF St. Francis Medical Center |
Peoria |
Heart Smart for Women |
$33,000 |
Peoria City/County Health Department |
Peoria |
Building Better Bones |
$16,500 |
Pike County Health Department |
Pittsfield |
Eating Disorders |
$11,000 |
PrimeCare Community Health Inc. |
Chicago |
Heart Smart for Women |
$35,000 |
Rock Island County Health Department |
Rock Island |
Heart Smart for Women |
$20,000 |
Saint Anthony Hospital - Program CIELO |
Chicago |
Heart Smart for Women |
$22,000 |
Sangamon County Health Department |
Springfield |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$8,500 |
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center |
Mattoon |
Heart Smart for Women |
$20,000 |
Sinai Community Institute |
Chicago |
Heart Smart for Women |
$35,000 |
SIUSOM |
Springfield |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$30,000 |
Springfield Urban League |
Springfield |
Heart Smart for Women |
$25,000 |
St. Ailbe Catholic Church |
Chicago |
Heart Smart for Women |
$22,000 |
St. Clair County Health Department |
Belleville |
Eating Disorders |
$25,000 |
Stephenson County Health Department |
Freeport |
Understanding Menopause |
$17,000 |
SIU School of Nursing |
East St. Louis |
Heart Smart for Women |
$30,000 |
Tazewell County Health Department |
Tremont |
Heart Smart for Women |
$25,000 |
U of I Extension - Tazewell County |
Pekin |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$20,000 |
Vietnamese Association of Illinois |
Chicago |
Building Better Bones |
$27,000 |
Wabash County Health Department |
Mt. Carmel |
Heart Smart for Women |
$15,000 |
Washington County Health Department |
Nashville |
Understanding Menopause |
$6,000 |
Western Illinois University |
Macomb |
Heart Smart for Women |
$20,000 |
White Crane Wellness Center |
Chicago |
Building Better Bones |
$30,000 |
Whiteside County Health Department |
Rock Falls |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$18,000 |
Will County Health Department |
Joliet |
Heart Smart for Women |
$25,000 |
Winnebago County Health Department |
Rockford |
Heart Smart for Women |
$18,000 |
Woodford County Health Department |
Eureka |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$30,000 |
YMCA of McDonough County |
Macomb |
Heart Smart for Women |
$15,000 |
YWCA of Elgin |
Elgin |
Heart Smart for Teens |
$15,000 |
YWCA of Lake County |
Waukegan |
Heart Smart for Women |
$15,000 |
|
