Will County health officials warn grant cuts could shrink services; board asks for detailed data

Summary

Will County Health Department staff told the county board that multiple grant reductions and a terminated “well woman” grant are forcing program reviews and could lead the department to ask commissioners for additional levy funding for fiscal 2026. Board members asked staff for detailed budgets and service counts before the next meeting.

Elizabeth Balana, of the Will County Health Department, told the county board that several grants were reduced or terminated starting July 1 and that the department is reviewing programs to determine which services would remain.

“Under impending reductions in revenue, we did have 1 of our grants, the well woman grant terminated,” Balana said. She added the department was “notified that our better birth outcomes comprehensive grant is being reduced by $51,630, and we were also notified that our emergency preparedness grant will have a 27.52 reduction. However, we don't know the amount because they haven't told us what our grant is going to be, and that started on July 1.”

The health department said those changes, together with possible federal and state Medicaid shifts, have already affected staffing and could force program cuts. Balana said the department is “losing staff in immunizations, in communicable disease, in emergency preparedness, and better birth outcomes, and maternal health and child.” She told the…

Will County health officials warn grant cuts could shrink services; board asks for detailed data

Summary

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