Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Boone County hears service updates from Veterans Assistance Commission, CASA and Health Department
Summary
Representatives from the Veterans Assistance Commission, Boone County CASA and the Boone County Health Department briefed the County Committee of the Whole on program activity, caseloads, sources of funding and facility needs during the June 12 meeting.
Representatives from three county service providers updated the Boone County Committee of the Whole on June 12 about caseloads, funding and plans tied to the county administration building project and other facility moves.
The updates are important because each program serves both city and rural residents and several will relocate into the county's planned administration campus, affecting operations and facility needs.
Elizabeth Carmel, speaking for the Veterans Assistance Commission of Boone County, reported that the VAC averages roughly 28 to 35 rides per month for veterans and widows and about 29 veterans per month use the VAC food services. Carmel said the VAC currently has about 230 active claims, including burial and pension claims, and that awards paid for county veterans to date total $781,823.75. Carmel said monthly direct financial assistance has fallen from about $10,000 to about $4,000 because more veterans are receiving compensation and other resources are available. She said the VAC is funded primarily by a local tax levy and that the commission pays rent and some staff benefits out of that levy.
Charlotte Meyer, identified as director of Boone County CASA, said the program is serving 67 children with 27 volunteer advocates currently assigned; some advocates handle multiple cases. Meyer said staff also take on cases when volunteers are not available or when children are placed far from the county. She described CASA's funding as a mix of federal VOCA grant money, a state pass-through grant handled through Illinois CASA, county funding and a portion of court fees.
Amanda, identified only as a representative of the Boone County Health Department, presented a three-page snapshot of department programs and the department's 2024 annual report highlights. Amanda said the health department covers the entire county and listed program statistics: 763 of 1,002 WIC clients are city residents; the department handled 640 communicable-disease cases in fiscal 2024, 409 of which were Belvidere residents; and its CORE mental-health program recorded 76 clients from the City of Belvidere and 21 from the rest of the county, with 275 referrals and 589 successful resource links. Amanda said the department has reduced its reliance on local tax funding to about 12% of its operating budget by aggressively pursuing grants.
Board members asked presenters about service areas, staffing and the financial relationship with the City of Belvidere. Several board members emphasized that many county services are used primarily by city residents and urged continued intergovernmental cooperation as departments move into new county facilities. No formal action was taken; presenters said they would provide documents and follow-up materials to the board.
The updates preceded other agenda items tied to county construction and relocation planning, including the administration campus and public-safety building projects.
