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McHenry County health staff report rising chronic indicators, WIC funding preserved and shelter demand grows
Summary
Staff told the McHenry County Board of Health on Nov. 17 that screening data show elevated A1C, BMI and untreated high blood pressure among clients; WIC funding was fully maintained in the county budget and animal-control relinquish requests have increased, straining shelter capacity.
McHenry County public-health staff reported on Nov. 17 that their annual screenings show rising markers of chronic disease while core services remain funded.
During the board’s regular meeting, a staff presenter said roughly 50% of screened clients had high A1C, 55% had an elevated body-mass index and 71% showed elevated blood pressure that was not being treated. The presenter said the department aims to expand blood-pressure education and screenings in the coming year.
“Seventy-one percent have elevated blood pressure but isn’t being treated,” the presenter reported, urging more outreach and education to connect clients with primary care.
The board heard that Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits were preserved in the county budget: staff said proposed cuts to fruit-and-vegetable benefits did not go through, and WIC remained fully funded.
Animal-control staff described growing operational pressure. The department has received about 46 online relinquish requests in recent months, staff said, and is prioritizing urgent cases while maintaining a target of roughly 15–20 empty cages for stray or group intakes. Staff noted some relinquishments follow housing loss, job loss, medical issues or household allergies.
“With 46 relinquish requests we can’t take all of those animals,” a staff speaker said, and added the department has to prioritize based on medical need, cruelty cases and capacity.
Staff also reported longer-term progress in shelter outcomes: animal-control euthanasia rates have fallen sharply over the past decade, from around 1,000 cats annually to fewer than 50, with similar declines for dogs.
The department provided additional operational updates: the ER team is offering school-based emergency-preparedness and handwashing presentations, and the STI team will provide STD testing at McHenry County College’s wellness fair on Nov. 19.
The board did not take a separate formal vote on these service updates; several members asked for comparative screening data from prior years to better understand trends.
