CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced the award of $118,000 to the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) to create a “health equity zone” to address outcomes related to mental health.
The WCHD will use the funding to expand its Community of Concern workgroup to “address health disparities around mental and behavioral health impacting a vulnerable community area in Rockford,” according to a press release.
The workgroup will partner with other community groups to improve mental health through prevention and early intervention, including improving access to self-care, decreasing stigma associated with mental health conditions, and building community resilience, the government said.
“We are excited for the opportunity to address mental and behavioral health through a public health lens and improve health equity in our community,” said WCHD Administrator Sandra Martell.
The funding comes from the Healthy Illinois 2028 plan, which hopes to improve “equitable access to care and health outcomes for all Illinois residents.”