A number of issues were discussed at last week’s McLean County and Peoria Local Area Council meeting, including the effect of Covid-19 on Mental Health. According to studies, nearly 1 in 5 Covid-19 patients develop a mental illness within three months of testing positive for the virus, further emphasizing the need for fully funded and available human services.  Read more here.

Get the latest news on nutrition programs, mental health assistance and more through the Department of Human Services’ weekly bulletin.

“The Department of Human Services will provide $32.5 million for programs aimed at fighting poverty during the pandemic in a variety of ways. That work is expected to help 73,000 people across Illinois by giving them stipends to rebuild businesses, providing food to food banks and giving funds to organizations to rebuild communities.”

Coalition partners Alternatives (for the Older Adult, Inc.), Bridgeway, Chestnut Health Systems, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Southern Illinois Coalition for the Homeless, are among 42 nonprofit recipients of the fourth and largest round of funding of the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund. Read the press release.

The Illinois Department of Human Services announced two new coronavirus response programs aimed at youth and immigrant families.

Governor Pritzker signed the FY21 operating budget into law. See the press release for details.

Illinois Partners Executive Director Lauren Wright issued a statement on systemic racism in our country, an issue that allows some lives to be protected and valued more than others.

As Illinois moves into Phase 3, read Governor Pritzker’s most recent Executive Order sharing requirements for organizations to reopen and other activities to resume.