Programs and Services

All Our Kids Network (AOK) is a community-based collaboration that is committed to developing a high-quality, well-coordinated, easily accessible system of care that will promote positive growth and development for all children ages birth through eight and their families, and assure that children enter school ready and able to learn. For more information, call Dana Keim at 815-599-8404.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program serves pregnant and post-partum women and their children to age 5 who have identified health problems by providing supplemental food, health screenings, smoking cessation sessions, nutrition and breast-feeding education. For more information, call 815-235-8360

Family Case Management provides support to families in Stephenson County by providing health education information and by making linkages/referrals to community partners. This support is designed to assist families in becoming self-sufficient. Teen parents receive added support to complete their education. Parents of high-risk infants work with nurses to ensure their children are getting the best start possible, and all children are screened to determine that their development is on target. For more information, call Julia Marynus at 815-235-8390.

Healthy Families Illinois provides intensive home visiting through a partnership with FHN Jane Addams Family Counseling Center to prevent child abuse and neglect in families experiencing high levels of stress. Child-parent activities and parenting education assist young parents in becoming their child's first and most important teacher. For more information, call Julia Marynus at 815-235-8390.

Doula Services provide birth assistants who work with the family before and after delivery. Doulas assist in preparing a birth plan before delivery and caring for the newborn. The program focuses on teen parents. For more information, call Julia Marynus at 815-235-8390.

Teen Parent Services supports young parents, age 19 or younger, as they complete their high school education or GED equivalency. For more information, call Julia Marynus at 815-235-8390.

FHN Community Healthcare Center, in partnership with the Stephenson County Health Department, provides primary health care services to anyone without health insurance in need of medical care. Services offered include: medications, health education, and diagnosis and treatment of common, acute illnesses, as well as management of chronic health problems by a physician or nurse practitioner. For more information or to make an appointment, call 815-599-8414.

Children's dental appointments are availble at the health department through Crusader Clinci in Rockford. For more information or to make an appointment, call 815-235-8271.

HIV/AIDS/STD counseling, testing, referral and partner notification offers a range of no-charge services (although donations are encourged) to prevent and control disease and promote public health, including diagnosis, treatment and health education in a confidential setting. For more information or to make an appointment, call Becky Taylor at 815-235-8271.

Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) provides free mammograms for women of ages 40 to 64 and free Pap Smears for women between the ages of 35 and 64 who are uninsured or underinsursed. This program includes case management, education, and outreach efforts. For more information or to make an appointment, call at 1-866-590-8499.

WISEWOMAN Cardiovascular Research Program is for women between the ages of 40 and 64 who are currently enrolled in the IBCCP Program. All participants receive total lipid profiles with glucose, interview assessments, and incentives. Some participants will receive a 4-week nutrition/physical fitness class. For more information, contact Connie Raisbeck at 815-599-8432.

Well Woman is pleased to be funded for Breast Cancer Awareness, Education, and Support Services by the “Ticket for the Cure” Lottery Instant Ticket grant program. Our Pink Ribbon Campaign will provide educational programs for women’s groups and churches, outreach to Well Woman provider offices, and development of Task Force committees in each of our five county areas.

“You Gotta Have HEART”: New grant funding has been awarded to Well Woman from the American Heart Association. The program, entitled “You Gotta Have HEART” (Health, Education, and Regular Testing) provides free cholesterol testing and education for women who qualify through the FHN Community Healthcare Center. For more information, contact Connie Raisbeck at 815-599-8432.

TB skin tests are free to Stephenson County residents ($10 for out-of-county residents); TB medications and X-rays are also availble to the genral public for a fee. For more information or to make an appointment, call Becky Taylor at 815-235-8271.

The Family Planning program serves women of reproductive age in a confidential clinic setting through the provision of low-cost or free STD screenings, health education, counseling, and contraceptives.(Donations are encouraged.) Emergency contraception is also available. For more information or to make a appointment, call Becky Taylor at 815-235-8271.

Low-cost immunizations are provided at regular and special clinics for a range of childhood diseases and to prevent the spread of influenza each year in vulnerable and at-risk populations. In addition, the health department assists emergency, public safety, health and other public service personnel by administering Hepatitis B vaccines. For more information or to make an appointment, call Becky Taylor at 815-235-8271.

Certified copies of official birth and death records are available from the county registrar for school, travel, insurance and identification purposes for a fee. For more information, call Mary Boeke Hill at 815-235-8274.

Community health promotion and education services are available to address major factors of ill health such as smoking and tobacco use, substance abuse, sedentary lifestyle, environmental hazards, family stress, nutrition, peer pressure, health relationships, STDs, HIV, abstinence, and sexuality education. Specific programs include:

• The “Break the Habit” smoking cessation program is provided in collaboration with the Illinois Tobacco Quit Line. This program offers nicotine replacement patches at a reduced rate.
• For 2nd and 4th graders, we offer “Smoke-Free, That’s Me” to educate youth about the hazards of smoking.
• Our newest program is “Heart Smart for Teens,” a cardiovascular health program serving all 7th grade girls in Stephenson County, and teaching them about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity for life.
• Together with the Freeport Police Department and the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Department, we sponsor Tobacco Compliance Checks throughout Stephenson County.
• We also raise awareness about asthma for World Asthma Day in May.
• The Smoke Free Illinois Act went into effect January 1, 2008. To learn more about the act or to file a complaint, visit: www.smoke-free.illinois.gov or call 1.866.973.4646.

For more information, a schedule of classes and times, or to schedule a presentation, call Anna Nierzwicki at 815-235-8323.

All food establishments in the county are licensed and routinely inspected to protect public health and assure sanitary conditions. Inspection scores are regularly reported to the public. For more information, call Duane Eilders at 815-599-0344.

Licensing of private sewage systems installers, pumping contractors and solid waste haulers. For more information, call Ed Specht at 815-599-0344.

Technical assistance, permits and inspections for new or repaired wells and septic systems are available to contractors and the general public, including water sampling and testing. The health department also conducts third party private water well and sewer system evaluations for real estate transactions, including water testing, and oversees the sealing of abandoned water wells in the county. For more information, call Ed Specht at 815-599-0344.

Nuisance conditions and complaints that exists in unincorporated areas of the county are investigated and corrective actions are instituted. Nuisances include open dumping and burning, dangerous and unsanitary buildings, dead and decaying animals, and noxious weeds. Failing private sewage systems throughout the county are also investigated and corrective actions instituted. For more information, call 815-599-0344.

West Nile Virus surveillance, testing, reporting and education are offered throughout Stephenson County. For more information, call 815-599-0344.

Radon test kits and information for home and business use are available. For more information, call 815-599-0344.

Mercury drop-off site: No-fee mercury and/or mercury-containing-device drop-off sites in Freeport in conjunction with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency [at 10 West Linden Street (for more information, call Mary Boeke Hill at 815-235-8274) OR 295 W. Lamm Road (for more information, call 815-599-0344)].

Childhood lead poisoning prevention, screening, education and surveillance services are offered to the general public to reduce medical, learning, behavioral and other health problems associated with elevated lead levels. Nurses follow-up on elevated lead levels reported to the department by area physicians and labs. For more information, call Marilyn Hepner at 815-235-8273.

The department maintains continuous surveillance and reporting of all infectious diseases, regularly monitors other key community health indicators, and develops plans in collaboration with community partners to address identified priority health concerns, including bioterrorism. For more information, call Mary Boeke Hill at 815-235-8274.

Emergency Preparedness & Response Program works in collaboration with other agencies to provide comprehensive public health planning and response for all hazard disasters (natural or man-made) within the county. The program includes: distribution of pharmaceuticals or vaccinations in the event of a bioterrorist attack or pandemic influenza; emergency planning for and tracking of populations with special needs; and recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers. For more information, call Rick McDonough at 815-599-8431.