Information from the McHenry County Community Foundation:

2015 Grant Recipients -Health and Human Services

In August of 2015, the Foundation awarded over $300,000 to programs focusing on the areas of Health and Human Services.

The following agencies and projects were supported through the Foundation’s Permanent Endowment Fund, unless otherwise noted. This fund receives donations from residents and grant sources year-round.

ADULT & CHILD REHABILITATION CENTER FOR McHENRY COUNTY INC – $20,000

Birth to Three Program

The Birth to Three Program serves children with developmental delays, disabilities or other at-risk conditions in the early stages of the condition. Therapy services are provided in both ACTS’ outpatient clinics and the patient’s home or preschool.

ALEXANDER LEIGH CENTER FOR AUTISM – $25,000

Strengthen Emergency and Crisis Response Plan: Two-way Communication Devices Purchase

Alexander Leigh Center for Autism’s seeks to purchase 35 additional two-way communication devices for teaching staff and a bus system to communicate with behavior/teaching staff and administration staff located in a different building.

BLESSING BARN – $6,715

Tubs On The Road (TOR) & Cooperative Assistance (CAP) programs

These programs have become more popular since their inception. Those in need, in remote locations, are helped by our TOR program, while clients of local agencies have found our CAP program very valuable, and word is spreading to other agencies.

CASA OF MCHENRY COUNTY – $10,000

Advocate Training for Abused Children

CASA will use Foundation funds to update and improve the quality and type of training delivered to new and existing CASA advocates in order to increase advocate effectiveness in advocating for abused and neglected children.

EPILEPSY FND OF NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS IOWA & NEBRASKA – $8,600

Mobile Health Rural Ambulatory Care Coordination – Computer/IT Support

Computers, TV and IT support for the enhanced mobile health technology that allows the Epilepsy Foundation to provide cutting edge medical care and coordination of social services for epilepsy patients in McHenry County.

FAMILIES ETC

Youth Suicide Prevention and Education Training Program – $5,000

FamiliesETC plans to collaborate with community mental health agencies, private providers, McHenry County youth, faith based organizations and school districts to bring a new evidence-based group format suicide prevention programming to the community

FARMWORKER & LANDSCAPER ADVOCACY PROJECT – $7,500

Community Legal Education for Low-Income Workers

FLAP wants to teach 35,000 immigrant, migrant, and seasonal workers in McHenry County about their rights at work, and help claimants secure justice, with a free, year-long, county-wide education series called “Educacion Legal para la Comunidad.”

This grant was funded by an anonymous Fund held at the Foundation.

GIGIS PLAYHOUSE INC – $6,808

T.E.A.M. (Teaching, Exercise, Activity & Movement)

A grant from the McHenry Community Foundation will enable participant expansion in the TEAM (Teaching, Exercise, Activities and Motivation) program with additional exercise equipment, nutritious foods and professionals such as a yoga instructor.

Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator – $10,000

Continued funding is requested to support the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator position. This position will recruit and involve clients, volunteers and the community in all GiGi’s Playhouse McHenry County activities.

GIRLS ON THE RUN OF NORTHWEST ILLINOIS – $10,000

Girls on the Run Program Expansion

Girls on the Run has identified schools in our county that are underserved because the cost of the program is too much. Girls on the Run will be offering the program at no cost to specific schools that we recognize could benefit from the program.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY of McHENRY COUNTY – $25,000

Critical Repair Programs Provide critical repairs to as many deserving families as possible. Serve the Veteran population. Further refine the focus of programs to better serve the aged, female led households,families with special needs in McHenry County.

This grant was partially funded by an anonymous Fund held at the Foundation.

HARVARD COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER – $4,200

Harvard Senior Center Program and Service Expansion to Hebron and surrounding areas The expansion of senior specific programs & services for seniors in Harvard, as well as for the currently unserved older adults in Hebron. The expansion plan includes opening & operating 2 Senior Satellite Sites at partner locations 3 days per week.

Training and Supplies for Evidence-Based Senior Health/Wellness Programming $3,600

Program Manager training by Stanford & Judson Universities & the National Council on Aging to teach courses & guide seniors in Health/Wellness programs that delay health deterioration, improve function, & reduce the likelihood of institutionalization.

HOOVES TO HEAL NFP – $5,000

Repair and Farm Maintence

With the funding provided, we plan to continue with our maintenance. We rent a facility with 10 stalls and they all are in need of repair. We are also hoping to use left over funding to fix some fencing on our turnouts.

JAIL BRAKERS – $6,000

Peer program – Group support sessions

Hold 12 peer-support sessions to alleviate members’ grief after a loved one becomes involved in the justice system. They are a component of the group’s overall strategy to combat the stigma that perpetuates fear and shame surrounding incarceration.

MAIN STAY THERAPEUTIC FARM – $10,000

Hay for therapy animals: Unique need / one time request

With construction beginning on its new facility, land owned by Main Stay that was used for hay production will not be available this season. As a result, Main Stay needs to purchase hay for the therapeutic riding horses and small animal herd.

McHENRY COUNTY ADULT PROGRAM INC – $4,500

McCap Music Therapy

A musical therapist comes to our facility twice a month with different instruments and recordings . We propose to add a third day. This interactive therapy combines physical as well as mental stimulation. We will schedule extra time for more therapy.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK – $25,000

Building Capacity in McHenry County Food Pantries

Northern Illinois Food Bank is requesting funding to provide refrigeration equipment for six member agencies in McHenry county to increase distribution of fresh produce, protein and dairy and to support our Milk2MyPlate Program.

NORTHWEST CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT – $5,000

Sexual Abuse Prevention Education

This project will provide youth sexual violence education to reduce their risk for sexual victimization. We will work with elementary, middle, high schools and colleges using a proven curriculum and appropriate for the age group of the audience.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT RESOURCES – $4,500

Community Volunteer Management Program Support

We will increase civic engagement and the utilization of volunteers in McHenry County by increasing our ability to place community volunteers as well as host 6 new sessions teaching local nonprofit organizations how to manage and utilize volunteers.

PIONEER CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES – $25,000

Access to Psychological Assessment / Testing for People in Need

As psychological assessments are necessary treat people with mental health challenges and aren’t available for those with no or low incomes, Pioneer Center would like to develop a sustainable model which can provide low cost high quality assessments.

PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES INC – $5,000

McHenry County Medical -Legal Collaboration

This is a pilot medical-legal partnership with the Family Health Partnership Clinic to provide access to legal services to the low income and senior patients of the clinic who have legal needs which may affect their health and treatment.

This grant was funded by an anonymous Fund held at the Foundation.

SENIOR SERVICES ASSOCIATES INC – $10,000

Adult Protective Services; Self Neglect and Hoarding

Adult Protective Services investigates cases of self-neglect, when an elderly person threatens his/her own health or safety, including hoarding. Senior Services will put services in place needed to eliminate the threat to the seniors health.

St. John’s Lutheran Church – $10,000

Installation of a Handicap-Accessible Lift within an Expanded Entryway at St. John’s Lutheran Church

St. John’s will install a lift at the front of the building to make it fully handicap accessible. They will also build a new entryway to enclose the lift and the stairs to protect those entering the building from harsh weather.

THE THRESHOLDS – $25,000

Thresholds McHenry Homeless Outreach Initiative

Thresholds McHenry is seeking funding at the $25,000 level to support its Hospital Outreach Initiative’s Outreach Specialist at .5 FTE. The remaining 1.5 FTE will come from other funds. This project is Thresholds McHenry’s highest priority.