Collaboration in Action

Jacksonville Memorial Hospital partnered with Prairieland United Way, Salvation Army, Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen, and the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce on the Summerfest event, held each June at Community Park in Jacksonville, Illinois. The event is designed to support school-age children and families during the summer months.

Initially created to distribute food to families struggling with food insecurity when school lunches are unavailable, Summerfest has expanded to include clothing distribution, a bike rodeo, a wellness fair, and more.

The event addresses the high levels of food insecurity in Morgan County, where 11 percent of households experience food insecurity, and nearly 50 percent of respondents to a Community Health Needs Assessment reported challenges in accessing healthy food.

The Summerfest partnership connects families with resources and support to live healthier lives. The event also includes wellness screenings to address community health priorities, such as cancer and heart disease. Since its inception, Summerfest has provided food for approximately 740 families and includes demonstrations by a registered dietitian to promote healthy eating. The event not only promotes health and connects people with resources but also fosters community connections, making it a valuable and accessible event for families in Jacksonville and Morgan County.

Northwestern Medicine Valley West in Sandwich partnered with the Sandwich Park District for a community health initiative to enhance the response to opioid overdoses by providing access to naloxone and related training.

The project involves equipping Sandwich Park District staff and facilities with NARCAN boxes and harm-reduction kits, along with comprehensive training to ensure prompt, informed responses to opioid emergencies. This project addresses the critical need for readiness in public spaces, such as parks, where opioid emergencies may occur, thereby increasing safety and early intervention capabilities.

The program has successfully raised awareness of naloxone access and use, reduced stigma around its use, and fostered discussions about obtaining naloxone. These efforts have collectively improved overall safety for both staff and visitors.

St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro, in cooperation with Murphysboro High School, developed a comprehensive vaping prevention and cessation program specifically targeting freshmen at Murphysboro High School. This initiative was launched in response to the increasing rates of teen vaping identified in a Community Health Needs Assessment. The program uses interactive educational methods to inform students about the risks associated with vaping and to mitigate long-term health issues related to nicotine addiction.

The program’s development involved collaboration between nurses and the high school to create an engaging curriculum including formal education on the chemicals and risks associated with vaping, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive activities designed to dispel myths and empower students.

The initiative addresses a critical community health need, focusing on vaping as part of broader chronic disease prevention efforts. This topic is particularly pertinent given local statistics indicating a rise in youth e-cigarette use and the community’s high rates of respiratory illness.

Initially, the program targeted high school freshmen, but due to positive feedback and growing demand, it has expanded to include middle and high school students across multiple schools.

The program has had a significant impact, increasing student engagement, enhancing teacher knowledge, strengthening community partnerships, and contributing to early prevention efforts that may reduce the future burden of chronic diseases.

Lawrence County Memorial Hospital in Lawrenceville collaborated with the local health department, schools, and businesses to establish the Lawrence County Memorial Hospital Pediatric Clinic, aiming to restore pediatric healthcare access after a 30-year absence of a local pediatrician. The clinic aims to improve access to specialized care, preventive health, and family support for children in Lawrence County and nearby rural areas.

The clinic reinstated local pediatric care, led by Dr. Saachi Nangia and Nurse Practitioner Tanna McCullough, to eliminate barriers to specialized child healthcare for families who must travel long distances. The clinic serves children and families in Lawrence County and surrounding rural communities, providing timely treatment, preventive services like immunizations and physicals, and convenience through same-day sick appointments.

Since its July 2024 opening, the clinic has improved child health outcomes, increased participation in preventive care, and expanded outreach through collaborations with local schools, the health department, and businesses offering health education and free sports physicals. Families benefit from reduced travel, healthier children through preventive care, convenient appointments, educational resources, community engagement events, and positive economic effects. The clinic also serves neighboring rural counties, broadening its impact.

Lincoln Memorial Hospital collaborated with Lincoln Community High School to develop the “Railer Reach Out” text campaign to improve students’ mental health. This initiative provides monthly text messages on relevant topics and resources to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.

The campaign’s primary objective is to deliver two monthly text messages that address issues such as healthy relationships, sleep, study habits, peer pressure, mental health, and substance use. This method provides private and accessible support via texting, ensuring students receive the necessary information discreetly.

The need for this initiative was identified through local health assessments and data from the Illinois Youth Survey, which highlighted the exacerbation of youth mental health concerns post-pandemic. Texting was chosen as the most effective outreach method for high school students, allowing them to access resources privately. The program serves all grade levels at Lincoln Community High School.

Since its launch in August 2024, targeting freshmen initially, the program has expanded to include all students. It has achieved high subscription rates and sustained engagement, with approximately 12-20% of students clicking to learn more about the resources provided.
The program has been well-received, with surveys indicating that students find the texts useful. School administrators have praised the initiative for supporting students’ social-emotional needs. Inspired by its success, similar programs are launching in other local schools, with plans to scale the initiative countywide.

Taylorville Memorial Hospital collaborated with the Christian County YMCA on the “Stride to Thrive” initiative, a biannual community walking challenge that promotes fitness and physical activity. Participants can use the YMCA facility for free during the challenge, track their miles electronically, and receive T-shirts upon completion.

The program addresses heart disease and stroke, identified as priority health concerns in the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment. Walking was chosen for its accessibility and mental health benefits. The initiative targets all community members and provides a safe indoor environment for walking during the challenge months of January and May.

With around 200 participants per challenge, the program has achieved high satisfaction rates, increased motivation, and greater accountability. It has also provided mental health benefits and fostered community connections. The introduction of the Pacer app has further encouraged friendly competition and accountability.

Boyd Memorial Hospital in Carrollton collaborated with local schools and experts to develop The Brighter Connections program, a non-medical, brain-based approach that supports children and adults with neurodevelopmental challenges by improving brain symmetry and connectivity, thereby enhancing cognitive, emotional, and physical development.

The program utilizes the Melillo Method to enhance inter-hemispheric communication and improve brain function, emotional regulation, physical coordination, and family education. Nutritional support is also integrated into the program. This initiative addresses the lack of local neurodevelopmental resources in rural Carrollton and the surrounding areas, where there is a rising prevalence of neurodivergence, such as ADHD and autism, and limited access to non-medical interventions.

The primary beneficiaries of the program are children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing issues, learning disabilities, emotional regulation difficulties, and poor coordination, as well as their families and caregivers seeking holistic, brain-based solutions. Brighter Connections fills a critical service gap by providing accessible, non-invasive therapies locally, reducing travel burdens, offering hope and practical tools to families, and improving children’s emotional, cognitive, and physical outcomes.

Participants have demonstrated measurable improvements in emotional regulation, timing, coordination, muscle tone, and cognitive function, while families report increased hope, reduced stress, and greater confidence in supporting their children. The program has enhanced access to brain-based therapies in rural Illinois, making early intervention more accessible and affordable and eliminating the need for long-distance travel.

Brighter Connections contributes to better educational outcomes, stronger family dynamics, and community resilience, while creating local employment and fostering collaboration with schools and health providers. Co-developer Allison Vandersand, motivated by personal experience and professional expertise, leads the program with empathy and dedication, making Brighter Connections a trusted, community-rooted initiative that transforms lives.

Boyd Memorial Hospital in Carrollton collaborated with multiple elderly service organizations, including local nursing homes and the Senior Citizen Center, to establish the Senior Life Solutions program, dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of older adults in rural communities.

The initiative focuses on challenges such as depression, anxiety, grief, and social isolation to enhance seniors’ emotional well-being and independence through personalized and group therapeutic support within a community-based setting. It addresses the critical need for mental health services in rural areas served by Boyd Memorial Hospital, where a growing elderly population faces barriers such as geographic isolation, transportation difficulties, and limited access to behavioral health services, leading to underdiagnosed mental health issues.

The program targets adults aged 65 and older who are experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges, offering accessible care that combats isolation, improves quality of life, enables early intervention, and provides holistic support through individual and group therapy. Since its inception, eight patients have received personalized care, with the first patient graduating in August 2025, demonstrating positive outcomes and community trust in the program.

The program enhances access to care by removing traditional barriers, strengthens social connections through group therapy, supports early mental health intervention, supports families and caregivers, and contributes to the economy by helping seniors remain active. Combining clinical expertise with compassionate, community-focused care, Senior Life Solutions exemplifies how rural healthcare systems can proactively address the mental health needs of aging populations.

Jacksonville Memorial Hospital collaborated with local social service agencies to establish Healthy Jacksonville, a community health initiative aimed at enhancing access to healthcare and addressing the broader social determinants of health in Morgan County. The program collaborates with local agencies to support vulnerable populations and tackle issues such as food insecurity and mental health.

The primary goals of Healthy Jacksonville include providing personalized assistance to enhance health and well-being through a community health worker model and the Healthy Communities Collaborative. This collaborative effort connects various agencies and focuses on critical areas such as transportation and nutrition. The program addresses access-to-care challenges identified in Community Health Needs Assessments and serves a diverse client base, including many individuals on Medicaid and Medicare. Notably, referrals are often received from the Jacksonville Police Department.

Healthy Jacksonville has had a positive impact on individuals facing complex health and social issues. For example, the program has supported a mother in overcoming substance abuse and assisted a senior woman in improving her living conditions and health through coordinated care. The initiative also provides community-wide benefits by reducing strain on emergency services, partnering with law enforcement through the LEARN network to assist individuals in crisis, and supporting food security through programs like LINK matching at the local farmers market, which benefits both families and local producers.

When nurse leaders at Hillsboro Health in Hillsboro, IL saw data showing an increase in the number of people presenting with asthma in the emergency department, they knew it was time to take action. An opportunity from ICAHN gave them the support to make it happen.

In 2024, ICAHN received the IDPH Asthma Quality Improvement in Critical Access Hospitals grant. Funding from this grant allowed ICAHN to support Hillsboro Health, as well as Red Bud Regional Hospital, Horizon Health, and Midwest Medical Center, in developing projects to improve the quality of life of patients with asthma and reduce the number of patients coming to the ED with asthma or asthma–like symptoms.

For Hillsboro Health, this meant creating education kits for patients presenting with asthma or asthma-like symptoms in the hospital’s emergency department, med-surg unit, pulmonary clinic or primary care clinics. Kits included a peak flow meter, a one-way valve device (spacer) for inhalers, an asthma action plan magnet and an education card with a QR code leading to online resources to learn more about asthma. Patients who received a kit also received a follow-up call to check on their progress and to inform them about upcoming asthma education and awareness events.

Hillsboro’s project also focused on educating hospital and clinic staff. Respiratory therapy team members, along with several patient-facing nurses and providers, completed the American Lung Association Asthma Educator Institute Course which prepares providers to deliver asthma guideline-based care to patients and their families.

Going forward, Hillsboro Health plans to host two public education programs a year where they can distribute asthma kits to those who need them. “Asthma is a topic that is undereducated unless you have it … our goal is to make our community aware of asthma, its triggers, and educate on the treatment plans for those who have asthma. We want our community to be aware of what asthma is and how they can assist others who may have it,” said Angela Boide, Hillsboro Health Quality Manager.

ICAHN is pleased that funding from IDPH for the asthma projects will continue into the next fiscal year. This support will allow participating hospitals to expand the reach of their projects and help even more patients and families.