[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $15,271,282 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several health care programs in Illinois.

“Today’s funding is an important investment in the Illinois public health system, in the health research done at our hospitals and universities, and in the primary care programs that keep our citizens healthy,” said Durbin.  “These programs – whether they are providing valuable patient care or researching the causes of disease – will help Illinoisans lead long, healthy lives.”

The following local health departments and organizations will be awarded funding under today’s announcement:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics in Elk Grove, Illinois will receive $1,499,999 in funding through to help improve immunization rates and enhance disease prevention through partnerships with providers.

• The Chicago Department of Public Health in Chicago, Illinois will receive $347,375 in funding through the Studies on Emergency and Environmental Health Services Program to support the prevention of child lead poisoning.

• The Cook County Department of Public Health in Chicago, Illinois will receive $2,480,807 in funding through the Chronic Disease Control Cooperative Agreement Program to support the Suburban Cook County Healthy HotSpot Iniatitive, which aims to expand health care partnerships in Cook County.

• The Illinois State Department of Public Health in Springfield, Illinois will receive $420,284 in funding through the Studies on Emergency and Environmental Health Services Program to support the prevention of child lead poisoning. It will also receive an additional $499,987 in funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand support for Illinois immunization programs.
   
• The Illinois Department of Children & Family Services in Chicago, Illinois will receive $3,000,000 in funding through the Child Welfare Services Training Program for an initiative to reduce long-term foster care.
   
• The Illinois Department on Aging Division of Older American Services in Springfield, Illinois will receive $225,000 in funding through the No Wrong Door Program/ADRC Program to develop a three-year state plan to implement a coordinated No Wrong Door program for older adults with disabilities.

The following organizations and medical centers will be awarded funding in today’s announcement:

• The Heartland Human Care Services, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois will receive $1,200,000 in funding through the Assistance for Victims of Trafficking Program to support the efforts of Northern Tier Anti-Trafficking Consortium.
   
• Heartland Health Outreach in Chicago, Illinois will receive $78,315 in funding through the Ryan White Title III HIV Capacity Development and Planning Grant Program to expand primary care services and testing for HIV/AIDS patients.
   
• The Springfield Urban League, Inc. in Springfield, Illinois will receive $1,029,380 in funding through the Pathways to Responsible Fatherhood Program to support Pathways to Responsible Fatherhood programs in Macon, Morgan, and Sangamon Counties, Illinois.
   
• Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Illinois will receive $426,869 in funding through the Chronic Disease Control Cooperative Agreement Program to support the Be Healthy QC program.

The following universities will be awarded funding in today’s announcement:

• Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois will receive $500,000 from the National Institutes of Minority Health and Health Disparities to support research on the ethics of HIV prevention involving LGBT youth. The University will also receive $250,000 from the Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research Program to support work conducted under the Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial tissue Network (REASON).
   
• The University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois will receive $1,108,028 in funding through the Clinical Research Related to Neurological Disorders Program to research diseases and malformations of the human brain, as well as patterned activity in neuronal codes for behavior.
   
• The University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois will receive $660,288 in funding through the Clinical Research Related to Neurological Disorders Program to research neurological disorders. The university will also receive $1,623,265 in additional funding for genomic research.

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