McLean County Health Committee reports nursing home renovations, disease monitoring and behavioral-health initiatives

Chair Corey Byrne told the County Board that renovations at the McLean County Nursing Homes are continuing and nearing the end of the first stage, and he thanked Administrator Wiley for managing the project without major disruptions to services, staff, finance or residents.

Byrne said the Health Department’s environmental health division continues to monitor avian influenza, tick‑borne illnesses and West Nile virus and keeps the public informed. He reported that the All Our Kids program for children birth to 5 has seen increased attendance this quarter; parent ambassadors have led a guided‑conversation series on adverse childhood experiences and resilience. Nutrition staff were said to be providing WIC participants with benefits, education, hemoglobin testing, breastfeeding support and referrals.

The committee heard from the YWCA’s Stepping Stones program, the county’s assault crisis center, and Byrne thanked the YWCA and CEO Liz German for speaking with the committee. The Board of Health also heard student interns present on the county’s mobile crisis unit; Byrne said the need for mobile crisis services continues to outstrip resources, and the board is working to raise awareness of available services such as the Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center in downtown Bloomington to reduce pressure on emergency departments.

Byrne described a new initiative to bring greater awareness of social‑service agencies in the community and summarized the Health Committee report in the unapproved minutes packet.