Kane's mom-child health programs now private

The Kane County Health Department transfers direct mother-child health-service programs to community clinics starting Tuesday.

The transfer was mandated by the county board due to the state's slow reimbursement to the county on these state-mandated services. The state now contracts with private agencies to run the programs.

The change affects about 6,000 mothers and children who are Medicaid-eligible.

Family Case Management clients who live north of Route 64 will be served by the Greater Elgin Family Care Center, 370 Summit St., Elgin; Aunt Martha's Youth Services Center, 3003 Wakefield Drive, Carpentersville; and the Visiting Nurse Association of the Fox Valley, 620 Wing St., Elgin. Women, Infants and Children nutrition program clients will continue to be served by the Well Child Center, also at 620 Wing St.

Family case management clients who live south of Route 64 will be served by Aunt Martha's Youth Services Center, 101 S. Broadway Ave., Aurora, and the Visiting Nurse Association, 400 N. Highland Ave., Aurora. Aunt Martha's and the VNA will also serve WIC clients.

Countywide, Teen Parent Services has been transferred to Aunt Martha's.

Health Works Services for foster children is being provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, but will be transferred to Aunt Martha's.

The health department will continue to provide Kane Kares and High-Risk Infant Follow-Up programs.

Clients with questions should call a transition hotline at (630) 723-5414, or visit kanehealth.com.

Aunt Martha's website is auntmarthas.org, the VNA's is vnafoxvalley.com, the Greater Elgin Family Care Center's is gefcc.org, and Well Child Center's is wellchildcenter.org.