Lake County health programs to be cut

The Lake County health department and community health center is reducing some programs and trimming jobs because of financial cuts, officials announced Friday.

Customers will see some services disappear or have to wait longer for others, officials said. In all, 25 employees will lose their jobs, too.

The department faces an estimated $1.3 million reduction in state and federal financial support. That’s roughly 2 percent of the department’s $71 million annual budget.

“We are very concerned about the potential impact these cuts will have on our patients and the community as a whole,” Executive Director Irene Pierce said in a news release. “These programs exist because there is an identified need, and now our ability to fulfill that need has been significantly strained.”

Among the affected programs are:

타A women’s residential services program in Vernon Hills that provides alcohol and drug rehabilitation, as well as shelter for the women and their children. A management position is being eliminated.

타A psychological rehabilitation program that serves severely mentally ill patients in Waukegan. It’s being cut and eight staff members will lose their jobs.

타A community support services program in Waukegan that provides services and treatment to people with mental illness. It’s being reduced and five staff positions are being eliminated.

타A substance abuse program in Waukegan that provides counseling. A management position is being eliminated.

People in the affected programs will have to wait longer for services, and some will be turned away, officials said in the news release.