Hanover Twp. Mental Health Board awards emergency grants at December meeting
The Hanover Township Mental Health Board awarded $64,888 in grants at its Dec. 8 meeting at the Hanover Township town hall.
The Ecker Center was awarded $14,090 in capital funding to be used for the renovation of their parking lot at 1845 Grandstand Place in Elgin. The project was halted due to unforeseen costs after the project began and work was halted until new funding could be secured. The grant from the Mental Health Board will allow for the parking lot to be completed for their clients to use. Last year Ecker Center provided services to 387 Hanover Township residents.
Public Action to Deliver Shelter Inc. of Elgin received a $25,000 Emergency Grant to assist in sustaining services and programming. PADS have not received any funding from their contract with the Illinois Department of Human Services which represents a loss of $37,400. In response to state budget cuts, the city of Elgin will not be providing rental assistance in 2016 to PADS, resulting in a loss of $50,000.
The Mental Health Board also awarded a $25,000 Emergency Grant to Leyden Family Services to assist in sustaining services and agency operations. LFS provides counseling, treatment and preventative care services for adults, adolescents, senior citizens, children and families struggling with substance abuse, gambling addiction and other mental health problems. The agency is owed over $350,000 from managed Medicaid companies dating back to FY14. LFS has also not received any state funding since July 1 due to the budget impasse in Springfield. The agency also received a staff development grant for $798 for training on their relapse prevention therapy program.
"With no end in sight for a budget from Springfield, now more than ever, there is a need for local support for local agencies serving our community's most vulnerable residents," said Linda Best, mental health board chairwoman. "We will continue to work with service organizations, other funders and community groups to ensure there is no gap in service delivery."
The volunteer board advocates for increasing the availability and quality of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services by allocating funds to nonprofit agencies that provides services to Township residents. Last year, the board approved over one million dollars in funds to local agencies
The board meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at the township offices, 250 S. Route 59 in Bartlett.
Hanover Township serves more than 100,000 residents in portions of the Cook County communities of Streamwood, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg.
For questions about the Mental Health Board or to learn more about their funded agencies, call (630) 837-0301 or visit www.hanover-township.org/MHB.