Lake Co. Health Dept. receives $900,000 federal grant

The Lake County Health Department will receive $900,000 in federal funds to help expand and improve child and adolescent mental health programs, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, a Democrat from Deerfield, announced Wednesday.

"Nearly 1 in 5 children in the United States have a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder," said Mark Pfister, executive director of the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. "This grant will help us expand behavioral health services in Lake County so we can connect more children and their families to the care they need."

Pfister said they currently serve nearly 1800 children and adolescents each year they hope to use the funds to help an additional 250 children.

The grant funds will also add staff at the local Children's Advocacy Center and Juvenile Justice facilities, according to the news release.