Lake County health care group announces service awards
Recognizing organizations working to improve the health of underserved residents, the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County announced the recipients of its first Excellence in Service Awards.
The awards were presented at the organization's 10th anniversary event Sept. 7.
The honorees are the Antioch Area Healthcare Accessibility Alliance, Community Youth Network, Lake County Crisis Center (A Safe Place), Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, PADS Lake County, Waukegan Public Library, YWCA, and the Lake County Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.
"We are thrilled to recognize organizations that are improving our health care system," said Ernest Vasseur, the foundation's executive director. "Our award recipients are not only dedicated to increasing access to health care, but are devoted to improving their own infrastructure and sustainability for long lasting impact."
In its first year, the awards honor organizations that are actively building capacity of the overall health care system of northern Lake County and actively building their program effectiveness. The awardees must have an established history of Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County funding and be headquartered in northern Lake County. Evidence of an organization's ability to implement successful program models and strategies, strengthen their board of directors and leverage limited resources to gain efficiencies were among the criteria used to select the honorees.
During the past 10 years, the foundation has provided $16 million to 74 organizations.
"Over the years, the foundation and its partners have significantly increased the number of entry points into health care for Lake County residents," Vasseur said. "More children are receiving school physicals and dental care, more adults are getting lifesaving disease screenings and more recent graduates from medical schools are establishing careers in Lake County."
Incorporated on June 6, 2006, the foundation strives to improve the health status of uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved residents. It was funded with the proceeds of the sale of St. Therese Medical Center and Victory Memorial Hospital that provided a range of innovative health care services to Waukegan and surrounding communities.
The foundation funds initiatives in five areas that are key to improving access to health care for the uninsured and underinsured in northern Lake County: clinical care, linkage to care, scholarships, organizational capacity building; and system capacity building.
The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County is at 114 S. Genesee St., Suite 505, Waukegan. For information visit: www.hfnlc.org or call (847) 377-0525.