1. 2010 MCHENRY COUNTY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES LOGO HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH University of Illinois at Rockford FOCUS GROUPS

2. Methodology DESCRIPTION Eleven focus groups with 104 participants Discussion topics addressed overall quality of life with focus on health and human service needs in McHenry County GROUPS At-risk Youth Hispanics Homeless Persons Low Income Parents of Individuals with Mental Illness Persons with Developmental Disabilities Persons with Mental Illness Seniors Unemployed Workers Veterans Young Adults

3. Community Problems 2006 and 2010 Rapid Growth and Development Congestion, noise, gridlock Several FG pleased new developments did not proceed Lack of Public Transportation System Affects access to medical care, jobs, human services, community activities METRA an asset but limited: no weekends, too few trains, not accessible from every community PACE and Dial-A Ride expensive but not efficient or reliable. Bus service lacking

4. Community Problems and Issues 2006 and 2010 (con’t) Lack of decent paying jobs with more people losing their jobs Manufacturing jobs leaving county Temp to hire becoming more of the norm Curtailment of development reduces jobs Need more sophisticated online job search and tracking systems More employment opportunities and job training programs needed for youth

5. Community Problems and Issues 2006 and 2010 (con’t) Lack of Affordable Housing Prices decreasing but still unaffordable due to job losses and stricter lending requirements Need more affordable housing options Focus groups report limited assistance from McHenry County Housing Authority

6. Community Problems and Issues 2006 and 2010 (con’t) Access to Healthcare for Uninsured and Public Aid Recipients Persons with medical cards cannot find medical specialists to accept them Calls to numerous MDs before finding one who will accept them as a patient Family Health Partnership Clinic provides good service but lengthy wait times for appointments Problems getting prescriptions and vision care Veterans experience lack of spousal and family health insurance coverage

7. Community Problems and Issues 2006 and 2010 (con’t) Access to Affordable Dental Care More difficult than access to affordable health care Experienced by veterans and homeless Extractions over fillings or crowns

8. Community Problems and Issues 2006 and 2010 (con’t) Problems noted less often in 2010 than 2006 Need for additional youth activities Lack of affordable child care due to fewer people in workforce. Concerns about lack of funding for pre-school education and reductions in Head Start/Early Head Start

9. Additional Community Problems and Issues – 2010 Noted by at least four focus groups Gangs more prevalent Foreclosures, drop in home values along with higher taxes Coordination needed among food banks Growing number of immigrants not integrated health and human service system and face language barriers in getting care

10. Additional Community Problems and Issues – 2010 Lack of services for adults with developmental disabilities over age 22 Decreasing air quality in county No hospital Level 1 emergency room so serious cases airlifted out of county Jail inmates waiting for treatment Inequities in court system based on income

11. Health and Human Service Gaps 2006 and 2010 Bilingual Agency Staff State and local agencies have hired more bilingual staff and translators Still a deficit in bilingual therapists and mental health counselors Affordable Child Care Fewer mentions based on fewer people working Mentioned by veterans and unemployed

12. Health and Human Service Gaps 2006 and 2010 (con’t) Services for Mentally Ill Individuals Decreased mental health funding from State so decreased services, including mental health and recovery specialists, peer support programs, and stigma reduction Waiting time to see mental health professionals at least a month Lack of dual diagnosis services for persons with both mental illness and developmental disabilities

13. Health and Human Service Gaps 2006 and 2010 Services for Mentally Ill Individuals (con’t) No local inpatient psychiatric services for children or adolescents. Children and their families must travel a distance for these services Focus group members report a lack of mental health assistance in school systems

14. Additional Health and Human Service Gaps – 2010 Noted by at least eight focus groups More effective information and referral Gathering information about service availability and eligibility is difficult More publicity about services needed Accessible and affordable medical, dental, vision and prescription services

15. Specific Gaps Noted by Certain Focus Groups – 2010 Better job searching and tracking technology More technical assistance needed from employment office staff. Current service good but more sophisticated tools needed in current job market Ways to follow up on electronic employment applications needed as well as skills for the online job application environment Does not preclude need for more job networking groups and job coaches

16. Specific Gaps Noted by Certain Focus Groups – 2010 (con’t) Local rehabilitation facility for prevention and treatment of alcohol and drugs Lack of dialysis services Medical testing done for veterans at local hospitals rather than far away VA facilities; more efficient disability claim process for veterans 24-hour Immediate Care not just 24-hour ER services Supportive housing for adults with developmental disabilities Medical advocates to coordinate care among medical specialists

17. Experience With Health and Human Service Agencies 2010 BASIC COMMENTS Staffs of health and human service agencies in McHenry County experienced, helpful and effective Major difficulties in getting appointments, eligibility requirements, and amount of paperwork need to qualify for various programs

18. Experience With Health and Human Service Agencies 2010 Crisis Line (Family Service and Youth Service Bureau) Family Health Partnership Clinic Family Service and Community Mental Health Center of McHenry County Food Pantries (FISH and others) Hospitals and emergency rooms McHenry County College McHenry County Department of Health McHenry County Park Districts PACE Bus Service/Dial-A- Ride Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services Youth Service Bureau Services receiving most extensive use

19. Barriers To Receiving Health and Human Services 2006 and 2010 Lack of Awareness of Available Services Citizens lack accurate, up-to-date information about services and eligibility Inefficient referral process – citizens sent from person-to-person in seeking services Online searches for services are a resource but referral specialists available by phone to help in times of stress would also be beneficial

20. Barriers To Receiving Health and Human Services 2006 and 2010 (con’t) Eligibility Requirements Lack of health insurance Specialists refusing to take medical card PUNS – minimal new services for persons with developmental disabilities Inefficient disability claims process for veterans Lack of Transportation Too Many Services in Woodstock Only

21. Barriers To Receiving Health and Human Services 2010 Barriers mentioned by at least four focus groups Language barrier experienced by increasing number of immigrants Cost of services Decreased state funding reduces programs offered

22. McHenry County System of Health and Human Services – 2010 STRENGTHS Agencies collaborate and work together Staffs respectful and helpful, doing a good job with the resources available Good variety of services

23. McHenry County System of Health and Human Services – 2010 WEAKNESSES Lack of accessible, up-to-date, centralized information source about service availability and eligibility requirements. Especially important as McHenry County is divided into many communities Delays in receiving services due to reduced resources and funding, e.g., for medical, mental health, dental, vision, prescriptions, and developmental disabilities

24. McHenry County System of Health and Human Services – 2010 WEAKNESSES (con’t) Concerns about sustainability of comprehensive mental health system for children established through the Family Care grant to McHenry County 708 Board Lack of responsiveness by McHenry County Housing Authority Lack of effective public transportation system to improve access to jobs, health care, activities

25. McHenry County System of Health and Human Services – 2010 DUPLICATION Lack of coordination and cross screening among county food banks Duplication not necessarily bad given lack of public transportation Duplication might be needed to adequately serve people in different parts of the county

26. Top Findings Focus Groups 2010 More effective information and referral system Extensive and affordable public transportation system Access to affordable medical, dental, vision, prescription services for Public Aid recipients, uninsured, many seniors Decent paying jobs Affordable housing Growing number of immigrants with language barriers in getting services Services for mentally ill individuals, esp. local psychiatric and rehab facilities Coordination among food banks to ensure efficiency and prevent duplication