A no-cost mental health program that connects Joliet residents to counseling and support through coordinated referrals has received $1 million in federal funds.
The funds are part of more than $3.17 million in federal grants for Will County programs related to childcare, nursing education, substance abuse treatment, and university research secured through U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, according to a news release from her office.
Childcare Resource and Referral in Joliet has been awarded $1,946,280 in federal funding through the Office of Head Start at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The grant increases access “to high-quality, full-day, full-year child care, including family child care for low-income working families,” according to the release, supporting the development of infants and toddlers and preparing them for the transition into Head Start and preschool.
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Lewis University in Romeoville has been awarded $103,401 through the Health Resources and Services Administration at HHS to support low-interest loans to nursing students and loan cancellation for students who then go on to work as faculty.
The loans, provided through the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, seek to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty nationwide, Underwood’s office said.
Will County has been awarded $125,000 in federal funding to expand the availability of substance abuse treatment and recovery services “to reduce the impact of alcohol and drug abuse on individuals, families, communities,” according to the release.
The funds are administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control within HHS.