Davenport, Iowa?Community Health Care, Inc. (CHC) was awarded a $250,000 grant to enhance or expand the behavioral health services being offered in their clinics.

"We know that our patients have a significant need for behavioral health services," Community Health Care, Inc. CEO Tom Bowman said. "To help meet this need, we are taking a successful partnership with Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health and expanding on it for our Iowa patients."

The grant, provided by funding made available by the Department of Health & Human Services through the Affordable Care Act, will add four new staff positions providing integrated primary and behavioral health care.

"This grant will certainly help CHC meet one of our main goals of fully integrating behavioral health services into all of our clinics," Bowman said. "We know the health of a patient is closely tied to their behavioral health and this grant helps us meet the needs of our patients."

According to the 2012 Community Health Assessment, 33.3% of Quad City adults reported some difficulty or delay in obtaining health care services during the past year, particularly in mental health services.

The nation's health center network, which is supported by HRSA's Health Center Program serves nearly 22 million patients who count on their local health center for high quality comprehensive preventive and primary health care, regardless of their ability to pay. Ensuring that patients of health centers have access to mental health is important to improving overall health outcomes.

Community Health Care, Inc. is a patient-centered primary medical and dental health care organization that serves vulnerable populations?and all people in need. CHC is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center and is accredited by the Joint Commission. CHC is private, nonprofit organization.

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New Steps Will Help Expand Access and Quality of Healthcare

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed a law to expand health and wellness services in communities throughout Illinois. The law provides certification standards for community health workers to help bridge a vital link between healthcare providers and the unique needs of Illinois' communities. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to protect and improve the health of the people of Illinois.

"Community health workers are trusted frontline public health professionals who have a close understanding of their communities' needs," Governor Quinn said. "This new law recognizes the vital role these professionals play in the health care system, and helps ensure the best possible delivery and quality of services in neighborhoods across our state."

"With more people now able to access healthcare under the Affordable Care Act, if workforce shortages are not addressed, it could limit access to services and quality healthcare for all Illinoisans," Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck said. "Illinois is already experiencing workforce shortages with many safety net and rural health providers being challenged to deliver adequate care for those in their communities. Community health workers can help fill this void, connect people to services and higher-level health providers, which can ultimately increase the health of the state."

House Bill 5412, sponsored by State Representative Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and State Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria), defines "community health worker" and creates the Illinois Community Health Worker Advisory Board to recommend certification requirements for these healthcare professionals to ensure quality care for Illinois' residents. This 15-member volunteer board comprised of current community health workers, physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals will recommend rules to standardize the criteria and process to become a certified community health worker. These workers do not provide any direct care or treatment that requires a license, but can be invaluable for linking specific health and wellness services to residents of individual communities.

The legislation was recommended in the Illinois Alliance for Health Innovation Plan in January. The Alliance was a state-led group of health policy leaders, providers, insurers and stakeholders assembled by the administration of Governor Quinn. The plan recognized the important contribution community health workers make to our healthcare system and recommended the legislation to ensure these workers all meet the same standards to provide the best services to Illinois residents. The law is effective immediately.

"This new law will help people in the community by creating a path for these workers to become respected members of the healthcare team," Representative Gabel said. "Their role is critical because they help implement the patient's healthcare plan, and help patients better understand their conditions to achieve a path of good health."

"Community health workers have become an increasingly important part of our healthcare system," Senator Koehler said. "It will help both the people working in these important jobs and the public to give community health workers legal recognition and to establish training requirements."

Governor Quinn is committed to helping to ensure all people have access to quality healthcare in Illinois, especially those in underserved communities.

In May Governor Quinn announced a $14.5 million investment to build and renovate community health centers to help meet the healthcare demand in underserved communities throughout Illinois. A total of $30.5 million in funding from Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! program has been distributed since 2011 to community health centers. These centers fill a void by providing care for those whom other providers often do not serve, including the low income, uninsured or homeless; or those with HIV/AIDS, substance abuse problems or special medical needs.

The Governor also signed The Community Health Center Construction Act in 2009 to provide funding to repair outdated buildings, convert vacant commercial space, build new health center facilities and purchase new equipment for additional healthcare services.

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Expands Epinephrine Law to Protect Illinois' Students in Life-Threatening Emergencies

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to sign legislation that will help protect Illinois' students in life-threatening situations. The new law allows specially-trained school personnel to administer potentially life-saving epinephrine injections to help against serious allergic reactions. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to protect and improve the health and well-being of people across Illinois.

"We want our schools in Illinois to be high-quality places of learning and that includes making sure our students are safe," Governor Quinn said. "In cases of severe allergic reactions, there is precious time to act and potentially save a life. This new law will provide more life-saving tools to protect all who attend, work in or visit Illinois' schools."

"Increasing access to life-saving allergy medication in schools is a simple yet critical safety measure to better protect our children's health and safety, particularly at a time when dangerous food allergies are on the rise," Attorney General Madigan said. "This law will allow trained school personnel to act quickly in the case of an unforeseen medical emergency."

House Bill 5892 was an initiative of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and was sponsored by State Representative Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg) and State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill). The legislation allows properly-trained school personnel to administer an epinephrine injection, commonly known as epi-pen, when they believe a student, employee or school visitor is having an anaphylactic reaction. Previously, only school nurses could administer these injections to students. The law sets curriculum requirements to train school personnel and allows students to carry and administer their own epinephrine injections as well as their asthma medication with parental consent. The law is effective Aug. 1, 2014.

"Protecting our children both at school and their associated activities is a top priority," Representative Michelle Mussman said. "This legislation provides our teachers, school nurses, volunteers and students with the tools and resources they need to provide for the safety of every child and adult in our school buildings."

"More and more children are being diagnosed with food allergies, with peanuts, eggs, milk, soy and wheat as the most common culprits," Senator Andy Manar said. "Ensuring timely access to this life-saving medication can mean the difference between life and death for a child."

Governor Quinn is committed to bringing life-saving measures into Illinois schools. In 2013, Governor Quinn convened a School Safety Summit that included more than 50 top experts from across the state to develop short- and long-term actions to further safeguard Illinois schools. In June he signed a law that requires CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for students in all Illinois high schools.

Governor Quinn also signed more school safety legislation, making safety drills mandatory at private schools, increasing school safety improvement funds and allowing public school districts to make updated emergency and crisis plans available to first responders, teachers, and administrators through electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and laptops.

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Remember Your 20s? Food Science Expert Shares 5 Nutrients That Help You Feel Younger

While barbecues, sports leagues, family vacations, days at the beach and nights out with friends are fun, keeping up with summer recreation while maintaining a steady work schedule can be challenging, says Budge Collinson.

And before we know it, we'll be back into the busy fall grind, getting kids up and off to school, participating in clubs and civic groups that have been on summer hiatus, and yes, before we know it, planning for holidays!

"We like to tell ourselves that there will be a period of rest before the next big thing, but usually there isn't," says Collinson, a food science expert with a passion for health and fitness. "The truth is, most of us like having full and often fast-paced lives, even if we tend to get worn out more quickly as we get older."

Don't resort to caffeine and other stimulants for a temporary energy boost, Collinson says.

"Replacing the nutrients that are depleted when you're active is a much smarter way to maintain or increase your energy level, and many of those nutrients have long-term benefits as well," says Collinson, who formulated an effervescent, natural multivitamin beverage called Youth Infusion, (www.drinkyouthinfusion.com), to make it easier to get all the essential nutrients and minerals in one 6-ounce drink.

He discusses the revitalizing powers of specific nutrients:

•  CoQ10 for that extra energy boost. Every cell in your body uses CoQ10 to produce energy, but your heart needs it the most. CoQ10 can help balance your blood pressure, and its powerful antioxidant properties help protect you against pre-mature aging.

•  Arginine to help with your endurance during workouts and your daily routine. Arginine helps the cardiovascular system by assisting in nitric oxide production, making the arteries more elastic. It also supports the functioning of your hormones and immune system, helps kidneys remove the body's waste and promotes wound healing.

•  Theanine helps support better moods. Theanine is a calming extract of green tea. Clinical research indicates that it helps focus a distracted mind. To a lesser extent, theanine has also been shown to reduce anxiety.

•  Resveratrol: a versatile antioxidant for general well-being and long-term peace of mind. Resveratrol promotes healthy circulation, prevents cholesterol oxidation and protects your entire cardiovascular system from the effects of dangerous free radicals. Initial research shows resveratrol helps defend the body against a number of diseases, including Alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

•  Vitamin D - for when the sun isn't as bright as it was during summer. Up to 90 percent of the vitamin D the body needs comes from sunlight, which is in much shorter supply after summer. Vitamin D is required for the regulation of the calcium and phosphorus in the body. It also plays an important role in maintaining proper bone structure and supporting immunity.

About Budge Collinson

Budge Collinson was the beneficiary of his mother's natural health formula as a sick baby, which led to a deep interest in health and wellness at a young age. After years of research and seeing the growing demand for natural products with clinical support, he founded Infusion Sciences, www.infusionsciences.com. Collinson earned a bachelor's degree in food and resource economics from the University of Florida and certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Recently, he became a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and consistently attends the Natural Products Expo, where he learns the latest science and news about nutritious ingredients. Collinson is also a go-to source for media outlets across the country for healthy lifestyle and food source discussions