Community Network Anchor Grant Opportunity
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health has released a grant to develop regional Community Network Anchors, one of the goals identified by the Illinois Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative. Applications for grant “CNA-26 – Community Network Anchors” are due Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. CT, and six organizations will receive $100,000 each. Click here for more information.
Grant fund uses may include, but are not limited to:
- Growing the number of community networks in their region to fortify and strengthen family and provider connections across communities, utilizing state resources;
- Increasing child, youth and family connections to mental health providers in their local communities;
- Engaging more mental, behavioral, and public health providers with state-based programming, including learning collaboratives, technical assistance, and training;
- Engaging communities to build awareness of and connect community members with emerging family well-being and prevention providers and services; and
- Enhancing shared power among community networks, family-run organizations, youth-led initiatives, schools, healthcare organizations and other providers.
A technical assistance call will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. CT. Federal pass-through and state dollars are being used to fund this grant.
Staff contact: Lia Daniels
Texas Declares Its Measles Outbreak Over
The Texas Dept. of State Health Services yesterday announced that the state’s measles outbreak is over. The department said it had been more than 42 days since a new case was reported, surpassing the threshold to declare an end to an outbreak. There were 762 confirmed measles cases during the West Texas-centered outbreak since late January. Of those, 99 individuals were hospitalized, and two school-aged children died.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention latest data show there have been 1,356 confirmed measles cases in 40 states this year, including Illinois. In July, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) declared the Southern Illinois measles outbreak over. There had been eight total cases in southern Illinois in April and May, and two unrelated cases identified in Cook County around the same time. No new Illinois cases have been diagnosed since May 22, allowing IDPH to declare the outbreak over.
HHS Launches Interactive Platform to Track Public Health Reforms
The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday launched MAHA in Action—a new, interactive platform to track federal and state-level public health initiatives and reforms. An HHS news release said the MAHA in Action webpage will feature “updates on federal reforms being implemented across HHS agencies, including removing petroleum-based dyes and harmful additives from the U.S. food supply, closing the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) loophole that allows chemicals into food often with unknown safety data, restoring public trust in vaccine safety and scientific transparency, and finding the root causes of the chronic disease epidemic including autism.”
Applications Due Aug. 29: AHA Rural Hospital Innovation Award
Applications for the 2026 AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award close Aug. 29 at 12 p.m. CT. The award honors rural hospitals leading the way in innovative, sustainable and community-centered care. If your hospital is operating unique programs and services that address healthcare challenges in your community, click here to submit an application. Honorees will be recognized at AHA’s Rural Health Care Leadership Conference in February.
