The Rock Island County Health Department plans to layoff 15 employees and suspend several programs. Administrator, Nita Ludwig, says the board was forced to cut costs because the state hasn't paid its bills for nearly eleven months. And the 15 employees provide services to the county's most vulnerable residents.
One program that will be suspended on July 1st is Family Case Management.
Other programs that will be suspended include one that ensures foster children get medical care, plus lead poisoning and tobacco use prevention.
The Rock Island, Carroll, Knox, Stephenson, and Whiteside county health departments are among 64 agencies suing Illinois for breach of contract. Other agencies that have joined the Pay Now Illinois lawsuit are the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Western Illinois Home Health Services, and Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley.
