Social Worker Bill Passes Committee
from WMBD-TV
A bill, sponsored by Peoria Senator Dave Koehler , to protect school social workers, counselors and psychologists was approved by the Illinois House Education Committee and put on the calendar for a second reading. The bill has already passed the Illinois Senate. The bill prohibits schools from punishing or discriminating against social workers and others who refuse to share privileged or confidential student information. More

HBO Alzheimer's Project; Loyola University's Seidenburg Awardee
from NASW IL
The NASW IL Chapter is fortunate to have been selected to serve as a FREE pre-screening venue for the HBO Alzheimer's Project, 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Chapter offices, 404 S. Wells St. 4th, Chicago, Ill. This is part of HBO's grassroots public service outreach campaign to shine a spotlight on Alzheimer's disease, as well as inform the public, spur conversation and excite individuals to participate in a search for a cure to this devastating disease. More

2009 Reports on Poverty Project More People Falling into Poverty as a Result of the Recession
from Heartland Alliance
Everyone in Illinois should have the opportunity to put food on their table, a roof over their head and give their kids a chance at a bright future, but that opportunity does not exist for the hundreds of thousands of people in Illinois living in extreme poverty. Please click here to download the full report. More

Grant Focuses on Illinois Domestic Violence
from The Chicago Tribune
A $1.1 million grant from the federal government is giving 20 select Illinois counties an extra hand when prosecuting domestic violence cases. Officials say the extra staff will take the pressure off prosecutors in smaller counties overwhelmed by other cases and will encourage victims to report abuse. More

Medical Care for the Homeless: Study Finds that Homes Lessen Need for Emergency Care
from The Chicago Tribune
What do homeless men and women with emphysema, hypertension, diabetes and congestive heart failure need to take better care of their health? A home, Chicago researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The report describes encouraging results for the Chicago Housing for Health Partnership, the first program in the country to link hospitals serving homeless, chronically ill patients with federally subsidized housing. More

Senior use of Psychiatric Drugs Spikes
from USA Today
About 15 percent of elderly Americans had prescriptions for psychiatric drugs in 2006, double the percentage a decade earlier, according to an analysis of federal databases. A rising number of people of all ages received treatment for mental disorders over the 10 years, but there's evidence that the most seriously ill may be receiving less care from specialists, says the study by health policy researchers. More

Christine Radogno Among Crain's "Women to Watch"
from Crain's Chicago Business
Illinois Sen. Christine Radogno was a social-worker-turned-mother when she was propelled into politics by a not-in-my-backyard issue — a fire station proposed for the next block — that landed her on the La Grange Village Board. Two decades later, she's feeling the heat as the state Senate minority leader, the first woman to hold a General Assembly leadership post. More

Grieving for Departed Pets Can be Devastating
from Northwestern University's Medill School
Wagging tails, calming purrs and sloppy licks are some of the simple pleasures that dogs and cats deliver to their human companions day in and day out. A pet's warm love and friendship makes it that much more difficult to deal with the loss when Rover or Socks dies. Several Chicago animal organizations, therapists and pet funeral homes offer help to those who are grieving. More

Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Motivational Speaker Sean Stephenson Uses his Disorder to Inspire Others
from The Chicago Tribune
Born with a disorder that would leave him 3 feet tall and so brittle that coughing could fracture a rib, Sean Stephenson could not walk as a child. He was racked with pain. People stared at him all the time. Except on Halloween. On Halloween, everyone looked different. His distinct physical appearance, the consequence of osteogenesis imperfecta, helped him blend in, and he loved that. But on Halloween morning 1988, he broke his leg after catching it on a door frame. More