New program aims to address shortage of mental health providers in Winnebago Co.
The program is being funded by a $2 million grant. The grant is being fulfilled through a half-cent sales tax.
The University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rock Valley College, Rockford University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work, Rockford Public Schools 205 and the Boone-Winnebago County Regional Office of Education #4 all have played a part in getting the Social Worker Opportunity Tracks (SWOT) program underway.
'Winnebago County has a shortage of mental health providers, often having 150 or more positions for social workers open,' says Alex Stagnaro-Green, Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford and the principal investigator on the grant. 'SWOT will train individuals committed to becoming social workers in Winnebago County and build opportunities for area students to train and work in the area for years to come.'
SWOT provides multiple pathways for students to get into the world of social work, such as:
Graduates of Rock Valley College with an associate degree are eligible to apply to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work online programs or Rockford University programs to complete a bachelor's in social work while receiving scholarships and other financial and educational support.
Rockford University graduates are eligible to receive financial support and assistance to complete the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online master's of social work degree.
Winnebago County high school students interested in pursuing a social work degree can enroll in the SWOT Pipeline Track. Following successful completion of the high school component, each student has the option to enroll in either the associate degree program in human services at Rock Valley College or the bachelor's in social work program at Rockford University.
Rock Valley College graduates could either transfer to Rockford University to complete their BSW in person or enroll in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online bachelor's in social work. Upon completion of the BSW from either Rockford University or the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the student could then enroll in the online MSW program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The SWOT Immediate Track allows staff presently employed by Winnebago County schools with an associate degree to earn a bachelor's degree in social work through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's existing online program or a soon-to-be-developed bachelor's completion program at Rockford University. Those who have a bachelor's degree can complete the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online master's degree program. Participants can receive tuition reimbursement from their school and continue to work as they earn their social work degree.
Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board (WCCMHB) had the half-cent sales tax that is helping fund the program approved by Winnebago County residents in March 2020.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
2 days ago
- News24
Zambia mine disaster: Heavy metals found in water, clean-up yet to begin
Zambia's government sought to calm public pollution concerns stemming from a disaster at a copper mine six months ago, saying municipal drinking water is safe, even as laboratory tests showed excessive levels of heavy metals in some areas. 'The water is fit for consumption,' Green Economy and Environment Minister Mike Mposha told reporters in Lusaka, the capital, on Friday. Laboratory results received this week showed that pH acidity readings were within safe levels in water tested in the region surrounding the mine, he said. Still, there were elevated levels of manganese and zinc in four of the 23 places that were sampled. At one river site, manganese concentrations were 400 times the acceptable limit, according to a government report Mposha's ministry released on Friday. The partial collapse of a waste dam at the Sino-Metals Leach mine in Zambia's northern Copper province in February may have released 30 times more toxic sludge into the environment than previously reported, Drizit Zambia — appointed by Chinese state-owned SML to conduct an environmental audit of the accident — said in a June 3 letter. Mposha declined to comment on the assessment, saying he's yet to receive any such report officially. Drizit warned of persisting serious health risks from heavy metals contained in the spill, and described the incident as a 'large-scale environmental catastrophe.' Vulnerabilities around tailings storage have been in particular focus over the past decade after dam disasters at two Brazilian iron-ore mines owned by Vale SA, including a 2019 collapse that killed more than 272 people. Similar failures around the world over decades have resulted in deaths, destroyed property and caused massive environmental damage. The laboratory results released by Zambia's Mines Ministry on Friday showed lingering risks from the incident. Its report used samples from water and made no reference to tests of soil that Drizit says has been contaminated too. Heavy metals Dried sludge still cakes streams and riverbanks in the fallout zone, and seasonal rains that usually begin in November may wash this into river systems, together with the heavy metals still contained in the waste, according to Drizit. The cleanup after the accident has yet to begin. The government first needs to hire a company to carry out an independent environmental impact assessment of the damage that will instruct the restoration efforts. That process has faced months of delays after Sino-Metals terminated Drizit's contract to do the work, citing unspecified contractual breaches. Drizit declined to comment. 'This is very urgent,' Mposha said on Friday. 'We should not get into the rainy season, because that can complicate things.' Zambia is Africa's second-biggest copper producer, and plans to more than triple output to 3 million tons by early next decade. The Zambian government last week played down the danger from the spill, saying there was no cause for alarm as the 'immediate danger to human, animal and plant life has been averted.' At least 50,000 tons of highly acidic mine waste escaped when the dam burst, according to official reports. Drizit estimated that at least 1.5 million tons were lost from the dam system in total — enough to fill more than 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Sino-Metals has apologised to the government, distributed initial compensation to farmers directly impacted, and paid a fine of 1.5 million kwacha (about R1.1 million).
Axios
12-08-2025
- Axios
Why baby probiotics are a thing now
Gut health, a popular topic in wellness circles for years, is now the latest frontier in baby products. Why it matters: Most U.S. babies lack key gut bacteria, per new research, fueling a boom in new prebiotic and probiotic products — and fresh parental confusion. The big picture: Unlike adult microbiomes that are already well-established, new research has found that fresh baby guts are quite responsive to probiotics, says Sharon Donovan, a pediatric nutrition expert and professor at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Context: Probiotics are the "good" bacteria, and prebiotics are food for these bacteria. When infants have enough regular prebiotics — which are found naturally in breast milk — that helps the good bacteria thrive. What's happening: About 3 in 4 infants had insufficient levels of a bacteria called Bifidobacteria, putting them at risk of chronic disease like allergies and asthma, according to initial baby gut study findings published in Nature Communications Biology. Even babies born vaginally and breastfed "have compromised gut microbiomes," says Stephanie Culler, study co-author, scientist and CEO of Persephone Biosciences. By the numbers: Researchers analyzed stool samples from more than 400 infant participants. The study is set to run for seven years. Zoom in: More than 9 in 10 infants lacked a specific kind of Bifidobacterium known as B. infantis, which has "superstar powers," because it's the only Bifidobacterium that can consume all of the breast milk prebiotics, Culler tells Axios. It suppresses bad bacteria, and helps the immune system develop properly, she says. Zoom out: The increase in cesarean sections, formula feeding and antibiotic use over generations could be some of the factors eliminating this bacteria in U.S. babies, researchers speculate. The intrigue: Although B. infantis has largely been wiped from the industrialized world, high levels of it have been found in Old Order Mennonite and Amish babies. And as Americans have overall gotten more allergies in recent years, the Amish haven't. State of play: A number of formulas include prebiotics meant to support the growth of Bifidobacteria. Legacy U.S. formula brands Similac and Enfamil offer blends of prebiotics like the kind naturally found in breast milk (HMOs). Newer brands ByHeart and Nara Organics contain an organic lactose-derived prebiotic (GOS). What's next: More probiotic baby products are coming. Brands like BioGaia already sell drops with L. reuteri meant for colicky infants. Others, like Evivo, include B. infantis. Persephone Biosciences — the company behind the major baby microbiome study — will launch a supplement in September that has both B. infantis and prebiotics. Between the lines: Probiotic supplements aren't FDA-regulated like infant formula is — and the FDA raised safety concerns about probiotics after a preterm infant died in 2023. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found probiotics were linked to lower death rates in preemies, it says in a clinical report that there's not enough evidence to recommend routine use. The group warns that they could pose risks to very sick or immunocompromised babies. The AAP tells Axios it is updating its guidance on probiotics, but hasn't said when it will be released.
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Yahoo
Eat most of your calories by 7 p.m., wear toe spacers and skip the fries — plus 9 more health tips to help you have a great week
Plus: Why you should sip green tea. Hello, Yahoo readers! My name is Kaitlin Reilly, and I am rounding up the best health and wellness tips the internet has to offer this week. Do you start the morning with a glass of OJ? A potential change to orange juice is coming, thanks to a new regulation proposed by the Trump administration calling for it to be made with less sugary oranges, the Washington Post reports. The Food and Drug Administration is proposing to lower the minimum sugar content required for orange juice to be labeled as 'pasteurized orange juice,' in response to a request from Florida's citrus industry, which is struggling with declining sugar levels in its crops. The change would slightly reduce sugar per serving but wouldn't significantly affect taste or nutrition. But while orange juice has long been a staple of the classic American breakfast, is it really a good option to start your morning? Maybe not, nutrition experts tell the Washington Post. Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, calls orange juice — and every juice — nothing more than 'sugar water,' and that remains true even if it's made with slightly less sugar. And while orange juice does contain calcium and vitamin C, you're far better off eating a real orange, which has fiber that can balance out your blood sugar levels and keep you from crashing. While you rethink your a.m. beverage, we're here to help you get ready for the week ahead. Take a look at your local weather forecast, then check out your horoscope to gather any intel from the stars. Finally, pick 'one small thing' to do this week to improve your well-being. Here are some tips … 🕰️ Eat most of your calories by 7 p.m. Our bodies are better equipped to use food for energy between the morning and early evening — but things slow down post-sunset, dietitian Colin Popp tells Today. As such, he recommends an approach he calls 'front-loading,' which means getting the majority of your calories earlier in the day (think: a hearty breakfast and/or lunch, followed by a lighter dinner around 5 to 7 p.m.). This, he explains, better aligns with your circadian rhythm and may boost metabolism, blood sugar control and even sleep. And since research shows that eating at night is associated with weight gain and unstable blood sugar levels (which can lead to chronic health issues over time), it's best to avoid big or heavy meals shortly before bedtime. An easy way to break down your daily calorie intake is to aim for 25% to 40% at breakfast, 30% to 40% at lunch and 15% to 20% at dinner, with snacks making up the rest of your day. 🦶 Step up your foot game Giving your feet a little TLC can help you avoid pain and improve mobility and strength. Dana Santas, a strength and conditioning specialist, tells CNN that she recommends her clients roll their bare feet over a textured ball twice a day, making sure to shift position every 30 seconds to target different areas of the foot. Don't have a textured ball? A golf or lacrosse ball works too in a pinch. Another easy way to ensure you're giving your feet proper care? Try wearing toe spacers for 15 to 20 minutes a night, Santas says. You'll fight foot fatigue and counteract the effects of restrictive footwear. 🍟 Skip the fries We're so sorry to tell you this: Research published in the BMJ found that eating these fast food favorites often — about three servings per week — can raise your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 20%. Those who ate baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes did not see a large rise of their risk, however. While the link between french fries and diabetes was not clear from the research, experts tell Women's Health that it could be related to the overall eating habits of people who eat them frequently. (For example, if you're hitting up the drive-through multiple times a week instead of eating nutrient-dense meals.) Plus, dietitian Jessica Cording points out that it's easy to eat large quantities of fries at once. You don't have to give up fries entirely, experts say. Just eat them alongside fiber-packed veggies and lean proteins and make the majority of your meals as nutritious as possible. An occasional bag of fries shouldn't raise your diabetes risk much if eaten as part of a balanced diet. 🏠 Consider a HEPA filter Live near a busy road? You could be exposed to indoor air pollution, which can cause high blood pressure. And if moving isn't an option, consider new research that suggests using HEPA air purifiers. As NBC News reports, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that participants with elevated blood pressure saw lowered systolic blood pressure readings after using HEPA filters for a month. While those with normal blood pressure saw no change, these filters could be a good call for anyone concerned about their numbers and the pollution around them. 🍔 Add this 1 thing to your burger Give your burger an upgrade by adding something plant-based to your ground beef, Today suggests. Mushrooms are a great pick, from both a flavor and a health standpoint. They boast good-for-you nutrients like vitamin D, selenium, potassium and B vitamins, and because they're low in calories, adding them to your patty mix (and cutting down on the beef) keeps your burger from being such a calorie bomb. 📺 Scale back screen time A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that too much screen time can come with health risks for children. Looking at 1,000 kids who spent time on screens like gaming consoles, smartphones and TVs, researchers saw that those with higher amounts of screen time were at a greater risk of heart and metabolic issues, like high blood pressure and insulin resistance. One potential reason the researchers gave, according to CBS News, is that screen time can cut into all-important sleep, pushing bedtimes later and reducing overall hours snoozing. While the study only looked at 10- and 18-year-olds, it stands to reason that people of all ages could benefit from a little less scrolling and a lot more sleep. If you're prone to staying up watching TikToks in bed, try reading a book instead; you'll be more likely to doze off and get better rest. 🏋️ Take baby steps with that new fitness plan This is going to be the week you jump-start a new workout routine. But if you're rusty in the exercise department, experts warn against overdoing it, Women's Health reports. Signing up for an intense, early-morning boot camp or challenging yourself to use your monthly gym pass every day might not be sustainable over time. Personal trainer Kristen McParland says that it's 'really difficult for a beginner to go from zero days to five.' It's better to 'smart small and build,' she advises. Maybe that's hitting an exercise class twice a week to start, or going for a run on Sunday mornings until you get into a nice groove. And don't push yourself to work out in the mornings if you loathe getting up early — you'll eventually abandon your routine. As McParland says, the 'best time' to work out is the one that works for you and your body. 🍪 Cut back on ultraprocessed foods Need one more reason to cut out ultraprocessed foods, such as packaged cookies and chips? A new study published in Thorax found that eating them could up your risk of lung cancer, Prevention reports. While it's unclear what is behind this association, it's not the first study to find negative impacts of ultraprocessed foods, which can often be higher in sugar and fat, as well as lower in fiber, vitamins and minerals, than whole food options. One way to combat the health risks of ultraprocessed foods is to aim for whole foods (vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, nuts and eggs) whenever possible. 🐟 Eat fatty fish for better cholesterol When we think of cholesterol, we often think about reducing our 'bad cholesterol' — aka LDL, which can build up in the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease. But you also need to think about your 'good cholesterol,' called HDL, which helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. One way to do that, our friends at EatingWell say, is to add more fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel and sardines. to your diet. They're rich in omega-3s, which have been shown to boost HDL and reduce inflammation in the body. Keep things simple by going with the tinned fish variety, which you can add to a salad or eat alone with a cracker. 😋 Go for cumin Time to spice things up. Adding cumin to your meals could come with gut health benefits, the Independent reports. The warm, nutty spice is rich in antioxidants, and past research has found that it can help alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel symptom, such as uncomfortable bloating. If you want the most out of cumin, make sure to grind it up: it'll help your body absorb some of its other nutritional perks, such as B vitamins, vitamin E, iron and magnesium. 🍵 Drink tea Break out the kettle. Drinking certain teas can help you manage your blood pressure, cardiologist Dr. Ragavendra Baliga tells Prevention. Why? These teas — particularly green and hibiscus — contain blood vessel-widening polyphenols, which allows for better blood flow and oxygen delivery to the rest of your body. Just stick to a couple of cups a day, and be aware of any side effects or medicine interactions. 🥛 Don't mix these meds with dairy You've probably heard that grapefruit can interfere with certain medications, but dairy can cause problems too. According to EatingWell, foods like milk, yogurt and cheese can block the absorption of medications such as tetracycline antibiotics and certain types of quinolone antibiotics, like ciprofloxacin. It's also best to avoid dairy for at least four hours before taking levothyroxine (for thyroid issues), lithium (for bipolar disorder) and eltrombopag (used to boost platelet count). Got the flu and were prescribed baloxavir? Skip not only dairy but also other calcium-rich foods like sardines — or even Tums, which contain 500 mg of calcium carbonate — since they can interfere with how the drug works. Solve the daily Crossword
