•August 20, 2025•

by Angela Hogan, R.N. 

MSPH, Administrator of the  Moultrie County Health  Department

The WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) connects women, children, and seniors with fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs through participating farmers’ markets. The program operates during the summer months until September 30, 2025. Eligible participants can enjoy healthy, seasonal produce while supporting local farmers. 

What is the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program? The FMNP is a statewide initiative with two main goals. First, to improve nutrition for women, children, and seniors: Participants receive coupons to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from authorized farmers’ market vendors. Second, to support local farmers and family farms. The program increases sales at farmers’ markets, encouraging growth and diversity in Illinois agriculture. 

•August 20, 2025•

Kala Cesar and Jeannie Ruppert attended the Psi Iota Xi National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 27th through 29th. The theme for the convention was “Share the Past, Experience our Future,” which celebrated the accomplishments of the Psi Iota Xi, led by Mickie Hansen, National President. 

IL marketplace to replace Healthcare.gov

•August 20, 2025•

“Get Covered Illinois” announced today that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Illinois’ transition to a state-based health insurance marketplace. Launched in 2013 as a branded portal to access Healthcare.gov, Get Covered Illinois will now operate as a full state-based marketplace. 

“Today marks a pivotal step towards bringing quality, affordable healthcare to all Illinoisans,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Operating a state-based marketplace will allow our state more flexibility to provide health insurance coverage that is tailored to the needs of our residents.”

“It was an honor to carry the bill establishing the state-based marketplace while I was a member of the General Assembly, and it is even more of an honor leading the Department to implement it,” said Illinois Department of Insurance Director Ann Gillespie. “At a time when the federal government is announcing healthcare cuts, Illinois is investing in building a marketplace that aims to increase access to health coverage for our residents.”

•August 20, 2025•

Submitted

Lake Shelbyville‘s Tree Stand Policy for this year will remain the same as it was last season. The policy allows hunters to leave one stand up for the season (“Seasonal Tree Stand”) and/or utilize up to two “Roving” stands that can be left up during archery season for a period not to exceed a break in use greater than 72 hours – the length of a 3-day weekend. Seasonal tree stands may be placed 2 weeks before archery season and must be removed within 2 weeks of archery season ending. Archery season runs from October 1st, 2025, through January 18th, 2026. 

•August 20, 2025•

Submitted

Safe Families for Children hosts vulnerable children and creates extended family-like support for desperate, low-income families through a community of devoted volunteers motivated by compassion to keep children safe and ultimately together with their families. 

Parents voluntarily place their children with safe, loving, and screened host families where they are cared for, while additional volunteers help parents to restore stability in their lives. SFFC strives to meet three objectives. First, to prevent child abuse by providing safe, temporary homes for children from families in crisis. Secondly, to support and stabilize families in crisis by providing mentoring and referrals to appropriate resources. Third, to deflect children from entering the child welfare system by keeping healthy families intact and reunifying children with their parents.

Safe Families for Children believes children shouldn’t have to be harmed before they are helped and aims to prevent abuse by addressing the root issues of parents. This innovative approach prevents many more full-blown problems and helps create healthier families and, in turn, healthier communities. Safe Families engages a network of volunteers who serve as host families (who open their homes to children from families in crisis), family friends (who provide emotional support to families until they are able to get back on their feet), and resource friends (who provide goods or services to help families through their crisis). The biological parent is empowered by retaining custody of the child and averting the complexities of the court system.