News Progress

•January 24, 2024•

A Matter of Balance, an award winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels, is hosting a coaches training on Wednesday, February 21, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 204 W. Prairie Avenue in Decatur. Lunch will be provided. Criteria for leadership include good communication skills, enthusiasm and dependability, willingness to lead a small group and interest in working with older adults. Training expectations are attend eight hours of coach training and earn A Matter of Balance Certification, attend 2.5 hours of coach training update annually and agree to coach one A Matter of Balance class within one year of certification. The classes themselves are eight two hour sessions. Classes can be held once a week for eight weeks or twice a week for four weeks. 2 coaches per 8-10 participants. To register or for more information contact Tara Voorhees at voorhees_dec@cc.dio.org or 217-428-0013.

•January 24, 2024•

Cheri Burcham

Extension Educator

University of Illinois Extension

I want to share an article written by Illinois Extension Media Communications Coordinator Herbert Chavez about an upcoming opportunity starting in February called Nurturing Foundations. Herbert writes: The 1,000 days between a person’s pregnancy and their child’s second birthday offer a unique opportunity to build a healthier and more prosperous future, so knowing how to care for mother and baby during this period is vital. The University of Illinois Extension Integrated Health Disparities team, in collaboration with Carle Illinois College of Medicine and Avicenna, offers the Nurturing Foundations series, a free online program designed to promote children’s health at this vital stage in their lives, raise awareness of existing disparities in maternal health, and provide education on maternal health to address these issues. Read More

•January 24, 2024•

While more than half of the counties in Illinois remain at an elevated level for COVID-19 hospitalizations according to CDC data, the state’s overall respiratory illness level has decreased in recent weeks and is at Low in the most recent available data, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced.

The CDC’s latest update of its COVID Data Tracker indicates that as of the week ending January 13, the state of Illinois is at Medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations for a fourth straight week with a total of 1,393 hospitalizations reported during the week. A total of 54 counties were at an elevated level for COVID-19 hospitalizations with 50 of those at Medium level (between 10 and 20 COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 of population) compared to 57 counties the previous week. Four counties were at High level (more than 20 hospitalizations per 100,000) compared to seven the previous week. Read More

•January 24, 2024•

Attention Illinois Farmers: the annual Conservation Cropping Seminar will take place Jan. 31, 2024 with virtual attendance available for a $15 registration fee. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and soil and water CEUs will be available.

This event will cover how to improve soil health, cover crops, adopt new technologies, improve root health, manage nutrients and provide the latest agronomic research. A question-and-answer session with an Illinois farmer panel will be offered, as well as access to helpful resources.

Topics and speakers for this year include:

Alternative Farming Methods

  Greg Thoren-Stockton, Illinois farmer Read More

•January 24, 2024•

On Thursday, January 11, the State of Illinois recognized Human Trafficking Awareness Day, part of the larger Human Trafficking Awareness Month, in an effort to raise awareness about one of the most under-reported and under-identified crimes. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to control another person for labor or commercial sex act purposes.  Every year millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide, including in the United States and in Illinois. Read More