The Kane County Health Department collaborates in the HealthWorks of Illinois program together with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), The Illinois Department of Public Aid, and the Illinois Department of Human Services.  The primary purpose of HealthWorks of Illinois is to assure that foster children from birth to age 21 receive comprehensive quality health care.  Upon entry into DCFS custody, each foster child must receive a Comprehensive Health Evaluation within 21 days to determine the child’s medical, mental, and behavioral status.

The Health Department medical case manager works closely with the foster care giver to improve access to services and provide ongoing monitoring of the child’s health needs.  The medical case manager also assures specialty care is made available including medical, dental, and mental needs.

Beyond managing health care needs one child at a time, the Kane County Health Department is the Lead Agency for children in the custody of DCFS who are under 6 years of age residing in Kane County and children between the ages of 6 and 21 residing in Kane and Kendall Counties.  This is a system approach that works to assure that we can recruit and maintain a physician network of primary and specialty providers.