Kane County Health Department Facing Potential Mass Layoffs

The Kane County Health Department’s workers union is making claims that the department is not making adequate attempts to prevent layoffs or cutting programs. They also claim that the department did not apply for expedited reimbursement payments from the state.

“They are really not interested in alternatives and have basically made the decision to get rid of the programs,” said AFSCME staff representative, Carla Williams. “[This] is sad because this leaves potentially 8,000 women and children without the services they desperately need.”

Executive director of the Health Department, Paul Kuehnert, recommended that the Kane County board cease accepting grants and contracts from the state of Illinois, citing the state’s economical crisis as part of the problem.

On August 10^th, the Kane County Board Members will make a decision whether or not to heed Kuehnert’s recommendation. Doing so would result in the terminations of nine programs, which would mean layoffs of 62 employees.