Blog

As the cold winter chill settles over Bloomington, community members gather at a local center, seeking warmth and connection. Among them is Sean Boston, a dedicated community health worker, who is helping a new client navigate the complex path to recovery. With compassion and determination, Sean’s role as a bridge to vital resources is transforming lives. Read how community health workers like Sean are revolutionizing healthcare, one connection at a time.

For more than six decades, Martin Luther King Jr. has stood as one of the most prominent leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, a guiding figure in the fight against racism and segregation. While his work is most often associated with advancing the Black community, his impact reached far beyond.

Do you notice your mood shifts with the seasons? Or perhaps you feel more fatigued and crave more sleep or food as winter rolls in? You could be experiencing seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that commonly presents itself in the fall and winter seasons.

This Veterans Day, Chestnut Health Systems™ is reaffirming its commitment to supporting veterans facing homelessness through the Support Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program. In Madison and St. Clair counties, Illinois, the program provides vital services like housing assistance, healthcare, and employment support, with many staff members being veterans themselves. Through personal stories of transformation, we see the impact of this work, ensuring that no veteran is left without the support they need to achieve housing stability.

Recovery Coach Jessica Banner embodies the power of lived experience, transforming her own journey through trauma and addiction into a beacon of hope for those she serves. With her unique approach—meeting clients in their communities, sharing her story, and providing vital resources—Jessica proves that change is possible. Discover how one woman’s resilience is not only changing lives but also igniting hope in the hearts of those battling their own challenges. Read more about her inspiring work and the importance of peer support in our communities.

Hispanic Heritage means many things in the United States, because the term Hispanic comprises many different groups and histories. Hispanic names an ethnic category that includes people of Spanish and Spanish colonial ancestry.

At a young age, Shalon was diagnosed with major depression and anxiety. Through her journey with mental health, she has relied on art to help her cope to understanding these emotions. An illustration Shalon drew of her current self comforting her younger self has been selected to be featured in the 2024 Art of Recovery Project through SAMHSA.

Through her own battles, Jordan has relied on photography to hold her up. A photograph of Tony, an Army veteran in remission from substance use, taken by Jordan has been selected to be featured in the 2024 Art of Recovery Project through SAMHSA.

Juneteenth provides a wonderful opportunity to think about what we may have overlooked and to repair that oversight. The holiday marks a moment when a promise was fulfilled, and it shows us the way that historical mythmaking can overlook significant moments and traditions.

For Lynda, the enticement of gambling began with the introduction of pokies in Melbourne in 1992. What started as a casual pastime quickly spiraled into an addiction, consuming her nights and straining her relationships. The financial toll became evident as she resorted to misappropriating funds from her workplace to fuel her habit.