The Kane County Health Department is launching a new free service that will connect people in need to resources like substance use services, housing assistance and more. The comprehensive case management service will consider a person’s specific needs and connect them to local organizations that can help address those needs, officials said in a news release announcing the service earlier this month. Kane County residents can be referred to the program through a number of partner organizations or can reach out to the health department directly, either by phone or by submitting a request through the department’s website, to connect with the department’s case manager Toni Garcia, the release said. In a phone call on Thursday, Kane County Health Department Executive Director Michael Isaacson said the service was created after talking with a number of health care providers in the area about the county health system’s gaps, strengths and needs. “One common theme that kept coming up was a need for a more centralized place where people could go to get assistance,” Isaacson said. The new service will help people, particularly those involved in a number of different health systems and organizations, to navigate the county’s health system, according to Isaacson. He said the service can connect people not only to mental health and substance use services, but also to services that help with housing, food or even job training. “We want to try to help people in all these areas of their life because that’s going to be important for helping them with their substance use and/or their mental health issues that they may have,” Isaacson said. When a person reaches out or is referred to the program, they will go through a comprehensive needs screening to see how they need assistance, according to the release. Garcia will then create an individualized plan to address specific goals, provide access to necessary services and offer ongoing support, the release said. That ongoing support includes service and support planning and coordination between service providers as well as follow-ups to make sure the person successfully connected with any service they were directed to and that the person is on track to meeting their goals, according to the release. Officials said in the release that the goal of the service is to “offer a compassionate approach to health and wellness, ensuring that community members receive personalized support tailored to their unique needs.” Those interested in learning more about case management or who are looking for help can contact Garcia by email at [email protected], by phone or text at 331-312-0060 or by visiting the department’s website at kanehealth.com/Pages/Case-Management.aspx. Calls received after regular business hours, which are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will be returned the next business day, the release said. [email protected]