General Considerations

Section 655 Section 655.10  General Considerations a)         For some, pregnancy can present social, emotional, financial and/or health problems. A wide array of services which can assist women who have problem pregnancies is not available in all communities, and in communities where such services are available, they often are fragmented. State policy therefore encourages the development of appropriate health, education, and social services where they are now lacking or inadequate, and the better coordination of existing services where they are available, in order to assist women with problem pregnancies and to help them to become productive independent contributors to family and community life. b)         Authorization The Department of Public Health will allocate funds for Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Projects under authority of the Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Act [410 ILCS 230]. c)         Purpose The purpose of these projects if to assist women with problem pregnancies in obtaining appropriate services, through provision of those services directly, or by referral; to expand the availability of services for women with problem pregnancies in communities which need them; and to promote innovative, comprehensive and integrated approaches to the delivery of such services. d)         Eligibility Public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations are eligible for project grants if they do not use such grants to refer or counsel for, or perform abortions; and which coordinate and establish linkages among services, that will further the purposes of this act and, where appropriate, will provide, supplement, or improve the quality of such services.