06/15/2026
WHY • HOW • WHAT
By Jessica Schindler, BSN, RN
With all the hats that I wear at the Ralls County Health Department, one of them is being the Program Manager for the Maternal Child Health (MCH) Services Contract. The program's focus is to support, improve, and promote the development and coordination of family-centered and community-based systems of care for mothers, children, and youth, including children and youth with special health care needs, and their families.
Over the past five years, I have had the opportunity to focus much of our work on promoting Protective Factors for Youth and Families, specifically addressing su***de prevention and self-harm awareness among youth ages 10-19. As we come to the end of Fiscal Year 2026 and reflect on the goals outlined in our work plan, I am proud of what has been accomplished through this contract.
Some of our accomplishments include:
💙 In 2023, the Ralls County Health Department adopted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase access to mental health resources for individuals and families receiving services through the health department.
💙 Increasing mental health awareness through a community resource guide I developed, educational Facebook posts, and outreach efforts at community events including the Back-to-School Fair, Teen Health Fair, and Park Days.
💙 Providing postpartum kits to new mothers participating in WIC, along with mindfulness kits, kindness rocks, coping kits, and children's books focused on bullying prevention and emotional wellness.
💙 Participating in HOPE meetings with the Ralls County School District to support youth mental health initiatives and community collaboration.
💙 Worked with the art class at the school to have a billboard designed in the county for mental health awareness.
💙 Attending Youth Mental Health First Aid training and helping bring those trainings to local staff and community members, while also promoting awareness of the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.
While I am proud of what has been accomplished, I am equally excited about the future. For the 2026-2031 funding cycle, our focus will shift toward improving access to family-centered, coordinated, comprehensive, and community-based health care services and supports for children both with and without special health care needs.
In rural communities such as Ralls County, families often face structural and socioeconomic barriers that make it difficult to access coordinated services. These challenges impact children with chronic conditions as well as those who may not have identified special health care needs but still require preventive, developmental, and supportive services. Our goal is to help bridge those gaps and strengthen the systems that support children and families throughout our community.
Public health is about meeting people where they are, building partnerships, and creating opportunities for healthier futures. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue this work and to serve the families of Ralls County through the Maternal Child Health Program.
Thank you to our community partners, schools, healthcare providers, and families who have helped make this work possible. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier future for our children!
