Heartland Human Services Reaches Contract Agreement w/AFSCME

Heartland Human Services, an Effingham-based behavioral health center, recently announced it has ratified a contract with AFSCME local 3494, a labor union representing the staff at Heartland.

This will be the second labor contract implemented at Heartland, the first being ratified in August of 2009. 

“We are pleased to be able to come to an agreement,” stated Heartland board president, Tim Spitz. “We feel all parties were professional in this process and understanding of the precarious financial situation the state of Illinois is in.”

Heartland gets 80% of its funding from state Medicaid reimbursements. Heartland officials say funding for mental health and substance abuse services have been cut over the past five years and it appears more cuts are possible at the state level.

Heartland Human Services has been providing psychiatric and counseling services for 45 years, including disorders from depression, anxiety, drug & alcohol dependency, eating disorders, cutting, ADHD/bipolar, grieving, child/adolescent disorders, and Alzheimer’s/memory loss. 

More information can be found at www.heartlandhs.org, by finding Heartland Human Services on Facebook, or by calling 217-347-7179. Heartland is located at 1200 N. Fourth St., Effingham.