MCPHD serves as both the applicant and lead agency for this grant opportunity. Established in March 1983 by the Macoupin County Board, the department is now governed by the Macoupin County Board of Health. When MCPHD first opened, it operated from a single location with just eight employees. Over the following decade, the department expanded its core public health services, including immunizations, WIC, lead screenings, and environmental health, and launched two additional programs: the Safe Families domestic violence advocacy program and the Healthy Families home-visiting program for first-time parents. In 1995, MCPHD secured both state and federal funding and certification to launch a transportation program, Macoupin County Public Transportation (MCPT). This program expanded access for residents across the county, guided by a mission to attract and retain public health clients by offering a transportation solution rooted in safety, service, and trust. In 1998, the department opened its first dental clinic; in 2002, its first medical clinic; in 2006, its first mental health services; and in 2008, a second location, Maple Street Clinic, which continues to provide medical, dental, and behavioral health services today.
After three years of dedicated effort, Maple Street Clinic achieved certification as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 2011. This designation strengthened MCPHD’s ability to prioritize the health and well-being of residents in Macoupin County and surrounding areas by ensuring access to comprehensive, compassionate care for all patients, regardless of age, race, or income. MCPHD has since expanded to five additional locations: Morgan Street Clinic in Carlinville, offering dental, medical, and WIC services; St. Francis Way Clinic in Litchfield, offering Level 1.0 substance use treatment, recovery services, and behavioral health care; Columbian Boulevard Dental Clinic in Litchfield, offering dental services; Illinois Avenue in Gillespie, offering transportation and environmental services; and Oakland Avenue Clinic in Carlinville, offering behavioral health, administrative, billing, and Safe Families domestic violence advocacy services. MCPHD has experienced remarkable growth. More than 140 employees now operate across six locations in Macoupin and Montgomery counties. MCPHD’s vision is to model how integrated services for diverse populations can strengthen communities and improve the health and well-being of all residents.
Looking ahead, MCPHD’s goals center on continuing to deliver a broad array of medical and health-related services to the widest range of residents while maintaining our commitment to high-quality, affordable care. MCPHD believes that communities are strengthened when every person has access to the resources needed to live their best life.