Christine Herman
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Christine Herman

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Friday

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter attends a rally at the U.S. Capitol in March 2008 when she helped get the mental health parity law enacted. Carter died on Nov. 19 at age 96. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

First lady Rosalynn Carter's legacy on mental health boils down to one word: Hope

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Thursday

Julian Hernandez (right), 12, a seventh-grader at Hillside School in Illinois, says he feels much safer being back in school knowing that a weekly testing program is identifying those who are sick with COVID-19. Christine Herman/WILL hide caption

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Christine Herman/WILL

How Some Schools Are Using Weekly Testing To Keep Kids In Class — And COVID Out

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Saturday

Larry Lieb, 69, feeds the cattle on his farm in Mode, Ill., on July 8. He says he feels safer having gotten the coronavirus vaccine. But he's not interested in trying to convince anyone else to get it. Christine Herman/WILL hide caption

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Christine Herman/WILL

As Trusted Voices, Farmers Could Be Key To Boosting Rural Vaccination Rates

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Wednesday

Jennifer Gibaldi's daughter Alyssa, 17, began experiencing severe anxiety which left her catatonic during the pandemic last year. But finding help for Alyssa, who has Down syndrome, was challenging, as most health care providers wouldn't take kids with disabilities or they wouldn't take her insurance. Heather Walsh for NPR hide caption

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Heather Walsh for NPR

How A Hospital And A School District Teamed Up To Help Kids In Emotional Crisis

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Tuesday

Experts hope a new insurance provision included in the recent stimulus package could help stem rising maternal mortality in the U.S. Each year, about 700 American women die due to pregnancy, childbirth or subsequent complications. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

Monday

As Pregnancy-Related Deaths Rise In The U.S., Experts Say Expanding Medicaid Is Key

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Wednesday

Rashida Humphrey-Wall (right) with her son Kai Humphrey at their home in Washington, D.C. Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

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Elissa Nadworny/NPR

How Schools Can Help Kids Heal After A Year Of 'Crisis And Uncertainty'

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Monday

Before conducting the nasal swab test for COVID-19 at the Rantoul, Ill., clinic, researchers go out to greet each visitor and ask for basic identification and health information. Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media hide caption

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Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media

Wednesday

Coronavirus Testing Remains A Problem For Farmworkers, Meatpackers

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Monday

Sandra's 17-year-old daughter, Lindsey, has autism. Lindsey thrives on routine, and got special help at school until the coronavirus pandemic cut her off from the trained teachers and therapists she'd come to rely on. Audra Melton for NPR hide caption

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Audra Melton for NPR

'I've Tried Everything': Pandemic Worsens Child Mental Health Crisis

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Wednesday

2 Counties In Illinois Have Opposite Effects Controlling Pandemic

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Saturday

Woman Shares Story Of Double-Lung Transplant To Treat COVID-19

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Thursday

University of Illinois graduate student Kristen Muñoz submits her saliva sample for coronavirus testing on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media hide caption

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Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media

Monday

Mayra Ramirez received a double lung transplant after COVID-19 caused irreversible damage to her lungs. Northwestern Medicine hide caption

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Northwestern Medicine

Friday

The lungs of a young woman in her 20s became so damaged by COVID-19 that she could not survive without her blood being oxygenated outside her body on an ECMO machine. She received a double-lung transplant on June 5. In this photo taken before the transplant, the patient is being monitored by the ECMO team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Northwestern Medicine hide caption

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Northwestern Medicine

Wednesday

Friday

Hokyoung Kim for NPR and KHN

When Teens Abuse Parents, Shame and Secrecy Make It Hard to Seek Help

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Sunday

José's son, who has schizophrenia, recently got into a fight that resulted in a broken window — an out-of-control moment from his struggle with mental illness. And it could increase his chances of deportation to a country where mental health care is even more elusive. Hokyoung Kim for NPR hide caption

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Hokyoung Kim for NPR

A Young Immigrant Has Mental Illness, And That's Raising His Risk of Being Deported

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Sunday

The Joliet Treatment Center, southwest of Chicago, is one of four facilities now providing mental health care to some of Illinois' sickest inmates. It's a start, say mental health advocates, but many more inmates in Illinois and across the U.S. still await treatment. Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media hide caption

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Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media

Wednesday

Toni Hoy, at her home in Rantoul, Ill., holds a childhood photo of her son, Daniel, who is now 24. In a last-ditch effort to get Daniel treatment for his severe mental illness in 2007, the Hoys surrendered parental custody to the state. "When I think of him, that's the picture I see in my mind. Just this adorable, blue-eyed, blond little sweetie," Hoy says. Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media hide caption

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Christine Herman/Illinois Public Media

Illinois Parents Relinquish Custody So Son Can Get Costly Medical Treatment

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Friday

Thursday

Friday

Physical therapist Ingrid Peele coaches Kim Brown through strengthening exercises to help her with her chronic pain, at the OSF Central Illinois Pain Center in Peoria. Kyle Travers/WFYI hide caption

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Kyle Travers/WFYI