The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Presents $15,000 Grant to Heartland Health Services to Address Access to Health Care in Peoria and Tazewell Counties
Media Contact: Rhonda Frazier, Rhonda.Frazier@MolinaHealthCare.Com, (562) 980-3849
CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2025 — The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Illinois (“Molina”), is announcing a $15,000 investment to support the expansion of Heartland Health Services’ Mobile Health Center (MHC). This program elevates Heartland Health Services’ existing programs, enabling them to deliver behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment in addition to their existing primary care services to underserved communities in Peoria and Tazewell counties.
In Illinois, 13.2% of residents live in rural areas, demonstrating the importance of making care more accessible. Additionally, Peoria and Tazewell counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, highlighting the need for innovative programs that meet individuals where they are with the services they need. This grant will help address health care gaps in rural communities and beyond.
“At Heartland, we’re committed to advancing the overall health of our community by providing affordable and quality health care services with compassion,” said Nicole Stephens, director of community engagement and marketing at Heartland Health Services. “With Molina’s support we are able to bring health care services to hard-to-reach communities reducing barriers to care and bridging gaps to behavioral health care in Peoria and Tazewell counties.”
Molina’s grant will support staffing and workforce retention for the MHC. It will also equip the vehicle with supplies and resources needed to bolster behavioral health care, support medication assisted recovery, and provide more residents with primary care and preventive services.
“Peoria and Tazewell communities face significant gaps in access to primary care and behavioral health services,” said Kris Classen, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Illinois. “Through our partnership with Heartland Health Services and the continued deployment of Molina’s Mobile Help Center, we are expanding service capacity to ensure that individuals in rural areas with the greatest need can obtain essential care, regardless of where they live.”
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About The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation
The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc. The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation was created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities.
About Molina Healthcare of Illinois
Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace programs in Illinois. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Illinois, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.
About Heartland Health Services
Heartland Health Services receives HHS funding and has Federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals. Heartland Health Services is an FTCA deemed facility. Heartland Health Services is a Federally Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC) providing access to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive primary health care for the community. For more information about Heartland Health Services, visit https://hhsil.com/.