SYCAMORE — The DeKalb County Community Foundation has awarded $135,000 in grants to launch a Community Paramedicine Program designed to provide nonemergency preventative care and reduce nonemergency 911 calls. Elder Care Services received $45,000 for multi-year support, while the City of DeKalb Fire Department received $90,000 to fund a specially equipped response vehicle and related equipment. The program, a collaboration between Elder Care Services and the fire department, assesses caller needs, provides follow-up care, and connects residents to local agencies for long-term support. Funding comes from the Howard and Mildred Eychaner Fund, which supports health care and affordable housing initiatives in DeKalb Township, and the new vehicle and equipment are already in use.
PHOTO – Representatives from the City of DeKalb Fire Department, Elder Care Services, and the DeKalb County Community Foundation gather in mid-December 2025 to highlight the Community Paramedicine Program grant, which supported the purchase of a new response vehicle and related equipment.