NEWS RELEASE
September 30, 2005

For more information, contact:
Russ Hagen, CEO
(309) 827-6026

CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEMS RESPONDS IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA

Chestnut Health Systems’ employees have responded both professionally and personally to the needs of Hurricane Katrina victims. “I have once again been humbled by our staff’s expression of their commitment to our mission in the recent outpouring of support for efforts to address the needs of the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.”

Chestnut’s employees in Madison and St. Clair Counties were on-site at Mid-America Airport in St. Clair County to receive approximately 173 evacuees and help transport them to designated shelter sites. Various Chestnut staff spent a total of 60 to 90 hours daily at the emergency shelter in the first weeks after Katrina hit and Chestnut continues to staff the shelter approximately 252 hours a week.

In response to a relief effort coordinated by the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers and HopeNetworks.org, Chestnut Health Systems will be donating three inpatient beds and up to $500.00 of transportation costs to persons from Katrina impacted areas who need ongoing treatment services and meet Chestnut’s admission criteria.

Chestnut designated every Friday during the month of September as a special "Casual Day for Katrina Relief ". With one remaining Friday, Chestnut employees have contributed more than $2,335 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief fund.

Through October 7, Chestnut is also conducting an on-site food drive. Goods collected from employees and clients at Chestnut’s Madison and St. Clair County locations will be distributed through the Salvation Army in the Metro-East area. Goods collected from staff and clients at Chestnut’s Chicago and Bloomington locations will be distributed through the Midwest Food Bank in McLean County.

Chestnut will be hosting a community-wide blood drive on October 11th. Representatives of the Red Cross of the Heartland will be on site at Chestnut’s 1003 Martin Luther King Drive Gymnasium from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Walk-ins are welcome or appointments can be scheduled by contacting Brittne Jensen at (309) 820-3565 or bjensen@chestnut.org. According to Ms. Jensen, the Red Cross typically collects about 30 pints at Chestnut’s semi-annual employee blood drives. Since this drive is open to the community, she is hoping this number will drastically increase.

Don Hammer, Vice Chairperson of Chestnut Health Systems’ Board of Directors, stated, “I was really impressed with the extraordinary efforts of our staff.” Chestnut CEO Hagen believes this is another example of Chestnut’s involvement in community service. “Through the years Chestnut’s staff has consistently stepped forward to address the critical needs of others through community services in response to unexpected local and national disasters,” he said.

For more than 30 years, Chestnut Health Systems has offered a broad array of behavioral healthcare services to residents in Central and Southern Illinois fulfilling its mission of “making a difference: improving quality of life through excellence in service”. Known throughout the state as one of the leading providers of substance abuse, mental health, credit counseling, substance-abuse related research, training, and publications, and employee assistance & workplace services, Chestnut’s team of caring professionals now exceeds 700 full and part time staff.

To learn more about Chestnut Health Systems, please visit our website at www.chestnut.org or contact Dietra Kulicke, Director of Marketing & Communications at (309) 827-6026.