Overview
Mission:
Vision:
Purpose:
The Statistics:
HIGH rates of suicide and self-inflicted injury
Suicide rates are 2 times greater in our rural community compared with Cook County., the largest and most urban county in Illinois.a Self-inflicted injuries, which include suicide attempts, requiring treatment at a hospital are 3 times greater in our community than in Cook County.a,b
Elevated death rates due to drug overdose
In the last two years, rates of death due to drug overdose in our community are over 30% higher than in Cook County. c
A LACK of COMPLEMENTARY health services
Complementary and alternative strategies (e.g., mindfulness, yoga) for treating mental issues in our area are lacking. This results in few non-pharmacologic (non-drug) therapies for mental issues such as anxiety and depression, and few non-addictive treatment options for pain. This becomes particularly important regarding prescription opioid addiction.
LIMITED MENTAL health services
Our communities are designated as federally underserved areas for mental health. Our communities are also designated as mental health professional shortage areas.d This means that many community members report long wait times to see a counselor or therapist, or they are not successful in finding one at all.
Residents in large part are unable to afford mental health care
Compared to the Illinois average, more residents in our community lack insurance or use Medicare, and numbers of children in medical assistance programs continue to rise. d
a Death rate per 100K people; US Center for Disease Control: 1999-2014 Final Data; b Crude rates per 10K population, Illinois Hospital Discharge, Illinois Department of Public Health, 2009-2012; c Death rate per 100K population, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2015-2016; d Bureau and Putnam County Community Health Plan 2012-2016.

Counties served by the Arukah Institute of Healing, Inc.
Board Of Directors
Sarah B. Scruggs, PhD
Founder | Executive Director of Arukah Institute of Healing
Experience: 17 years of molecular research in precision cardiovascular medicine
Belief: Loving and empowering humans through relationship and innovative approaches
Keith Cain
PRESIDENT OF ARUKAH INSITUTE OF HEALING
Experience: Coming soon
Belief: Coming soon
Paul Scruggs, BS
VICE-PRESIDENT OF ARUKAH INSTITUTE OF HEALING
Experience: >30 years in agribusiness with an emphasis on commodity trading
Belief: To serve God is to serve others and in that context, we should strive to make the world a better place for those around us
Theresia Rapp
BOARD SECRETARY OF ARUKAH INSTITUTE OF HEALING
Experience: >20 years in a professional corporate environment. With the last 5 years focused in Procurement.
Belief: Life does not control you. What you think about it, does. Control your thoughts, in turn you control your circumstances.
Dana Gustafson, BA
Advocacy Committee Chair | Director of Arukah Institute of Healing
Experience: 7 years in corporate business and administration
Belief: God’s leadership and vision provides renewed purpose, value and restoration to individuals
Elizabeth Bonucci, JD
Director of Arukah Institute of Healing
Experience: 10 years in employment-related litigation matters
Belief: People from all walks of life are deserving of grace no matter their personal circumstances
Justin Lane, BS
Director of Arukah Institute of Healing
Experience: 12 years agricultural engineering and production, and technical marketing
Belief: Lives can be strengthened and rebuilt through faith in our Savior
Jon Knipper, BA
Insurance Committee Chair | Director of Arukah Insitute of Healing
Experience: 18 years of healthcare and insurance operations and administration
Belief: Living through Christ and being the change we wish to see in the world
Terry Madsen, JD
Fundraising Committee Chair | Director of Arukah Insitute of Healing
Experience: Attorney, prosecutor, judge, public health planner, community advocate, husband, dad and grandpa
Belief: Justice is the unquenchable desire to deliver to each person that which they are due.
Jay Alter, BS
Finance Committee Chair | Director of Arukah Insitute of Healing
Experience: 20 years as an executive in the corrugating and packaging industry
Belief: Everyone’s destiny is in their own hands. What paths are chosen, determines that destiny. We all veer off path; find it and get back on it!
Corporate Sponsors




The Arukah Institute of Healing, Inc (NFP) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, sex, national origin or sexual orientation in any of its activities or operations.