The CHW-CI Employer Survey 2022 was created and disseminated through a collaborative effort between the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Community Health Workers Association, Sinai Urban Health Institute, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, and Illinois Public Health Association. This report provides a snapshot of the survey's findings, including demographics, benefits, roles, and funding.

IDPH, SUHI, IPHA, ILCHWA, and HMPRG conducted this first Community Health Worker Common Indicators (CHW-CI) Employer Survey in 2022 with funding and support from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) and the CHW Common Indicators Project Leadership Team. The 2022 CHW-CI Employer Survey was open from October 17 to December 15, 2022, to all identified Illinois-based community health worker (CHW) programs. The survey was ultimately sent to 298 organizations, with 120 unique (40%) organizations responding. Of those 120 unique organizations, 105 employ CHWs, and 79 completed the full survey.

On May 25th, 2023, the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative held the fifth annual Trauma-Informed Awareness Day: Building a Healing-Centered Future. The day featured a full lineup of events including a keynote address by Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and interactive discussions highlighting solutions from the community for a healing-centered Illinois. Over 300 partners, advocates, policymakers, and community members from across Illinois gathered that day. Read the full report from the day's discussions, breakout sessions, and more here.

Impact of Race Blind College Admissions on Minority Community Health Poster for IDPH Minority Health Conference, 12/4/23-12/5/23

Summary of six virtual and in-person Illinois Aging Together roundtable discussions held in the summer and fall of 2023 with community groups that represent people often underrepresented in aging-policy-focused discussions.

The amount of public funding allocated to public health in the U.S. has decreased significantly over the past two decades—excluding temporary increases for the COVID-19 pandemic response. This trend in public health funding affects both local and state health departments nationwide, including local health departments in Illinois. Between June 2020 and December 2021, Health & Medicine staff reviewed local health department capacity data from the National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) 2019 National Profile of Local Health Departments (LHDs) report for nine health departments and interviewed representatives from five local health departments to compare the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) to some of their peers’ overall funding, staffing, and functions, and provide recommendations. This analysis purposely focused on 2019 data in order to ascertain funding before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to large, temporary influxes of funding for health departments, and this study sought to focus on and compare pre-pandemic funding, capacity, and function of local health departments. Read the full analysis here.

The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative’s solutions-oriented trainings and other capacity building supports equip our partners with the knowledge and tools to transform their organizations, institutions, and communities. Learn about our training opportunities here! Our services are available to any organization both within and beyond the social service and health sector.

The 2022 Black Men in White Coats Summit will be held on Saturday, June 4 at Malcolm X College in Chicago. The summit will bring together an estimated 500 students, parents, educators, clinicians, and community leaders to inspire youth to consider careers in healthcare while laying the foundation for success via mentorship and networking.