On April 16, 2025, Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin delivered remarks at a press conference supporting the Hazel M. Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance. Speaking on behalf of both Health & Medicine and the Collaborative for Health Equity Cook County, he emphasized the...
On January 24, 2025, Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin delivered testimony to the Cook County Health Board of Directors, highlighting the urgent need to address immigrant fears and threats caused by unjust ICE raids. His recommendations included: Establishing a dedicated...
The Healing-Centered Illinois Task Force, established by SB 646 in January 2024, has released its comprehensive recommendations report, offering a blueprint for advancing trauma-informed and healing-centered policies and practices across the state. The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative at...
On November 7, 2024, Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin delivered testimony to the Chicago City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations regarding threats to the Chicago Public Health Department’s budget. “In the shadow of the Federal election results this...
On October 24, 2023, Health & Medicine Policy Director testified before the Cook County Board of Commissioners about the dire need for public health funding. “If there’s one lesson you take away from the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope it is this: People’s lives depend upon us having both a...
We are all aging, all of the time, and virtually all of us care about—and many provide care to— older persons; so, we all have a vested interest in moving toward aging equity. Further, as our population gets older, to successfully provide services to all, every agency of our government and sector...
On October 18, 2024, Health & Medicine Policy Director Wesley Epplin delivered testimony to the Cook County Board Finance Committee requesting a $23 million increase in the Cook County Department of Public Health’s budget. Read the full remarks here.
A group of 80 Chicago-area organizations signed letters requesting significantly increased funding for the Chicago and Cook County departments of public health to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago City Council, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, County Commissioners, and other relevant...
In this toolkit, you will find ways you and your organization can support a trauma-informed Illinois. This toolkit was developed for Illinois’ inaugural Trauma-Informed Awareness Day May 23. We hope that these resources and ideas will be helpful for you and others in the field....
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...
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 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...