The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has taken a proactive step towards upgrading the state's health systems by delivering the final versions of the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) and the State Health Assessment (SHA) to the Illinois General Assembly. Working against the clock to beat the end-of-year deadline, the IDPH has mapped out an approach for Healthy Illinois 2028, an ambitious five-year framework targeting Illinoisans' health issues and enhancing their overall well-being.
Expressing optimism for the imminent changes, IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra, in a statement obtained by the Illinois Department of Public Health, outlined, "As we begin this New Year, I am excited to start working with partners across Illinois to reach the goals of a Healthy Illinois 2028." He praised the comprehensive process behind the SHA and SHIP, which he said "will serve as a blueprint for building a more responsive public health infrastructure aimed at improving equitable access to care and health outcomes for all Illinois's residents."
The strategy laid out in the crucial documents was developed with considerable input from a variety of public health practitioners, experts, and advocates statewide. They reflect a concerted effort to gather community insights, including testimony from citizens during several virtual public hearings held in late November 2023. The resulting SHA and SHIP have pinpointed five key areas of focus: Chronic Disease, COVID-19 and Emerging Diseases, Maternal and Infant Health, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, and Racism as a Public Health Crisis.
With goals ranging from increasing tobacco-free living opportunities to advancing health and racial equity, the plans outlined serve as more than just symbolic gestures. They signify a concrete step towards actionable change. To address the historical and ongoing practices that perpetuate environmental racism to advance environmental justice, the plans set forth strategies. This, along with strengthening the public health system’s capabilities and promoting equitable systems of care for maternal and infant health, shows a determined push for inclusive health reforms.
During the inaugural year, IDPH and collaborators plan to roll out specific strategies and timelines to achieve these objectives within the five major areas of priority. In what marks a collaboration between the IDPH, the Illinois Public Health Institute, and the University of Illinois Chicago Policy, Practice, and Research Center, the documents are expected to serve as a foundation for a stronger, health-focused Illinois.
