Message From The Commissioner Earlier this month, we hosted a special event for 300 partners to release our first Healthy Chicago Annual Report. The event also featured a very special guest, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius who spoke on the implementaon of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and why partnerships between government, business and communies are so vital to promong health on the local level. Our Healthy Chicago report helped drive that point home. It tells the story that, through collaborave efforts with our partners, we have made tremendous strides toward our goal of making Chicago the healthiest city in the naon. In fact, of the 193 strategies idenfied in the Healthy Chicago agenda, 45% have been implemented and another 47% are already in progress. The strategies include expanding access to oral health care for all CPS students, launching PlayStreets, expanding bike lanes across our city and protecng our residents through increased distribuon of flu vaccines. Please be sure to check out the report at cityofchicago.org/health and share it with your friends and colleagues. Also, encourage them to join our efforts as we work to make Chicago the healthiest city in the naon. Sincerely, Bechara Choucair, M.D. February 2013 UPDATE www.CityofChicago.org/Health HEALTHY CHICAGO PRIORITIES CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Commissioner Choucair presented the Healthy Chicago Annual Report to part- ners at the Chicago Cultural Center. U. S. Secretary of State Kathleen Sebelius discussed ACA implementaon at the Healthy Chicago Annual Update.
Transcript
Message From The Commissioner
Earlier this month, we hosted a special event for 300 partners to release our first Healthy Chicago Annual Report. The event also featured a very special guest, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius who spoke on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and why partnerships between government, business and communities are so vital to promoting health on the local level. Our Healthy Chicago report helped drive that point home. It tells the story that, through collaborative efforts with our partners, we have made tremendous strides toward our goal of making Chicago the healthiest city in the nation. In fact, of the 193 strategies identified in the Healthy Chicago agenda, 45% have been implemented and another 47% are already in progress. The strategies include expanding access to oral health care for all CPS students, launching PlayStreets, expanding bike lanes across our city and protecting our residents through increased distribution of flu vaccines. Please be sure to check out the report at cityofchicago.org/health and share it with your friends and colleagues. Also, encourage them to join our efforts as we work to make Chicago the healthiest city in the nation. Sincerely,
Bechara Choucair, M.D.
February 2013 UPDATE
www.CityofChicago.org/Health
HEALTHY CHICAGO PRIORITIES
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Commissioner Choucair presented the Healthy Chicago Annual Report to part-ners at the Chicago Cultural Center.
U. S. Secretary of State Kathleen Sebelius discussed ACA implementation at the Healthy Chicago Annual Update.
On January 24, the Chicago Planning Commission adopted a formal plan to make neighborhoods healthier places to live by improving access to healthier foods. A Recipe for Healthy Places presents six community-based planning strategies to support healthy eating and will serve as an official roadmap for city planning and policymaking. Under development since the summer of 2011, the plan was coordinated by the Departments of Housing and Economic Development, Public Health, and Family Support Services, with support from the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children. A copy of the Healthy Places plan is available on the Department of Housing and Economic Development web site: http://tinyurl.com/recipeforhealthyplaces. (Obesity Prevention, Heart Disease & Stroke)
On February 7, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced an increase in funding for programs that serve at-risk CPS students, including jobs, life skill training, guidance, and safe alternatives to drugs, gangs and violence. The City currently serves about
3,500 students in these programs, and the increased funding will allow another 2000 students to be served. The new funding will be invested in Becoming A Man (B.A.M.) and Greencorps Chicago programs. B.A.M., a school-based counseling, mentoring, violence prevention and educational enrichment program, has been shown to reduce violent crime arrests, increase graduation rates, and reduce failing grades. Greencorps Chicago will expand a proven program to create 600 summer jobs, including training, for at-risk students attending 15 CPS high schools. (Violence Prevention) Also on February 7, the Chicago City Council Public Safety committee endorsed new penalties for persons who fail to report the loss, theft, destruction or transfer of a gun within 48 hours. The proposal calls for a minimum three-month jail term for gun owners in violation, and a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and six-month jail sentence. A full vote on the measure will take place later in February. (Violence Prevention) The Illinois Poverty Report was recently released by Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights’ Social Impact Research Center. The report finds a 3.1% increase in poverty since 2007, with 33% of Illinois residents living in or close to poverty. A link to the report can be found at http://www.heartlandalliance.org/research/.
HEALTHY CHICAGO IMPLEMENTATION
www.CityofChicago.org/Health
CDPH’s Mary Snodgrass at Glenwood Sunday Market in Rogers Park.
In February, the City’s Healthy Vending initiative began its rollout with the installation of 355 new healthy vending machines in City buildings. The new vending machines adhere to the following requirements: Only 25 percent of cold beverage options in a machine can be “high calorie” beverages, and the
remaining 75 percent must contain 25 calories or less per eight ounces; All hot beverage options must contain 25 calories or
less; All beverage selections, except for water and seltzer,
are limited to 12 ounces; At least 75 percent of food options in a machine must
contain 250 calories or less, at least five food items must contain 250 mg or less of sodium per serving, and at least one food item in a machine must be both gluten- and nut-free.
The new vending machines will make it easier for City employees and the public to make healthy lifestyle decisions. (Obesity Prevention, Heart Disease & Stroke) In December, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) participated in a two-day Coalition meeting convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and AAHPERD/National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) to develop a national research, policy, and best practice agenda for urban physical education. CPS was one of only eight large urban districts selected to participate in this national Coalition. (Obesity Prevention)
The Department of Family and Support Services, Division on Violence Prevention recently released the 2012 Domestic Violence Help Line Report. The report describes the characteristics and outcomes of services used by victims of domestic violence, and can be found at cityofchicago.org/fss. (Violence Prevention)
CDPH’s Jennifer Herd, who spearheaded the City’s Healthy Vending initiative, as new machines were installed at CDPH
Healthy Chicago Grant News CDPH received four continuation grant awards from the CDC: Immunization Control received $2.2 million which will be used to promote the use of child and adult vaccines,
distribute vaccine to providers, and track immunization coverage rates. (Healthy Mothers and Babies, Communicable Disease Control and Prevention)
HIV Prevention received $4.2 million to increase HIV testing, link people with positive results to care, and educate people on how to reduce their risk of contracting HIV. (HIV Prevention)
Tuberculosis Elimination received $1.1 million for disease control and surveillance. (Communicable Disease Control and Prevention)
HIV Behavioral Surveillance received $450,413 to continue research into the behaviors of persons at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and to use this information to inform outreach and service activities.
CDPH received one continuation grant award from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA): $40,000 was received for Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning. Funds will be used to update the Chemical
Emergency Response Plan, import data into the City’s emergency response database, and conduct hazard analysis of critical facilities.
Getting The Word Out CountyCare is an Illinois Medicaid benefits program for adults. To be eligible, an individual must live in Cook County,
be 19-64 years old, be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant for five years or more, and have an income at or below 133% of
the Federal Poverty Level. Enrollees receive medical care from providers in the Cook County Health & Hospital System
(CCHHS) and select community providers. More information can be found at http://www.cookcountyhhs.org/patient-
