Cook County Health • System News • August 2025

August 2025

Dear Cook County Health friends and partners,

As students and families across Cook County start the new school year, Cook County Health is proud to stand alongside our communities to ensure every child has the healthy start they deserve. Back-to-school season is always a reminder that health and education go hand-in-hand, and our teams have been working hard to make sure students are ready to thrive inside and outside of the classroom.

Throughout the summer, our health centers have been providing vaccinations, school physicals, and eye exams to help children return to school healthy and prepared. We also supplied our medical services at the 96th annual Bud Billiken Parade, once again giving us the opportunity to celebrate Chicago’s children and families, as well as showcasing the importance of education and community pride.

This month, the Cook County Department of Public Health launched a public education campaign to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated against measles. As vaccination rates have waned nationally, there have been increasing cases of measles. Immunization is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect children, and we are committed to ensuring families have the information and access they need.

August also marked a milestone in Cook County Health’s history: the 50th anniversary of the Prieto Health Center, our very first community health center. The opening of Prieto Health Center in 1975 began a transformation of our system from hospital-based care to community-based care, a model that remains the foundation of who we are today.

Care belongs in the community, and that is particularly evident during back-to-school season, as we work together to meet the needs of students and families close to home. Together, we can make sure every resident of Cook County has the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Thank you for your continued collaboration and support.

With gratitude,

Dr. Erik Mikaitis

CEO, Cook County Health

Approval of Cook County Health’s Preliminary FY2026 Budget

On Friday, August 22, 2025, the CCH Board of Directors approved the health system’s preliminary FY 2026 budget. We thank those who spoke in support of the work we are doing and everyone who offered feedback at our budget hearings, which can be found here.

Despite the headwinds health care providers are facing, our mission remains clear: delivering high-quality care and services to improve the health of the residents of Cook County. Our collective goal is to safeguard our services for as many people for as long as possible.

The budget will now move to the Cook County Board of Commissioners for consideration and approval which is anticipated before the end of the fiscal year.

Approval of the Cook County Health 2026–2028 Strategic Plan

On Friday, August 22, 2025, the CCH Board of Directors also approved Cook County Health’s FY2026–FY2028 Strategic Plan. This is the culmination of months of thoughtful work and collaboration that began back in January. Along the way, we benefited from in-depth presentations on public health, market trends, government policy, and service line strategies, as well as town halls and advisory group meetings where employees and community members shared their feedback, and ongoing engagement and guidance from our Board of Directors.

The new Strategic Plan reflects several important shifts from our current plan, including:

Greater emphasis on access to care, value-based care, and population health
Increased focus on core functions, process improvements, and benchmarking against peers
Enhanced support for patients and members during redetermination and insurance processes
Ongoing contingency planning to strengthen our resilience

You can review the strategic plan presentations and the approved plan on this webpage.

Now that the plan has been approved by the CCH Board, it will move to the Cook County Board of Commissioners for their consideration.

Celebrating 50 Years of Community Health

This month Cook County Health is celebrating a major milestone: the 50th anniversary of the Dr. Jorge Prieto Health Center.

Opened in August 1975, the center was Cook County's first community-based clinic, pioneering a new approach to public health by moving care directly into the neighborhoods where people live.

Initially known as the South Lawndale Health Center, the clinic was the result of a shared vision between Dr. Jorge Prieto and the community to make quality health services more accessible. In 1991, it was renamed in his honor.

"Dr. Prieto understood that health is a human right, not a privilege," said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO of Cook County Health at an event earlier this month.

Today, the Prieto Health Center remains a model for community-centered care, offering a wide range of services including primary care, women’s health, pediatrics, and dental care, regardless of a patient's ability to pay or immigration status. This approach has helped build trust and improve health outcomes for families throughout the area.

Cook County Health has expanded on this model over the past five decades and now operates more than a dozen community health centers across the county. In 2024 alone, these clinics had over 569,000 visits, continuing the legacy of providing high-quality, accessible care to all.

At an event held at the Prieto Health Center earlier this month, local leaders gathered to stress the importance of the community health model, while Prieto family members spoke about their father’s legacy.

“Fifty years later, our father’s legacy and vision live on through the quality-of-care patients receive at Cook County’s neighborhood clinics, as well as around the country from doctors trained in family practice medicine,” said Carmen Prieto.

Cook County Health remains committed to building on this legacy delivering patient-centered, community-rooted care that empowers families and strengthens neighborhoods across the region.

Click here to watch the event that honored Dr. Prieto’s legacy.

A United Front Against Measles: Protecting Our Kids

With cases of measles on the rise, Cook County officials, along with school and religious leaders, are urging parents to vaccinate their children. This call comes as kids head back to school and is part of a new awareness campaign launched by the Cook County Department of Public Health.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on the planet, and the number of unvaccinated children in suburban Cook County has doubled in the last decade. This puts our communities at risk. Fortunately, the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective at preventing the disease.

The campaign highlights the key ages for vaccination, featuring two teddy bears that symbolize the recommended doses at ages 1 and 4, or before entering kindergarten.

Why is this so important?

The MMR vaccine provides 97% protection and can offer lifelong immunity.
Misinformation, such as the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism, has contributed to a decline in vaccination rates.
Measles is far more serious than just a rash. It can lead to severe complications like pneumonia, brain damage, and even death, especially in young children.

Dr. Kiran Joshi, Chief Operating Officer, Cook County Department of Public Health, reminds us that we have the power to stop this preventable crisis. “Measles is making a comeback, but we can stop it,” said Dr. Joshi. “Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect our children and communities.

What you can do:

Check your vaccination status. If you're unsure, you can use the IDPH Vax Verify tool.
Talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated.
Stay home if you're sick, especially if you've been exposed to measles and are not vaccinated.

For more information and resources, visit the Cook County Department of Public Health website. Let's work together to protect our kids and our community.

CCDPH Launches Data Ambassadors Program

CCDPH is proudly launching the Data Ambassadors Program workshop series this September. We collaborated with 15 partner organizations to co-design the curriculum based on the needs and interests of CBOs. The workshop will demonstrate how CBOs can use public health data on the Cook County Health Atlas to identify community health needs, develop grant proposals, assess health outcomes in their community, etc.

Please share with any suburban Cook CBO partners you know who may be interested in participating.

We have limited slots for the in-person session on Tuesday, September 9, hosted at UIC SPH. A virtual option is also available. Please see the flyer for event details and reach out with any questions.

To register, please visit: https://forms.office.com/r/H4ZpWaMhcD

HFS’ Medicaid Beneficiary Advisory Council

The State of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) announced that they are seeking individuals to serve on the new Medicaid Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC). The Council is made up of current and former Medicaid customers and family members or caregivers with experience supporting Medicaid customers. Members will provide critical input on their experiences with the Illinois Medicaid program, which will help craft future policy developments aimed at improving the program for customers.

Please share this information with those who may be eligible to serve on the council.

To apply or learn more, please visit: https://hfs.illinois.gov/about/boardsandcommisions/beneficiaryadvisorycouncil.html

Let’s have a happy, healthy school year!

As students prepare to head back to school, Cook County Health has been providing valuable resources to help families get ready.

Our digital platforms have provided a variety of content with tips and advice. Dr. Denise Cunill spoke about preparing for the school year in a helpful podcast episode, while Drs. Alejandra Cordova and Monica Banales led a Facebook Live session in Spanish about the upcoming school year.

Over on WGN, Dr. Whitney Lyn offered expert back-to-school advice, tackling topics on how to get your child back on their sleep schedule, getting your picky eater to eat a nutritious lunch, and how to boost your child’s immune system.

Our Provident Hospital team was also honored to take part in this year’s Bud Billiken Parade.

As you navigate the school year, we are here for you. Find more information on back-to-school vaccinations, click here.

Cook County Health clinics are also available for all your needs. Call 312-864-0200 to make an appointment. Have a sick child (or yourself!) and can’t make it to the doctor’s office? Check out our virtual care at 312-864-1111.

Sengstacke Health Center: Community‑Focused Primary & Preventive Care

Located within Provident Hospital at 500 E. 51^st Street in Chicago’s South Side, the John Sengstacke Health Center offers comprehensive services in internal medicine. The Sengstacke health Center also offers family medicine and women’s health services such as gynecological exams and breast/cervical cancer screenings. Together with the new Bronzeville Center , our physicians offer care coordination with mental health providers and community services, ensuring comprehensive support for your wellness journey.

For patient appointments, please visit our website or call the Patient Support Center at 312-864-0200.

Kaelin Long, Community Outreach Worker

For the past three years, Kaelin Long has proudly served Cook County Health as a Community Outreach Worker at Provident Hospital. With a Master of Science in Public Health from Indiana University and more than a decade of experience in the field, Kaelin is dedicated to connecting individuals and families with the health resources they need to thrive. Her work is driven by a deep belief that everyone deserves equitable access to care, regardless of circumstance.

A proud South Side Chicago native, Kaelin is committed to giving back to the communities that shaped her. Her career has included serving as a Case Manager at Catholic Charities and as a Program Manager at Chicago Commons, where she developed and supported programs for seniors. These experiences strengthened her leadership skills, deepened her compassion for underserved populations, and reinforced her commitment to building healthier, stronger communities.

Outside of work, Kaelin values opportunities to continue learning and connecting with others. She enjoys reading and journaling as ways to reflect and grow, experimenting with new recipes, and exploring Chicago’s rich culture through its museums, live music, and diverse food scenes. She also loves traveling, as it allows her to experience new traditions and perspectives that enrich both her personal and professional life.

Kaelin is currently pursuing her nursing degree at Chamberlain University with the goal of expanding her role in healthcare. In the future, she aspires to provide patient care that integrates her strong foundation in public health with her nursing practice. Guided by compassion, equity, and advocacy, Kaelin remains deeply committed to making a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of those she serves.

The Chicago Defender Charities is an Arts, Education, and Health organization that strives to unite, empower and improve the quality of life in order to enrich families and individuals in our communities. Every year, they host the Bud Billiken® Parade which takes place on the second Saturday of August. The parade signals the “end” of the summer as children prepare for the new school year.

The Charities started as the not-for-profit arm of the Chicago Defender newspaper which was founded in 1905 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott, an African American lawyer and entrepreneur. The Defender would go on to become one of the most widely distributed and influential Black publications in modern history, helping to reshape Black life in Chicago, across the United States, and internationally. Meanwhile, the Charities continues its legacy with the Bud Billiken parade.

The parade was established in 1929. The name “Bud Billiken®” originated from the newspaper's youth page, "Defender Junior," which then transformed into a club and mascot. "Bud the Billiken" was said to serve as a protector of children.

The Bud Billiken® Parade is more than a procession of bands and floats marching down King Drive, it’s a commemoration of our past and a celebration of our future. Every summer since 1929, “The Bud” has united African Americans throughout the city of Chicago in music, dance, food, and laughter.

Cook County Health’s Provident Hospital and Sengstacke Health Center was particularly proud to staff the First Aid Stations along the parade route Cook County Health and CountyCare Medicaid Health Plan staff also participate in parade floats and provide giveaways to the children and participants along the route.

We look forward to next year’s parade which will take place on August 8, 2026, at 10 AM!

June 1996 | Princess Diana Visits Cook County Hospital

Princess of Whales, Lady Diana in the Cook County Hospital ambulance bay after finishing a tour of the emergency department. She's accompanied by Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, Jr. and Bureau Chief Ruth M. Rothstein as dignitaries an healthcare staff follow closely behind.

Community Events

September 6 – Teamwork Englewood’s Estate Planning & Property Fraud Prevention Forum – Red Shield Salvation Army, 945 W. 69th Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
September 11 – Hanover Township Office of Community Health 's Health Expo 2025 – Hanover Township, 240 S. IL Route 59, Bartlett, IL 60103.
September 13 – 2025 Bridging the Gap Parade & Community Resource Fair – PLCCA, 411 Madison Street, Maywood, IL 60153.
September 13 – VFW Post 311 Resource Fair – Benjamin O. Davis VFW Post 311, 22341 Governors Highway, Richton Park, IL 60471.
September 14 – Addus Homecare and NAMI Mental Health Presentation and Event – Mount Carmel Children of God Baptist Church, 5141 S. Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609.
September 16 – Cook County Department of Emergency Management’s 2025 Preparedness Fair – Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington Avenue, Chicago, IL 60602.
September 16 – Aetna Better Health’s “Pop Up Farmers Market” Health & Resource Fair – Chicago Center for Arts and Technology, 1701 W. 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608.
September 18 – Rich Township Senior Fair – Victory Apostolic Church, 20801 Matteson Avenue, Matteson, IL 60443.
September 18 – Clerk of the Court of Cook County’s Women's Empowerment Seminar – Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60628.
September 18 – Systems in Sync: Partnering for Equitable Mental Wellness – Bulger Pak Community Center, 1601 Hirsch Street, Melrose Park, IL 60160.
September 18 – Aetna Better Health’s Health & Resource Fair – Help at Home, 6639 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60629.
September 19 – State Representative Brad Stephens Senior Fair – Salvation Army, 8354 W. Foster Avenue, Norridge IL 60706.
September 20 – Pathlight’s 1st Annual Chicago Ridge Community Resource Fair – Village of Chicago Ridge, 10455 S. Ridgeland Avenue, Chicago Ridge, 60415.
September 20 – Community Consolidated School District 59’s Fall Festival – Administration Building, 1001 Leicester Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.
September 20 – First Ladies' Maternal Mortality Health Panel & Health Resource Fair – Imani Village, 901 E 95th Street, Chicago, IL 60619.
September 21 – HBCU Run and Brunch – Cole Park, 361 E. 86th Street, Chicago, IL 60619.
September 23 – CountyCare’s Community Stakeholder Committee – Virtual meeting.
September 24 – St. Sabina Employment Resource Center's Fall Career and Resource Fair – St. Sabina Employment Resource Center, 7825 S Racine, Chicago, IL 60620.
September 25 – Commissioner Lowry's Father's Health Fair – New Life Covenant Church Southeast, 7621 S. Greenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60619.
September 25 – Posen-Robbins School District 143.5’s Hispanic Heritage Month Event – Posen Intermediate School, 14545 California, Posen, IL 60469.
September 25 – Cook County School District 130’s Community Resource Event – Horace Mann School, 2975 W. Broadway Street , Blue Island, IL 60406.
September 30 – Clerk of the Court of Cook County's Mental Health Summit – Bridgeview Courthouse, 10220 S 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, IL 60455

Medicaid Redetermination Events

September 2 – Cottage Grove Health Center – 1645 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Ford Heights, IL 60411.
September 3 – Primecare Health Center – 5635 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634.
September 4 – Friend Health – 5635 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago IL 60629.
September 5 – St. Bernard Hospital – 6307 S Stewart Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
September 8 – Robbins Health Center – 13450 S. Kedzie Avenue, Robbins, IL 60472.
September 10 – Provident Hospital – 500 E. 51^st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
September 11 – Alivio Health – 2021 S. Morgan Street, Chicago, IL 60608.
September 12 – Prieto Health Center – 2424 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60623.
September 15 – Blue Island Health Center – 12757 S. Western Avenue, Blue Island, IL 60406
September 16 – Esperanza Health Center – 4700 S. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60632.
September 17 – Provident Hospital – 500 E. 51^st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
September 18 – Friend Health – 5635 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago IL 60629.
September 19 – Englewood Health Center – 1135 W. 69th Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
September 22 – Chicago Family Health Center – 9119 S. Exchange Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617.
September 23 – Stroger Hospital – 1969 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612.
September 24 – Provident Hospital – 500 E. 51^st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
September 25 – Care for Friends – 5749 N. Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660.
September 26 – Arlington Heights Health Center – 3520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.
September 30 – Lawndale Christian Health Center – 3750 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60623.