Dear Cook County Health friends and partners,

It was a pleasure to host so many of you at our State of Cook County Health community townhall meeting on March 15.

Our entire team was thankful for the opportunity to provide our partners an update about our 2023-25 strategic plan and discuss how we can work more closely together to improve the health of the communities we collectively serve.

Public health systems like Cook County Health are vital to ensuring that everyone has equitable access to care. Here at Cook County Health, we are not simply pursuing access to care, but the delivery of world-class care for all.

Cook County Health’s success is critical to the wellbeing of the residents of Cook County, and your support is essential to the health system's future.

We remain grateful for your partnership and look forward to providing additional updates on our strategic achievements and how we are advancing our mission to serve.

Sincerely,

On March 15, Cook County Health held its 2023-2025 strategic plan community town hall. The event offered the opportunity for the community and local partners to hear from Cook County Health leaders about the strategic plan for the next three years.

Thank you to everyone who attended! If you were unable to make it, you can watch the town hall here.

To learn more about Cook County Health’s plan for the future, visit our website.

In recognition of March being Women’s History Month, Cook County Health held a Facebook Live event to discuss the legacy of female leaders at CCH and women's health topics. The event included discussions about health screenings, aging, teen depression, and other issues impacting women today.

To watch the panel, click the link here.

National Public Health Week

Cook County Health is celebrating National Public Health Week, April 3-9! The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) will be sharing a series of social media posts next week to raise awareness about what the health department is doing to build healthier communities in suburban Cook County.  

CCDPH will be featuring the following new campaigns and initiatives to address disparities in COVID, cancer, STDs, mental health and lead poisoning rates. Look for these messages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

• COVID-19: Don't wait to vaccinate. Stay up-to-date on your COVID vaccines. Boost up today! Visit boostupcookcounty.com. 
• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation: World No Tobacco Quit Day is May 30th. Learn more about the dangers of e-cigs, vapes, flavored and flavored tobacco, and find cessation resources and support at quityes.org. 
• Sexual and Reproductive Health: April is STD Awareness Month. Two-thirds of suburban Cook County gonorrhea and chlamydia cases are found in 15-24-year-olds and many people often have no symptoms. Know your status. Visit dontguessgetatest.com to order a free home test kit or find a clinic near you. 
• Mental Health: If the pandemic took a toll on your mental health, NAMI Chicago is here to hear you and connect you with mental health resources! Visit NAMIchicago.org for info. 
• Lead Abatement Services: Was your home built before 1978? Do you have kids? CCDPH offers free lead inspections to find and remove lead hazards and keep kids safe. Apply today in English or Spanish at www.leadfreecookcounty.com. 

We appreciate you sharing these messages with your constituents in honor of National Public Health Week!

Cook County Health is pleased to welcome Donnica Austin-Cathey to Cook County Health as the Chief Hospital Executive for John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital. In this role, she will provide leadership for hospital operations and has accountability for the hospital’s clinical, operational and financial performance.

Ms. Austin-Cathey has more than 25 years of experience in health care executive leadership, operations and service line management, strategy development and patient experience.

Previously, Ms. Austin-Cathey served as the President of Holy Cross Hospital and Vice President of Operations for the Acute Care Hospitals at Sinai Chicago where she was responsible for providing executive oversight and leadership for the system’s acute care hospitals. She also previously served as Vice President and Chief Integrity Officer at Sinai Chicago where she was responsible for the implementation and management of the Corporate Compliance Program as well as serving as Chief Privacy Officer.

She earned her master’s degree in Health Administration from Governors State University, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Please join us in welcoming Ms. Austin-Cathey to CCH!

Medicaid Redetermination

Medicaid customers have not had to renew their Medicaid coverage since the COVID-19 pandemic began. With the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency in April, Illinois will be starting the renewal process again. Medicaid members will be asked to renew their coverage over the next 12 months. Everyone’s renewal date is different. This process is also called redetermination.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) needs your help to reach people who have Medicaid. HFS has created message templates available here for community-based organizations to use to help people get ready to renew and connect to coverage.

SNAP Benefits Decline in March



During the pandemic, the federal government issued emergency supplemental benefits to SNAP, the program otherwise known as LINK or EBT in Illinois. Since April 2020, all Illinois SNAP households have received their regular monthly benefit from the 1st to the 20th of the month and a separate emergency SNAP issuance after the 21st of the month.

Emergency SNAP was issued for the last time in February 2023. All Illinois SNAP households will see their benefits decrease in March.

SNAP participants should make sure that all of their information is complete and accurate to ensure they receive the maximum SNAP/Link benefits they are eligible for. Individuals who would like assistance can contact the Illinois Department of Human Services by visiting abe.illinois.gov or calling (800) 843-6154.

Dr. Lily Hussein: American Cancer Society ResearcHERS Honorary Ambassador



Congratulations to CCH oncologist Dr. Lily Hussein for being named an American Cancer Society ResearcHERS Honorary Ambassador in recognition of her more than 50 years of service at Cook County Health to the care of cancer patients.

ResearcHERS is a fundraising program through the American Cancer Society, which gives women the opportunity to help raise funds for some of the country’s most exciting cancer research projects led by women.

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Claudia Fegan, CCH CMO and Dr. Lily Hussein

Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck: UCLA Public Service Award​

Congratulations to Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, Chief Operating Officer, Cook County Department of Public Health, for being awarded the 2023 UCLA Public Service Award!​

The award recognizes Dr. Hasbrouck’s inspiring dedication to serving the public and his embodiment of the UCLA mission of public service. An award ceremony will be held on May 13. 

Dr. Ashlea Winfield: NMQF 40 Under 40

Congratulations to Dr. Ashlea Winfield, Assistant Program Director, CCH Simulation Center and Emergency Medicine Physician, for being selected as a recipient of the prestigious National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health award!​

The award program celebrates the next generation of thought leaders focused on reducing health disparities.

Chicago Sun Times: Overdose antidote Narcan to be sold over the counter

WGN: Covid-19 — Where we’ve been and where we’re headed

Scary Mommy: Schools Are Banning This Popular Energy Drink With Twice The Caffeine Of Red Bull

Daily Herald: COVID-19 public health emergency declarations end soon. What will change?