Cook County Health • System News • September 2025

September 2025

Dear Cook County Health friends and partners,

This month, we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the history, traditions and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities in Cook County and beyond. It’s not just a time of celebration, but of reflection.

At Cook County Health, we realize that these are difficult times for many in the community and the uncertainty of what is happening weighs on those that we serve. Cook County Health remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting our patients with compassionate, comprehensive care. For more information, click here.

Last month, we celebrated the legacy of Dr. Jorge Prieto, who opened the first community health center for Cook County Health 50 years ago. Dr. Prieto understood that health is a human right, not a privilege, and that access to care should never be a barrier to a healthy life.

Today, Cook County Health's team carries that same passion for community service and a deep commitment to providing compassionate care to underserved communities. This focus continues to drive us forward in delivering accessible, culturally humble care every day.

In the coming weeks, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, we will host a Facebook Live discussion about the work we are doing to make sure the care we provide is accessible. Watch our social media channels for more information.

I remain grateful to all of you – our community partners – who share our passion and our mission. Together, we can make sure that every person feels cared for and valued.

May this month be a time of joy and celebration for all.

With gratitude,

Dr. Erik Mikaitis

CEO, Cook County Health

Cook County Health and CTA Launch New Naloxone Vending Machines Pilot at Rail Stations Across the City

As part of a new partnership, officials from Cook County Health (CCH) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) were joined by elected officials, public health partners, and community advocates to officially launch a pilot featuring new vending machines that dispense free naloxone at five CTA rail stations.

“By placing naloxone vending machines at five key CTA stations, we are meeting people where they are and breaking down barriers to provide lifesaving tools within reach,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

The following stations were chosen based on community input and data that zeroed in on areas with higher opioid-related emergencies:

47th Street (Red Line)
Wilson (Red/Purple Line)
Jefferson Park (Blue Line)
Harlem/Lake (Green Line)
Central Park (Pink Line)

Naloxone, an FDA-approved nasal spray, can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Public health leaders emphasized at today’s event that the medication is safe, easy to use, and empowers anyone to act in an emergency. “Ensuring the Naloxone is accessible in communities impacted by opioids will undoubtedly save lives,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO, Cook County Health.

CCH has invested $100,000 to cover the costs of procurement, installation, and maintenance of the machines as part of a six-month pilot, with the option to expand based on community impact. Funding from CCH is supported by funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury, under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated to CCH by Cook County Government.

CountyCare Ranked Highest-Quality Medicaid Health Plan in Illinois

This month, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awarded a four-star rating to CountyCare, Cook County Health’s Medicaid managed care plan covering nearly 400,000 members across Cook County. This makes CountyCare the highest-ranked Medicaid plan in Illinois and for county residents enrolled in HealthChoice Illinois, the state’s Medicaid managed care program. Nationally, only 22 percent of all Medicaid plans received a four-star rating or higher this year.

CountyCare earned five stars for members’ satisfaction with their plan services and four stars for their overall care. It also received four stars for child and adolescent well-care, including administering vaccines and assessing body mass index.

NCQA – a non-profit organization dedicated to health care research, programs and accreditation – releases annual report cards assessing commercial, Medicaid and Medicare health insurance plans in every state. It evaluates plan providers based on the quality of care that members receive, how satisfied members are with their care and the plans’ efforts to continue improving their offerings.

Aaron Galeener, CountyCare’s chief administrative officer, praised the CountyCare team for continuing to put members at the center of their work.

“We couldn’t celebrate today’s announcement without the hard work and dedication of the many people who make up CountyCare and share a commitment to putting members first,” Galeener said. “We want our members to know that CountyCare is built around you. This recognition shows how our people, programs and partnerships are delivering on that promise for our members and for Cook County.”

To view CountyCare’s full NCQA report card, click here.

Walk With the Englewood Health Center!

On August 28, 2025, Cook County Health held its inaugural monthly walk in partnership with Walk with a Doc (WWAD), a nationwide initiative that encourages individuals to engage in physical activity while receiving valuable health information from medical professionals. Our Englewood Health Center doctors hosted the monthly walk, which was attended by more than 30 staff, patients and community participants. The walk takes place at The Salvation Army Red Shield Center located at 945 W. 69^th Street in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood at 12:00pm. Upcoming walks are scheduled for October 23, November 20, and December 18. To sign up or learn more about our program, please visit our WWAD page . The program is free, inclusive, and open to all ages and fitness levels, making it an easy entry point for those who may be intimidated by traditional exercise or hesitant to seek medical advice.

The Impact of Alzheimer's

On September 21, we recognized World Alzheimer's Day during World Alzheimer’s Month. This is a time to reflect on the impact of this disease and to share information that can help families recognize the signs, reduce risk, and find support. Cook County Health offers several important services for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, as well as support for their families and caregivers. Through our Neurology & Neurosurgery division, the system provides diagnostic evaluations and care for neurological conditions, including dementia

Cook County Health also offers therapy services - such as speech‐language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy - that can help with cognitive, communication, and daily‐living challenges associated with Alzheimer’s. While there is no cure, progress has been made in developing medications that can slow progression when treatment begins early. That is why families who are concerned about memory changes should start with a visit to the primary care physician. Going to that appointment prepared, with a list of concerns and specific examples, is crucial. A full assessment may also require several different appointments.

For individuals whose disease progresses to the point of needing more specialized symptom management, the Palliative Care programs at Cook County Health are available. These offer multidisciplinary support, helping with symptom control, decision‐making, coordination of care, and ensuring quality of life.

While you can find support services at Cook County Health, we also encourage patients and their families to work in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association of Illinois. During Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, our message to the community is simple: educate yourself and make a plan. Planning early while a loved one is still able to participate helps families prepare for what lies ahead. Most importantly, no one has to walk this path alone. There are resources and people ready to help, and support can make all the difference.

Dr. Jorge Prieto Health Center: CCH’s First Community Site

Last month, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Dr. Jorge Prieto Health Center, our first community-based clinic, pioneering a new approach to public health by moving care directly into the neighborhoods where people live. The Center is located in Chicago’s South Lawndale neighborhood at 2424 S. Pulaski Avenue, and it offers comprehensive services, including Family Medicine services for newborns to geriatrics, as well as Women's health services, including breast and cervical screenings, and family planning.

The Prieto Health Center has same-day nurse assessments for sick visits and also offers STI, PrEP, medication assisted treatment services, and dental services. Their Behavioral Health Team consists of a social service coordinator, two licensed clinical social workers and a psychologist.

Patients can also meet with the on-site financial counselor for assessment of qualifying entitlements, including help with Medicaid enrollment and Redetermination, and also CCH’s financial assistance program Carelink.

The health center also has group classes for diabetes and mental health as well as healthy start parenting and doula classes.

The Prieto Health Center team is fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

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

Ed Miranda, Public Health Community Engagement Manager

Ed Miranda is the Community Engagement Manager at the Cook County Department of Public Health. He is part of a small but mighty team of 13 serving suburban Cook County. He loves working alongside our community partners to break down health barriers.

Ed’s path into public health wasn’t a straight line — he earned his master’s in public administration in 2013, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that he really felt a calling to this work. Growing up, Ed often helped my mom with doctors’ visits and paperwork because of language barriers, and that experience drove him to make things easier for families today. One recent work highlight was teaming up with community partners to host bilingual webinars about the dangers of lead exposure and resources available for families — a true example of collaboration in action.

Ed is proud of his Puerto Rican roots (his mom is from Barranquitas and his dad from Coamo) and the values of community and resilience that they instilled in him. Outside of work, Ed loves reading about history — especially Chicago history — and traveling with his family. Their spring break trip to Spain was unforgettable! Around town, you’ll usually find me in Pilsen, enjoying the food, shops, and “sunken homes”.

If his friends and family had to sum him up in one word, it would be gregarious — as he loves connecting with people and sharing stories.

The Community Alliance is a volunteer coalition of over 100 community-based organizations, local government, schools, community members, and faith-based organizations working together for the advancement of the Latino population in the Chicagoland area. The mission of the Community Alliance is to work together to streamline services and resources for the community in the areas of social services, education, parental participation, immigration, and youth services and safety. Community Alliance members convene monthly to share information on organizational activities, discuss issues related to service provision, and address trends related to the growth of the region’s Latino residents.

The Community Alliance has monthly meetings, usually in the Western Suburbs of Cook County. They also host yearly health fairs to ensure that the area residents become healthy and are also able to obtain and learn from the resources provided by the participating organizations. Cook County Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health are active participants in this collaborative and just last year we hosted the group at our North Riverside Health Center to showcase our services and promote our facility.

Some of the active partners of the Community Alliance include the following organizations: Age Options; Catholic Charities; CEDA; Corazon Community Services; Family Focus; Iskali; Morton College; Sarah’s Inn; Solutions for Care; The Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Triton College; and West40.

Cook County Department of Public Health | 1950's

Extensive health education, and vision, hearing and dental screenings were conducted throughout the County. A Dental Clinic on Wheels was launched to reach rural areas and corrective services made available for children 2 -16 years of age.

Community Events

October 1 – Nicor Gas Community Connection Resource Fair – Worth Township Hall, 11601 S. Pulaski Road, Alsip, IL 60803.
October 1 – Cook County Health Foundation Inaugural Luncheon – RPM Events, 317 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654.
October 2 – Commissioner Michael Scott Jr.’s Casino Royale Event – Cine City Studios, 2429 W. 14th Street, Chicago, IL 60608.
October 2 – Bright Community Services’ Englewood Job Fair and Employment Resource Fair – Ogden Park Fieldhouse, 6500 S. Racine in Chicago 60636.
October 3 – Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications’ 6th District - House of Worship Emergency Preparedness Training and Resource Event – Emmanuel Baptist Church, 8301 S. Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620.
October 3/4 – 8th Annual Latina Expo – Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60612.
October 3/4 – Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Policy Summit and Power Brunch, “Where Policy & Power Unite; Relentlessly” – Chicago Millennium Park Hotel, 200 North Columbus Drive Chicago, Illinois 60601.
October 4 – 2025 Bloom Township School District 206 Parent University – Bloom Trail High School, 22331 Cottage Grove Avenue, Sauk Village, IL 60411.
October 4 – Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications’ 10th District - House of Worship Emergency Preparedness Training and Resource Event – Lawndale Community Church, 3827 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60623.
October 4 – Fall Community Baby Shower –Shine Bright Community Center, 8560 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, IL 60619.
October 4 – A Serious Matter Black Women's Health Forum – Blue Door Neighborhood Center, 1840 South Marshfield Avenue, Chicago, IL 60643.
October 4 – NAMI Chicago’s NAMI Walks – Jackson Park, 5700 E. Hayes Drive, Chicago, IL 60649.
October 4 – Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar’s 5th Annual Day of the Dead – Commissioner Frank Aguilar's Office, 7833 Ogden Avenue, Lyons, IL 60534.
October 5 – Commissioner Josina Morita's Nurtured by Nature– Harms Woods, 5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, Il 60077.
October 7 – Chicago Public School’s Bronzeville Parent University – Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts, 555 E. 51st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
October 8 – Triton College’s Mental Health Symposium – Triton College, 2000 Fifth Avenue A-106, River Grove, IL 60171.
October 8 – Nicor Gas Community Connection Resource Fair – Evergreen Park Recreation Center, 3450 W. 97th Street, Evergreen Park, IL 60805.
October 8 – Aetna’s Event with Help at Home Oak Lawn – Help at Home Oak Lawn parking lot, 6232 W. 95th Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453.
October 9 – Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications’ 18th District - House of Worship Emergency Preparedness Training and Resource Event – Park Community Church,1001 N. Crosby, Chicago, IL 60610.
October 10 – Chicago Public School’s Annual Parent University Day – Pilsen-Little Village Parent University, 2001 S. Throop Street, Chicago, IL 60608.
October 11 – Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County's Second Chance Summit – Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy, 8601 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, IL 60130.
October 11 – St. Luke's COGIC 's Senior Weekend Health and Resource Fair – St. Luke's COGIC, 914 North Orleans Street, Chicago, IL 60610.
October 11 – Aetna's Pamper Me Pink” Health & Resource Fair – Grace Christian Academy, 4106 West 28th Street, Chicago, IL 60623.
October 11 – Humboldt Park Health Breast Cancer Awareness Event and Health Fair – Humboldt Park Health, 1044 North Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL60622.
October 11 – Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications’ 11th District - House of Worship Emergency Preparedness Training and Resource Event – JLM Abundant Life Church, 2622 West Jackson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612.
October 13 – Prospect Heights Park District's Golden Years Wellness Expo – Prospect Heights Park District, 110 West Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights, IL 60070.
October 14 – Governors State University's Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resource Fair – Governors State University, Hall of Governors, 1 University Park, IL 60484.
October 16 – Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications’ 22^nd District - House of Worship Emergency Preparedness Training and Resource Event – Christ The King Parish, 9235 S. Hamilton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60643.
October 16 – Alderman Anthony Beale's 9th Ward Resource Fair – Pullman Community Center, 10355 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60628.
October 16 – Harvey Park District Job Fair – Gloria Taylor Banquet Hall, 14821 Broadway, Harvey IL 60426.
October 18 – Village of Bellwood’s Hispanic Cultural Celebration – Roosevelt Middle School, 2500 Oak Street, Bellwood, IL 60104 .
October 18 – State Representative Will Guzzardi's Fall Family Health Fair – Kosciuszko Park, 2732 North Avers Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647.
October 18 – Sista Afya Community Care's Sisters Rising Community Breakfast – Room 1520, 1520 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607.
October 23 – Cook County Health's Walk with a Doctor – The Salvation Army’s Red Shield, 945 West 69th Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
October 24 – National Kidney Foundation of Illinois’ KidneyMobile Screenings – Stroger Hospital of Cook County, 1969 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612.
October 24 – BUILD Chicago's October Trade Fair –Build Chicago, 5100 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60644.
October 24 – Emmanuel Baptist Church Resource Fair – Emmanuel Baptist Church, 8301 South Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620.
October 25 – SGA Youth & Family Services’ 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat – SGA Youth & Family Services Parking Lot, 3152 West 47th Street, Chicago, IL 60632.
October 25 – Chicago Housing Authority's 2025 Operation Warm Service Fair – UIC Forum, 725 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608.
October 25 – Oakdale Covenant Church Health Fair – Oakdale Covenant Church, 9440 S. Vincennes Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620.
October 29 – Rhema Word Kingdom Ministries’ Resource and Job Fair – Rhema Word Kingdom Ministries, 501 West 138th Street, Riverdale, Illinois. 60827.
October 31 – Alderman Jeannete Taylor’s 4th Annual Senior Masquerade Ball & Resource Fair – DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637.
October 31 – Hermosa Halloween hosted by 35th Ward Alderman Anthony Quezada, Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez, State Senator Omar Aquino – William P. Nixon Elementary School, 2121 N. Keeler Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639.

Medicaid Redetermination Events

October 1 – Provident Hospital – 500 E. 51 ^st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
October 2 – Friend Health – 5635 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago IL 60629.
October 3 – St. Bernard Hospital – 6307 S Stewart Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
October 4 – 8th Annual Health Equity Fiesta Tour – Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60612.
October 6 – North Riverside Health Center – 1800 S. Harlem Avenue Suite A, North Riverside, IL 60546.
October 7 – Cottage Grove Health Center – 1645 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Ford Heights, IL 60411.
October 8 – Primecare Health Center – 5635 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634.
October 9 – Alivio Health – 2021 S. Morgan Street, Chicago, IL 60608.
October 15 – Provident Hospital – 500 E. 51^st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
October 16 – Friend Health – 5635 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago IL 60629.
October 17 – Englewood Health Center – 1135 W. 69th Street, Chicago, IL 60621.
October 18 – Provident Hospital – 500 E. 51^st Street, Chicago, IL 60615.
October 20 – Blue Island Health Center – 12757 S. Western Avenue, Blue Island, IL 60406.
October 21 – Esperanza Health Center – 4700 S. California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60632
October 22 – Primecare Health Center – 5635 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634.
October 23 – Stroger Hospital – 1969 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612.
October 27 – Chicago Family Health Center – 9119 S. Exchange Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617.
October 28 – Lawndale Christian Health Center – 3750 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL 60623.
October 29 – Robbins Health Center – 13450 S. Kedzie Avenue, Robbins, IL 60472.
October 30 – Care for Friends – 5749 N. Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660.
October 31 – Arlington Heights Health Center – 3520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.