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IL WISEWOMAN Program
It is the mission of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Office of Women’s Health and Family Services (IDPH-OWHFS) to provide low-income, underinsured or uninsured women, living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, who are eligible
participants with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to improve their diet, physical activity and other lifestyle habits to prevent, delay, or control cardiovascular and other chronic disease conditions by providing them access to preventative health services including blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings along with health education through risk reduction counseling, health coaching, lifestyle programs and community-based linkages.
The following criteria must be met for a woman to be considered eligible for IWP:
- Must reside within the counties served by IWP lead agencies
- Currently enrolled in or eligible for the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP)
- Underinsured or uninsured
- Age 40-64 years old*
- Living at or below 250% of the federal poverty level
*In some instances, women ages 30-39 may be eligible for IWP enrollment. Contact your local IWP Lead Agency.
Once a participant is deemed eligible the following may be available to her at no charge:
- Glucose Screening
- Blood Pressure Reading
- Cholesterol Screening
- Evaluation of BMI
- Patient Centered Risk Reduction Counseling
- Health Coaching using the BE WISE curriculum
- Lifestyle Program resources including Weight Watchers, Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), and Tobacco Quitline Referral
- Additional Community Based Resources
It is expected of the IWP participant to do the following:
- Abstain from eating or drinking nine hours prior to the lab work appointment (prescribed medication should be taken with small sips of water)
- Attend appointment(s) for IOV and lab work
- Complete all IWP Assessment forms (including the IWP Participant Consent form)
- Participate in Health Coaching sessions, Lifestyle Programs or Tobacco Cessation activities as referred by the IWP Lead Agency (if applicable)
- Follow through with referral appointments to medical providers for abnormal or alert values (if applicable)