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About IDPH

Prevention & Wellness

  • Animal Population Control **Applications are no longer being accepted** The Animal Control Act and the Illinois Public Health and Safety Animal Population Control Act have been amended by Public Act 100-0787. New legislation has been enacted transferring funding to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and more information can be found on their website.
  • Community Health Workers Community health workers make important contributions to health, health care, and prevention efforts. According to the American Public Health Association, a community health worker is "a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a
  • Epinephrine Auto-Injector and Anaphylaxis Allergic Emergency - If you think you are having a serious allergic reaction, use your epinephrine auto-injector and call 911. Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. What are the Symptoms of Anaphylaxis? Symptoms usually involve more than one organ system (part of the body), such as the skin or mouth, the lungs, the
  • Gun Safety Let's come together for a safer Illinois. Find out how you can make a difference in the safety of our communities. By working together and respecting each other, we enhance the lives of all Illinoisians.
  • Immunization Immunization Record Request Chicago Residents: Immunization Record Request Immunizations, also known as vaccines are one of our greatest defenses against many serious illnesses. The Illinois Department of Public Health's (IDPH) Immunization Section conducts programs and initiatives designed to make sure each child in your family has up-to-date immunizations. Keep yourself and
  • Injury & Violence Prevention Injuries are the leading cause of death for Illinoisans 1-44 years of age. When a public health approach is applied to the problems of injury and violence, these events can be predicted and, in most cases, prevented with adequate resources and effective collaborative partnerships, state injury and violence prevention programs can significantly lower the burden of injury.
  • Medical Cannabis Patient Program Important Update for Patients/Applicants On Thursday, July 15, 2021, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 1443 into law. This bill removed the requirement that medical cannabis patients select a single dispensary. Although the requirement to identify a single dispensary was temporarily lifted on June 25, 2021 following the go-live of the new Medical Cannabis Registry system, the signing of this bill into law makes that change permanent
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a drug withdrawal syndrome that occurs among opioid-exposed infants shortly after birth. NAS is associated with poor fetal growth and preterm birth, and can cause symptoms such as seizures, excessive irritability, poor feeding, and dehydration. Definition and Impact of NAS Neonatal abstinence syndrome refers to the collection of signs and
  • Oral Health The mouth is our primary connection to the world: it is how we take in water and nutrients to sustain life, our primary means of communication, the most visible sign of our mood, and a major part of how we appear to others. Oral health is an essential and integral component of people’s overall health throughout life, and is much more than just healthy teeth. Oral refers to the
  • Patient Safety & Quality Nearly 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of preventable medical errors. Over 1.5 billion dollars per year are paid, nationally, to cover the cost of medical errors which contributes to increases in across the board health care costs to consumers. The Division of Patient Safety and Quality is committed to work for safe, quality health care for the people of Illinois.
  • Suicide Prevention If you're thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States - talk to someone now (800-273-TALK (800-273-8255)). What is suicide? Suicide occurs when a person ends their life. It is the 10th leading cause of death among Americans. In
  • Tobacco Prevention and Control Preventing the harmful effects of tobacco use through education, promotion of cessation, and elimination of public exposure through regulation.
  • Vision & Hearing Adequate vision and hearing are paramount to educational performance. Impaired vision and/or hearing in children can seriously impede learning and contribute to the development of educational, emotional and behavioral problems. Early discovery and treatment can prevent or at least alleviate many of these problems. Hearing loss can happen anytime during life (from before birth
  • We Choose Health We Choose Health is a multi-year IDPH initiative to encourage and support the implementation of proactive health programs.