Monday, March 03, 2025 | View in browser
 The Evanston Health and Human Services Department is proud to protect, preserve, and promote the well-being of everyone who lives, works, and plays in our amazing city for 150 years and counting! As one of a few certified municipal health departments in Illinois, we take pride in our legacy of service and our commitment to building a healthier and stronger community.
Our success is driven by innovative partnerships, a dedicated team, and a shared passion for making a difference. From housing and victim services to emergency response, environmental health, disease surveillance, and health education, we’re here for the Evanston community in every way.
Read on to discover each division’s vital role in helping of city thrive!
 Thank you, Evanston community members, for supporting the Evanston Health and Human Services Department (EHHS) for over 150 years. Beginning in March 2025, you will receive monthly publications from EHHS detailing our offerings, services, initiatives, and new programs. This is a way to introduce you to everything we provide and ensure you don't miss out on any exciting projects from our department.
Our mission continues to focus on protecting, preserving, and promoting wellness for all who live, work, and play in Evanston through creative and sustainable partnerships.
Thanks to your continued support, our department celebrated 150 years of service in 2024 by delivering vital services to the community. Explore our accomplishments over the years.
Human Services Division
 We proudly serve our fellow Evanston community members through our General and Emergency Assistance programs. We understand that life can bring unexpected challenges, and we’re here to help when financial difficulties arise. Our team is dedicated to providing support with rent, utilities, and food for those facing hardship.
Additionally, our Victim Services team is committed to supporting individuals and families who have experienced crime. We assist victims throughout the court process, offering guidance, resources, and a compassionate presence during difficult times.
We are here to ensure all community members receive the support they need. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Indira Perkins, Human Services Manager at 847-448-4311.
Upcoming events
Our signature program, We're Out Walking (WOW), is returning! It's a family-friendly, fun fitness initiative designed to promote health, wellness, and community one step at a time. This event will have activities for all ages. Be on the lookout for more information!
Ombudsman Unit
This unit provides advocacy, fairness and represents vulnerable populations, including seniors and individuals with disabilities. An ombudsman bridges people and institutions, ensuring that concerns are addressed, conflicts are resolved, and individuals receive personalized care. In this role, it is essential to listen and provide community resources that help families and individuals understand their rights and navigate the complexities of long-term care facilities and services. One of the key resources the Regional Ombudsman oversees is the Community Resource Coalition - details below.
Candice Mitchell is the Regional Ombudsman for the activities of this program and can be reached at health@cityofevanston.org.
Upcoming events
Join us at 10 a.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the Falcon Room at the Evanston Public Library. For more information, email cmitchell@cityofevanston.org or 847-866-2921.
Special Projects Unit
 The Special Programs Unit is responsible for the development and implementation of special projects. This unit is responsible for the creation of the EPLAN, which outlines the health and well-being of Evanston community members. One goal of the EPLAN is to help develop a plan to improve health equity in our city.
Other projects embarked on include new policies to advance community health, including the state's first comprehensive flavored tobacco ban and the second round of Guaranteed Income program in collaboration with the City Manager's Office and the Human Services Division to support the health and well-being of low-income families of young children. The Health Hub, was created, which provides preventive health services to underserved populations.
Upcoming Programs
A new program is being created to offer mental health first aid throughout the community. Please stay tuned regarding this program.
Workforce Development Division
 The Evanston Workforce Development Division is committed to supporting local businesses and fostering a diverse, skilled workforce by empowering, educating, and connecting residents with training opportunities. These efforts equip individuals with the in-demand skills required for sustainable careers and advancement.
Since its inception, the division has implemented a range of programs and initiatives designed to provide community member with the necessary skills and competencies to meet the demands of the local labor market. These programs include, but are not limited to:
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ASPIRE: a comprehensive exploratory program designed to offer high school students and community members the opportunity to pursue careers in healthcare through shadowing, internships, and scholarships.
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LEP: provides employment opportunities for qualified residents in roles like laborers, apprentices, and journeymen within various trades.
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EMERGE: geared towards providing youth and young adults with skills and workforce opportunities through internships, fellowships, and scholarships that lead to full-time and part-time Mather careers.
For more information, join the Workforce Development Newsletter or email workforcedevelopment@cityofevanston.org.
Public Health Division
Emergency Preparedness Unit
 The Emergency Preparedness Unit manages emergencies ranging from epidemics and pandemics to extreme weather conditions. The division's focus is to reduce the severity of emergencies, enhance preparation, and expedite response and recovery times.
The unit notably collaborated with City leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic to plan and manage over 60 mass vaccination sites, successfully administering over 70,000 community vaccinations.
The unit oversees the implementation of federal grants that establish the City's framework for preparedness and response to public health emergencies. This includes training first-response health staff, maintaining federal certification, planning scenario-based exercises, and managing the City's Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Volunteer program.
Additional projects include leading emergency notification drills, training MRC volunteers, developing a five-year preparedness plan, and managing medical inventories.
If you have any questions regarding the activities of this special unit, please reach-out to the Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, Enas Syed at health@cityofevanston.org.
Communicable Disease Unit
 The Communicable Disease (CD) Unit is committed to protecting the Evanston community from infectious diseases. This happens through disease surveillance and education, with the goals of preventing illness and controlling the spread of disease. As a certified Local Health Department (LHD), the Evanston CD Division is required to conduct communicable disease case surveillance.
In the state, there are approximately 100 notifiable diseases and conditions. The LHD must be notified by law when an individual is diagnosed with one of these. Each year, our CD unit responds to an average of over 600 confirmed cases of communicable diseases, more than 200 suspected cases, and numerous outbreaks. Our unit is designed to address existing communicable diseases and respond to emerging and novel threats.
If you're diagnosed with one of these conditions, please know that our staff may call you directly to discuss your diagnosis in more detail and answer any questions you may have. Our conversations are confidential, and the information you share will help us protect the health of the community.
Upcoming Events
The Evanston Health Department hosts free Sexual Health and Wellbeing Pop-Ups on the second Tuesday of each month at the Robert Crown Center and Evanston Public Library. Offerings include condoms and dental dams, STI and HIV risk reduction counseling, referrals, and more!
Licensing Unit
 Join us in celebrating Ellyn Golden's many years of dedicated service to the City as the Licensing Coordinator. Ellyn Golden retired on February 14th. Her contributions have left a lasting impact on our team and the community. We are truly grateful for her unwavering dedication.
The Licensing Unit is responsible for regulating any and all consumable goods to ensure the wellbeing of visitors and residents. This position is also responsible for other licenses and permits, such as special events, home daycare, long-term care applications, and much more!
Do you have a home-based business that sells consumable goods? Submit the required information to ensure we keep the City as safe as possible.
For questions or concerns, contact health@cityofevanston.org.
Environmental Health Unit
 The Environmental Health Unit is under the Public Health Division . Ths unit licenses and inspect over 400 facilities in Evanston that handle food intended for public consumption. This includes restaurants, grocery stores, schools, religious institutions, and more.
Additional services:
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Conducts lead risk assessments in homes where children have elevated blood lead levels
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Manages a comprehensive rodent prevention program that includes placing bait stations and educating the community
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Oversees a beach water testing program to ensure the safety of the city's seven beaches.
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Addresses various resident concerns, ranging from foodborne illnesses to complaints about leaf blowing.
Thank you for learning more about us! Don't hesitate to contact any of our divisions.
Have a great day,
City of Evanston Health and Human Services Department
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