Tuesday, April 8, 2025  |  View in browser

Spring Into April with Fresh Beginnings

With the arrival of spring, longer days and blooming flowers bring a fresh start! This season is all about renewal, and for the City's Health and Human Services Department, it also means an exciting new beginning at 909 Davis Street on the 2nd Floor! We’re looking forward to continuing our work in this new space in the heart of Evanston. We also have exciting upcoming community events for you to join. Check out the details below.

Spring Into Wellness Tips

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your health and wellness routine. Here are some easy tips to help you feel your best this season:

• Declutter and organize your space
• Start small, put 15 minutes aside and tidy a small space 
• Make it fun and add some music!
• Take a breath of fresh air
• Enjoy the sunshine and take daily walks, bike rides, or yoga in the park 
• Join We’re Out Walking (WOW) and take advantage of the YMCA’s track and community fitness events and groups 
• Enjoy fresh and seasonal produce
• Visit the Down Evanston Farmers Market when it opens

Human Services Division

We're Out Walking (WOW) Kickoff

WOW is Back – Let’s Get Moving Evanston! 

Grab your sneakers, rally your neighbors, and let’s get moving. 

We’re Out Walking (WOW), Evanston’s signature community wellness program is back! This 16-week celebration of health and movement is designed to help you step into spring with energy, connection, and purpose. All are welcome from kids to seniors. Expect group walks, fitness classes, wellness workshops, and surprises along the way—all designed to get our city up, out, and walking together.

Join the Program Kickoff Event on April 26

WOW kicks off on April 26 at Willie May Fieldhouse at 11 a.m. Registration is open! Get ready for a fun-filled day of family, fitness, and community at the WOW Kickoff. Enjoy bounce houses, a DJ, local vendors, fitness demonstrations, giveaways, and much more.

Participants will receive a t-shirt and optional access to the Wellable platform, where you can track your progress, earn points, and even win prizes! Email ksmith@cityofevanston.org with any questions. 

Local Business Participation

Are you a local business looking to get involved? We invite you to have a booth at the kickoff, sign up to offer classes, workshops, or experiences. Whether you provide meditation sessions, art lessons, cooking classes, fitness activities, financial workshops, or anything that promotes well-being in our community, we want to hear from you to help fill our monthly calendar of events.

Ombudsman Unit

Join our Monthly Meeting

Are you a community member or social service provider interested in learning about programs that support individuals with disabilities, older adults, or those living with mental illness? We invite you to attend our monthly community meeting, held on the first Thursday of each month at the Evanston Public Library. It’s an excellent opportunity to connect and share resources. 

Upcoming events: Let’s Talk About Sexual Culture Change

We are excited to share our upcoming presentation, “Let’s Talk About Sexual Culture Change,” an important and engaging conversation open to all community members. Whether you’re a provider, advocate, or simply interested and open to having a conversation, join us on May 8, at 6 p.m. at the Evanston Public Library. 

Special Projects Unit

Free Mental Health First Aid Training

We're excited to announce a new series of community Mental Health First Aid Trainings that teach people how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorder. As Evanston and other communities across the country are seeing growing unmet mental health needs, this type of training will help community members respond to these needs with confidence and compassion.

The training series will be provided in partnership with the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education at The Chicago School. 

Any Evanston community member is invited to register at no cost. To learn more about Mental Health First Aid and to sign up for updates on training offerings, please visit the Evanston Health and Human Services webpage.

Workforce Development Division

Homebuying Workshop Series Celebrates Participant Success

The "Getting Your House In Order" workshop, hosted by Community Partners for Affordable Housing, A and N Mortgage, and the Evanston Public Library, wrapped up March 27 after 8 weeks of sessions on financial literacy and homebuying. Ten participants completed the program, with six receiving Down Payment Assistance Certificates to help with their homeownership journey and two being awarded Dell laptops to further their progress. Led by Janina Hall and Terrence Terrell, the series provided tools and support for long-term success.  

Future homebuyers are encouraged to stay engaged and explore additional resources to achieve their homeownership goals. 

EmpowerU Builds Career-Ready Confidence

The Workforce Development Division alongside the Human Services Division and ScaleLit, successfully launched the EmpowerU program. This program is a six-week pilot program that is designed to equip participants with soft skills needed to thrive in today’s workforce. 

19 participants will engage in interactive workshops, hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios that will help them develop critical workforce skills such as effective communication, strengthening time management, and tools needed for long-term career advancement. The program concludes with a May 1 commencement, celebrating participants’ growth and career readiness.

For more information, join the Workforce Development Newsletter or email workforcedevelopment@cityofevanston.org. 

Public Health Division

Communicable Disease Unit

STI Awareness Week is April 13-19

This is a perfect time to raise awareness about sexual health and empower our community with knowledge and resources. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that people can get through sexual contact. 

STIs are preventable: test regularly, use condoms correctly, abstaining from sex (if you choose), reduce your sexual partners, and get vaccinated. 

Most STIs have no signs or symptoms: getting tested is the only way to know your status. 

STIs are treatable: Talk to your healthcare provider and your partner about STI testing and treatment. If you or your partner have an STI, both of you need treatment at the same time.

The Evanston Health Department hosts free Sexual Health and Wellbeing Pop-Ups and offers free safer sex supplies sent by mail to households in Evanston! Visit the City of Evanston Health and Human Services’ STI Webpage for more information.

Measles Cases Rising Nationwide

As of  April 11, the CDC reported that there have been 712 confirmed cases of measles reported so far this year, an increase of 411 cases in the last four weeks. Outbreaks are defined as three or more related cases, and there have been six outbreaks in 2025, with the largest one occurring in West Texas. No cases have been reported in Illinois, but now is a great time to check your vaccination records and make sure you are up-to-date on your measles vaccine (MMR).

Questions? Contact your healthcare provider or call Evanston Health and Human Services at 847-448-4311.

General Public Health Information

Tick season generally runs from April to June. Ticks can cause Lyme disease,  Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and possibly ehrlichiosis to humans. These diseases can have serious health effects. 

The best way to protect against ticks and tick-borne diseases is by taking preventive measures to keep you and your family safe especially if you live or visit wooded areas or areas with tall grass and weeds. The preventive measures you can take are: 

Have a great day, 

City of Evanston Health and Human Services Department