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January 2025 Public Health E-Newsletter 

Greg Olsen to lead Oak Park
Public Health Department

We are excited to announce that Greg Olsen is the the Village's new Public Health Director, starting January 6. Olsen brings with him years of experience in public health, most recently serving as the Public Health Manager at Evanston's Health and Human Services Department. There, he led key initiatives including the city's COVID-19 response and several community health programs.

Olsen's experience and deep understanding of public health will be invaluable as we start the new year and continue our mission to prioritize the health of those who live, work and play in Oak Park.  

Olsen shared his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, "I look forward to collaborating with the community and working together to address today’s health challenges in Oak Park. It's an honor to join such a progressive and engaged community."

With a background in environmental health, emergency preparedness and public health program management, Olsen has spent more than a decade working in various public health roles across the region. He holds a Master's of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois Springfield and is committed to fostering partnerships that enhance community health.

Welcome, Greg! We’re excited to have you on board.

Blood donation opportunity set for January 28 in Oak Park

January is National Blood Donor month, and it's as important as ever to donate blood if you’re able. Why donate? Donated blood is used in a wide variety of medical situations, including supporting chemotherapy patients, people who have been in car accidents, those living with sickle cell disease, people with birth complications and end-of-life care. Your single donation can be used to save as many as three lives.

New this year, we are partnering with the Oak Park Township and other community partners to increase the opportunities for Oak Parkers to donate blood throughout 2025. The first blood drive will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28 at the Oak Park Township building,130 S. Oak Park Ave. Click here to register, and check the Village website at www.oak-park.us/BloodDrive for more chances to donate as opportunities become available.

Health Department 2024 Wrapped: Year in Review

2024 was a year of growth, impact and community collaboration for the Oak Park Public Health Department. Check out some of our standout accomplishments across all divisions!

4,000 gun safety conversation cards provided to OPRF freshmen to kick off the school year 135 community members trained on how to use Narcan for opioid overdose prevention 151 smoke Free Illinois Act compliance checks completed with local businesses

16 grant applications submitted to fund public health initiatives and programming for residents  74 program reports submitted to funders

1,304 ears of corn sold at the Oak Park Farmers' Market Corn Roast in August  95,534:Total customer attendance at the Oak Park Farmers’ Market in 2024 911 SNAP/Link transactions processed, helping connect local residents with fresh produce

1 new Lead Risk Assessor license obtained by an Environmental Health Specialist 75 loose or lost pets returned to their owners by our Animal Control Officer 254 restaurant inspections conducted, with additional education provided to restaurant operators on single-service and polystyrene bans

Provided case management to 10 Oak Park families who had children with elevated lead levels in their blood  5 Clinics for MMR Vaccination – Administered to migrant families and residents during the measles outbreak 41 pints of blood, which has the potential to save 123 lives, collected at our community blood drives

More than 2,000 COVID tests distributed across the community 10 response actions supported, including migrant response, 5 vaccine clinics, 3 warming/cooling shelters, and Democratic National Convention preparedness 125 active members in the re-initiated Medical Reserve Corps

Happy New Year! 

As we welcome in the New Year, we wish you a year filled with health, happiness and well-being. We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to the bright and healthy year ahead.

Stay tuned for what’s next in 2025! Together, we’ll continue to make Oak Park a healthier place to live, work and thrive!