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September 2025 Public Health E-Newsletter |
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 Mental health, community and connection
The Village of Oak Park is partnering with Riveredge Hospital, Thrive, the Community Mental Health Board, West 40, River Forest Township and Sustainable Mental Wellness to plan and host a suicide prevention summit Friday, Sept. 19 in Oak Brook.
With expert speakers delivering a keynote address, an array of workshops addressing needs in our communities, and a closing session to wrap things up, the conference will build cross-sector collaboration, center diverse voices and lived experience, promote evidence-based practices, foster community connection, and encourage action and accountability.
Suicide prevention is a vital public health priority for Oak Park, as our community has been directly impacted by suicide loss and continues to support residents facing mental health challenges that can increase suicide risk. This summit represents a shared commitment to fostering a community where every resident has access to culturally responsive mental health support, feels genuinely connected to others and knows that compassionate help is readily available during times of crisis. Anyone who is interested in suicide prevention is invited to attend. Continuing education credits are available for social workers, counselors and educators. Click here for more information and to register.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.
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Farmers' Market Pie Bake-Off
The Oak Park Farmers' Market hosted its annual Pie Bake-Off last Saturday, and a great group of local bakers showcased seasonal produce with their Bake-Off submissions. Sourcing local fruits like peaches, apples, plums and tomatoes along with butter and flour from the Farmers' Market vendors, a dozen bakers competed for the top three spots.
Staff and volunteers served pie samples to market goers on a first-come, first-served basis. The winning submission, titled "Midnight Orchard" that featured Market blackberries, garnered the most points based on the judging criteria of creativity, appearance, taste, and best use of Market ingredients.
Later this week, check out the Farmers' Market web page to get the recipes for the top three winners so you can shop the Market this weekend and re-create the standout pies!
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Give us your thoughts
This fall, we are hard at work on our next Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN) for 2026, a comprehensive five-year strategic plan that identifies community health priorities and outlines evidence-based strategies to address them.
The IPLAN serves as a roadmap for all organizations engaged in public health activities in Oak Park, guiding resource allocation and programming decisions based on data-driven assessments of local health needs, assets and disparities.
We want to hear how Oak Park residents engage in community events and programming and with each other. We have created an online survey that will only take 5 minutes. Click here to contribute your thoughts!
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Public Health staff recognized for exceptional service
On August 27, Public Health Department staff were recognized by the Village for going above and beyond in fulfilling the organization’s guiding principles and values of community, connection, service, respect and results.
Chris Simpkins (left, pictured with Village Manager Kevin Jackson) is an Environmental Health Specialist and Kyle Fortner (right) is the Village's Animal Control Officer. Congrats to Chris and Kyle for representing our department and embodying our Village values!
Opioid overdose training going strong in Oak Park
Fenwick Nurse Donna Pape and Opioid Overdose Trainer Mark Johnson
Our fantastic opioid overdose trainers, Sheila Haennicke and Mark Johnson, have been busy this summer providing Narcan and training community members on how to use it. They have hosted formal training sessions, tables at community events like the Farmers' Market and Concerts in the Park, and a specialized training at Fenwick High School, which trained 93 staff members.
Two more trainings are scheduled for 2025 in November and December at the Community Recreation Center. These free sessions last approximately one hour and are ideal for any community members who are interested in learning how to stop an opioid overdose using Narcan. You will leave with valuable skills and Narcan to take with you. Visit the registration page to sign up!
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Answers to several FAQs about Narcan
EpiPens for severe allergic reactions seem just as important for saving lives. Why isn’t Oak Park distributing EpiPens?
Epinephrine is a medication that must be prescribed. Due to the potential for severe side effects, including trouble breathing, increased heart rate or stroke, EpiPens should only be used by medical professionals or individuals who have a prescription. Oak Park Fire Department personnel, who are specially trained, carry epinephrine to be administered in emergencies when necessary.
Individuals who are at risk of opioid overdose should also have access to life-saving medication. Fortunately, naloxone is very safe and does not have severe side effects, even when administered on an individual who is not experiencing overdose.
Are local tax dollars used to purchase Narcan?
No. Narcan is purchased by the state of Illinois using funds from the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, through which settlement funds from opioid manufacturers and distributors are distributed for use in combatting the opioid overdose epidemic.
Where can I find more information about Oak Park's response to the opioid overdose epidemic?
Click here to visit our webpage.
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