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A Resolution Approving the 2026 Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN) Five-Year Community Health Plan as Recommended by the Board of Health and Authorizing Submission of the IPLAN to the Illinois Department of Public Health
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Introduction
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On August 13, 2026, the Board of Health recommended approval of the 2026 Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN), the five-year community health plan. Submission and acceptance of the IPLAN to the Illinois Department of Public Health is required to remain a state-certified local health department
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Recommended Action
Staff concurs with the Board of Health and recommends approval of the 2026 IPLAN.
Prior Board Action
The Board has taken the following prior action(s):
• On November 17, 2022, the Village Board approved the 2022 IPLAN (RES 22-279)
• On November 6, 2017, the Village Board approved the 2017 IPLAN (RES 17-648)
Background
Oak Park is one of 97 jurisdictions within Illinois that have a certified local health department (LHD). Of these jurisdictions, only 5 operate at the municipal level. This means public health work can be hyper-focused on the actual needs within the Oak Park community. By maintaining this certification, the Oak Park Health Department is eligible to receive numerous grants from the Illinois Department of Public Health to assist with operational expenses.
Part of the process for being a certified local health department requires completing an IPLAN every 5 years. A certified health department is required to adhere to public health practice standards which are detailed in Section 600.400 of the Certified Local Health Department Code. These standards consist of the following:
• Assess the health needs of the community
• Investigate the occurrence of adverse health effects
• Advocate for public health
• Develop plans and policies to address priority health needs
• Manage resources and develop organizational structure
• Implement programs and other arrangements
• Evaluate programs and provide quality assurance
• Inform and educate the public on public health issues
This IPLAN represents the culmination of a year-and-a-half-long process through which the Public Health Department staff gathered and analyzed data, surveyed and met with key interest holders, and engaged leaders in the local public health network. Using the information gathered through these activities, along with root cause analysis and referencing established public health frameworks, staff developed a cross-cutting plan to facilitate health improvement in identified areas of impact.
Oak Park is a resource-rich community, with well-rated schools, a robust network of support for older adults, award-winning recreation opportunities, doctors, dentists, mental health providers, and a wide variety of churches, among other opportunities for social connections and well-being. However, not all people who are born, live, work, and age in Oak Park experience and have access to these resources in an equitable way. It is with this in mind that the following priorities were established:
Advancing health equity within Oak Park will be achieved by:
1) Increasing access to health and safe environments
2) Increasing access to and positive experience with the medical and mental health systems
3) Expanding implementation of targeted health promotion strategies
Timing Considerations
The IPLAN is required to be submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health in December 2026.
Financial Impact
There is no budget impact associated with this item.
Operations Impact
There is no operating impact associated with this item. The item aligns with the department’s core service delivery.
DEI Impact
The overarching health priority for Oak Park is to advance health equity. Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just chance to reach their highest level of health and wellbeing, without being held back by social, economic, demographic, or geographic circumstances. It considers disparities linked to factors such as income, education, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, and others.
Community Input
During the IPLAN process, staff engaged with the community to 1) collect information on community members’ health needs, and 2) provide analysis of staff’s findings.
To meet community members where they already congregate, staff created engagement opportunities at three community events: The Oak Park Farmers’ Market, Oak Park and River Forest (OPRF) High School, and Barrie Fest. At each location, staff created participatory activities to collect information about what community members need to be healthy and to feel safe. Participants were asked to engage in the activity (answering questions and voting with dot stickers), given the opportunity to anonymously answer a question or leave a comment, and/or speak with us directly about their needs, concerns, and ideas. The short interviews gave staff the opportunity to ask clarifying questions or explore topics more deeply. Participants at the Farmers’ Market were primarily adults; at Barrie Fest, they were mostly adults and elementary-aged children, and at OPRF High School they were high school students.
Three groups of community members were consulted during the IPLAN process to provide analysis for the information staff collected through both quantitative and qualitative data collection and community engagement:
Board of Health: The members of the Board of Health were regularly briefed on the IPLAN process and progress and given opportunities to provide feedback, comments, and suggestions.
The Core Planning Group: The Core Planning Group was comprised of leaders from within the community with expertise in public health; mental health; health care; social services; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Staff engaged with them through face-to-face meetings, online meetings, surveys, and written communication. This group acted as primary advisors in setting health priorities. They reviewed data collection and analysis, discussed results, identified root causes for health issues and disparities, and aided in outlining the top health priorities.
Organizations represented in the Core Group:
• The Collaboration for Early Childhood
• Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township
• The Infant Welfare Society Children’s Clinic
• Oak Park Township Senior Services
• Rush Oak Park Hospital
• The Village of Oak Park Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
• The Village of Oak Park Board of Health
• University of Illinois, Chicago
The Interest Holder Group: The Interest Holder Group included community members representing many sectors from within Oak Park, including health and medical professionals, local government, education, recreation, non-profit, and private business. This group reviewed data and the top health priorities outlined by the Core Group. They identified community assets and challenges and advised on objectives and strategies for the CHIP. Engagement from this group of community members helped to ensure the CHIP is actionable and effective. Staff engaged with this group of community members through surveys and written communication, an in-person meeting, and an online meeting.
Organizations represented in the Interest Holder Group:
• Beyond Hunger
• Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township
• First United Church of Oak Park
• Community Support Services
• Gun Responsibility Advocates
• Housing Forward
• Live4Lali
• NAMI Metro Suburban
• Oak Leyden
• Oak Park Board of Health
• Oak Park Elementary School District D97
• Oak Park Township
• Opportunity Knocks
• Park District of Oak Park
• Rush Oak Park Hospital
• Thrive Counseling Center
• Village of Oak Park Engaging Community for Healthy Outcomes (ECHO)
• Village of Oak Park Aging in Communities Commission
• Village of Oak Park Neighborhood Services
• Waging Peace
• Way Back Inn
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends the Village Board accept the IPLAN.
Advantages:
• This action ensures that the Oak Park Health Department maintains its designation as a certified local health department, which allows for non-competitive grant opportunities from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
• Acceptance acknowledges the collaborative effort of Oak Park’s public health network in creating the health priorities.
Disadvantages:
• There are no disadvantages to this action.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
The Village Board could choose to reject the IPLAN
Advantages:
• There are no advantages to this alternative.
Disadvantages:
• Without having a valid IPLAN, the Oak Park Health Department would no longer be entitled to grant funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Anticipated Future Actions
There are no anticipated future actions in relation to this item.
Prepared By: Greg Olsen, Public Health Director
Reviewed By: Jack Malec, Assistant to the Village Manager
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. RES 26-277
2. 2026 IPLAN
3. IPLAN Presentation