Welcome to the Official Web Site of the Will County Health Department and Will County Community Health Center

We provide comprehensive public health programs and primary health care and dental services for medically under-served residents of one of America's fastest growing counties. Services are provided regardless of age, race, color, national origin or disability.

Nearly 350 agency professionals work tirelessly to prevent disease and promote a healthy environment throughout Will County. We are proud to be one of Illinois' largest and most comprehensive public health agencies.

Come learn about us. This site is designed to provide serious students of public health, and the casual browser, with a broad overview of our agency at work.

The Health Department is accountable to the Will County Board of Health, a 12-member policymaking body comprised of health professionals and consumers appointed by the Will County Board. Veteran Leadership qualities help to equip the board with the acumen needed to oversee critical agency operations.

Administration personnel frequently work behind the scenes in support of numerous public health initiatives. Key Administration Division functions include Emergency Preparedness & Response, Communicable Disease / Epidemiology, Vital Records and Media Services.

Specially trained personnel are responsible for the development and maintenance of the agency's comprehensive Emergency Preparedness & Response program. This flexible program, developed in consort with local, regional, state and federal partners, is designed to protect area residents and provide essential community awareness during a public health crisis. The full support of Will County municipalities and government agencies is critical to the program, which is regarded as a State model by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Communicable Disease personnel work closely with area physicians, hospitals and other community health professionals to identify illness and implement strategies that minimize disease outbreaks. An Epidemiologist oversees the program and collaborates with other health professionals to identify disease trends and formulate appropriate disease control strategies.

Vital Records issues certified copies of birth and death records. The agency's Media Services component works with print and electronic media representatives to promote community public health awareness.

Our Community Health Center became a Federally Qualified Health Center in 1997. The health center provides primary health care and dental services for more than 62 thousand medically under-served county residents annually.

The Environmental Health Division is responsible for managing and inspecting the Food, Water, Sewage, Pools & Beaches, Tanning, and Stream Protection Programs for Will County. The Division also analyzes potable and non-potable water samples in our in-house Environmental Health Laboratory.

The Family Health Services Division works to provide clients with accessible, professional and timely assistance through a variety of specially designed community programs. Family Case Management works to reduce infant mortality while enhancing access to immunizations and primary care services. More than 7,000 Will County clients receive services from WIC, a federally-funded initiative which also provides supplemental food and one-to-one counseling. The Office of Health Promotion and the Tobacco Control & Prevention program works to enhance wellness through the implementation of disease prevention, lifestyle modification, and community health education programs.

Our Mental Health & Addictions programs are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). We are a licensed substance abuse and mental health provider with Medicare and Medicaid certification. Mental Health has been providing community mental health services for the chronically mentally ill since the late 1950's. It was the first community agency to receive grant-in-aid funding from the Department of Mental Health for the State of Illinois.

John Cicero, B.A., M.H.A.
Executive Director

Susan Olenek, B.S., P.H.R.
Director of Administrative Services