To optimize health and promote health equity for all people and communities of Cook County through leadership and appropriate collaborations between County, local, state and federal officials, as well as private health promoting institutions, focusing on health promotion and disease prevention, while advocating for the environmental and social conditions necessary to advance physical, mental and social well-being.
History of the Cook County Department of Public Health
CCDPH is the state certified public health agency for suburban Cook County with the exception of Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, and Stickney Township. These three municipalities and one township have separate, state certified public health departments and are operated by the local unit of government. CCDPH is the official agency of county government that strives to meet the public health needs of its citizens through effective and efficient disease prevention and health promotion programs.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners established the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) on December 10, 1945. Decades later, CCDPH continues to improve the quality of life for suburban Cook County residents through the prevention of illness, early disease detection and the promotion of personal and community health. In 1945, the health department served a jurisdiction of 600,000 people on a budget of $162,000.00. Today, our budget nears $40,000,000.00 and over two million residents depend on CCDPH for disease control and prevention and health promotion activities. From 90 employees in the mid-forties, to more than 300 today, CCDPH has expanded its traditional health services from limited public health nursing to many personal, integrated clinic health care services.
