FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 28, 2026
Media Contact: Yolanda Y. Harris
Email: [email protected]
Cook County Hosts Series of Community Baby Showers to Support New and Expectant Moms in Suburban Cook County
Events are part of CCDPH’s Healthy Beginnings program aimed at tackling racial and socioeconomic disparities in maternal and child health outcomes.
SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, IL – Cook County Department of Public Health is hosting a series of community baby showers to connect new and expectant parents with resources and raise awareness about maternal and infant mortality. The first of three community baby showers takes place on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Harvey Park District’s Gloria Taylor Hall, located at 14821 Broadway Ave. in Harvey, Ill.
The neighborhood baby showers will offer free community resources and baby essentials for parents and infants up to 12 months old. In addition, parents will hear educational presentations on topics like safe sleep, breastfeeding, and lactation support.
“Every family deserves the opportunity to give their baby a healthy start in life. These community baby showers connect parents with trusted resources, health education, and essential supplies while strengthening the support systems that help improve maternal and infant health. By supporting families early, we can help reduce longstanding disparities and build healthier communities,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of Cook County Department of Public Health.
More than 200 infants in Cook County died suddenly and unexpectedly during their sleep between 2019 and 2023, according to a recent Rush report. In addition, Black women are three to four times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy- related complications, due to discrimination and structural and economic factors, yet 90% of all pregnancy-related deaths in Illinois are considered potentially preventable.
“The baby shower is one tool we’re using to change these statistics by bringing trusted resources, health services, and education directly to new and expectant families in their own communities,” Joshi said.
In addition, in January, Cook County Department of Public Health launched its Healthy Beginnings program, which offers home-based nursing services for expectant and new moms and their babies, as another tool for addressing disparities in maternal and child mortality.
“Through the community baby shower, we’ll introduce families to a wealth of services, resources and information that will help moms and their babies achieve better health outcomes so that they will not only live but thrive,” said Michele Spikes-Cain, Cook County Department of Public Health’s interim chief nursing officer.
Two additional baby showers are being planned for north and west suburban Cook County. Dates and locations for those showers will be announced at a later date.
Cook County Department of Public Health welcomes community organizations that provide services and resources to mothers and their babies to participate in the baby shower.
Learn more and register for the baby shower at https://tinyurl.com/CookCountybabyshower . Advanced registration is encouraged.
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