| Photo caption: Cook County Department of Public Health was recognized at a local awards ceremony today for its 15 awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards recognize innovative and effective county government initiatives. Photo provided by Cook County Department of Public Health.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 1, 2026 Cook County Department of Public Health Earns 15 NaCO Awards for Public Health Programming and Impact SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, IL – Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is proud to announce that 15 of its programs received achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) during its 2026 Annual Conference and Exposition, held July 17-20 in New Orleans, La. Since 1970, NACo’s Achievement Awards have recognized innovative, effective county government initiatives. CCDPH’s award-winning programs were selected in the categories of health, workforce development, equity and growth. “These national awards are a reflection of the dedication, innovation and excellence of the staff at Cook County Department of Public Health,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Their work underscores our commitment to building a healthier, more equitable county, one where every resident has the opportunity to thrive.” “These awards are a testament to the dedication of our team and the power of working in partnership with community organizations, government agencies and academic institutions,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of CCDPH. “Each of these programs reflects our commitment to health equity and our vision for a stronger, healthier Cook County.” CCDPH’s 2026 NACo Achievement Award Recipients: Regional Learning and Action Network The Regional Learning & Action Network (RLAN) is a regionalized, network-based model co-designed with community partners to strengthen communication, coordination, and collective action across regions. RLAN connects multi-sector community organizations and provides a platform for relationship and capacity building, peer learning, resource sharing, and collaborative problem-solving. Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program The Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program was designed to diversify and strengthen the public health workforce in suburban Cook County. The program provides high school students, primarily youth of color, with early exposure to public health careers through credentialed community health worker training, college-level coursework, paid internships and professional development. Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative Cook County Department of Public Health, in partnership with Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, designed the Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative to strengthen and sustain community-based organizations and the community health worker workforce serving communities most impacted by health disparities in suburban Cook County. The Learning Collaborative provides structured skill-building, problem-solving support, professional development and peer networking for Community Health Workers and Promotoras de Salud, as well as their supervisors. Fight the Bite – Public Awareness Campaign Fight the Bite is CCDPH’s public awareness campaign to educate residents about West Nile virus risk and prevention. Using weekly mosquito surveillance data, CCDPH delivered timely, localized risk information paired with prevention messaging. The campaign reached 48 million people, generated strong community engagement and successfully piloted the CDC’s Skeeter Meter to help residents better understand seasonal West Nile virus risk. Content Strategy Project – Digital Marketing Growth In 2025, CCDPH significantly expanded its digital reach and engagement through a more strategic, audience-centered approach to social media. CCDPH generated 6.9 million impressions, more than 15 times the previous year, while achieving a 4.32% average engagement rate. Website traffic more than doubled, and content shares increased more than fivefold, strengthening CCDPH’s ability to connect residents with trusted public health information and resources. Lead-Safe Cook County Lead Safe Cook County is a public health campaign that raises awareness about the dangers of lead exposure and connects families with resources to make their homes safer. In its first 30 days, the campaign generated 3.5 million impressions, 49,000 website visits and 418 completed grant applications, demonstrating its success in turning public awareness into meaningful action. For more information about Cook County Department of Public Health programs and services, visit www.cookcountypublichealth.org. ### Cook County Department of Public Health is the nationally accredited, state-certified local health department serving suburban Cook County. We build healthier, more equitable communities by protecting health, preventing disease, engaging communities, and analyzing and sharing data for action
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