What is the main goal of IDPH’s Healthy Communities Program?

The main goal of IDPH’s Healthy Communities Program is to promote health and reduce health disparities in communities. This initiative focuses on enhancing the overall wellbeing of populations by addressing the social determinants of health, increasing access to health resources, and fostering environments that support healthy choices. By prioritizing health promotion and targeting reductions in health inequalities, the program aims to create a more equitable health landscape where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their best health outcomes.

While enforcing health laws, conducting health surveys, and providing healthcare services directly are important functions within public health and health departments, they are not the central objectives of the Healthy Communities Program. The program specifically emphasizes collaborative efforts that engage communities in health improvement activities, making proactive health promotion its primary focus.