CDPH Weekly Media Brief, 04/09/2026

Monthly WIC Site at 10 S. Kedzie

The Chicago Department of Public Health will be hosting a recurring WIC mobilization site at 10 S. Kedzie on the second Tuesday of each month through December 2026. This initiative is designed to bring services directly into the community and reduce barriers to enrollment and participation.

At this site, a full range of WIC services will be available, including on-site eligibility screening, certification, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and the ability to issue benefits the same day. Families can leave fully enrolled and ready to access healthy foods and support right away. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about WIC clinics, please visit chicago.gov/WIC.

Healthy Chicago Healing Circles

CDPH is expanding access to mental health care through Healthy Chicago Healing Circles, a clinician-led virtual group program for adults navigating trauma and life stressors.

Program Details:

• Small groups (6-10 participants)
• Online telehealth format
• 10 sessions on Tuesdays from April 14 through June 16

DPH Mental Health Centers offer a range of outpatient services for adults, children, and adolescents, including individual and group therapy, case management, and medication support.

Care is tailored to individual needs, with services available regardless of immigration status, insurance coverage, or income. Additional creative and community-based supports, including Healing Arts Chicago, are also available to promote mental wellness.

Chicagoans can find care at chicago.gov/mentalhealthclinics.

Focus on Child Abuse Prevention

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Wear blue on Friday, April 10, to show your commitment to protecting children and raising awareness.

Child abuse is the mistreatment of a child under the age of 18 through physical, sexual, or emotional harm. According to 2025 data from the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), neglect is the most common and deadliest form of maltreatment, accounting for about 78% of fatalities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least one in four girls and one in 20 boys in the United States will also experience child sexual abuse.

The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services supports affected minors through shelter, legal aid, financial assistance, and prevention programs, and partners with the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, the City of Chicago Mayor's Office, and CDPH to prevent abuse and strengthen the overall well-being of children and families.

To report suspected abuse, neglect, or child trafficking, call the Illinois DCFS Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (252-2873) or visit childabuse.illinois.gov.

CDPH Celebrates National Public Health Week

It is National Public Health Week and this year's theme is "Ready. Set. Action!" As CDPH celebrates the annual weekly observance, we encourage everyone to join us and re-evaluate their relationship with public health. CDPH's mission is to work with communities and partners to create an equitable, safe, and resilient and Healthy Chicago.

Visit our website - Chicago.gov/Health - and familiarize yourself with the many resources available to you, including our Health Hubs, the Open Air Chicago network, Family Connects for newborns and new families, and naloxone access across the city.

Healthy Chicago Podcast

On a new episode of the Healthy Chicago Podcast, Noel Green speaks with LaRhonda Witherspoon about the role that CDPH's Syndemic Infectious Diseases Bureau plays in providing support for patients who have fallen out of care.

Listen to the podcast on your preferred platform or watch the video version on YouTube!

The Department's Communicable Disease Control Investigators connect with newly diagnosed cases of sexually transmitted infections to help with proper use of medications, provide understanding of diagnoses, link patients to care, prevent further transmission of diseases, and more. Learn more at ⁠chicago.gov/partnerservices ⁠.

In the Spanish-language podcast, we talk with disease investigator María Ferreira-Alharb about her work tracking and containing outbreaks across Chicago. She explains how she pieces together clues to identify the source of infections, the follow-up steps she takes, and how she helps people stay on track with their medical appointments and care, helping to limit the spread of illness.

Watch or listen to the Spanish podcast on the platform of your choice!

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