Weekly Media Brief, 03/19/2026

Jump Ahead

• South Side Health Fair for Moms
• National Nutrition Month
• Healthy Chicago Podcast

South Side Health Fair for Moms

Within the last three years congenital syphilis cases (mother-to-child transmission of syphilis) have increased by 300 percent in Chicago. Additionally, since 2022, new HIV diagnoses have increased by 16 percent, and Primary and Secondary Syphilis among women increased by 12 percent.

To bring greater awareness of these troubling trends, CDPH and its partners are getting together to do something to help improve the health of mothers and babies in Chicago. Healthy Chicago: Healthy Women, Healthy Futures is a health resource fair for pregnant women and mothers and will include sexual health screenings, safe sleep demonstrations, information on SNAP and WIC assistance, as well as food, door prizes, and giveaways. The event will be held on Friday, April 3 at the Bronzeville East 43rd Street Health Hub (4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.) from 10 am-2 pm

CDPH's community health workers will act as service navigators, providing information about services and resources on-site.

Public registration for the event is available on Eventbrite.

National Nutrition Awareness Month

March is National Nutrition Month, a time to celebrate healthy eating, share accurate nutrition information, and bust common myths about the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), while showing how nutritious meals can fit any budget.

• One common myth is that WIC is "just formula." In reality, WIC provides a variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, eggs, beans, peanut butter, and more. It also offers breastfeeding support, individualized nutrition counseling, and referrals to health care and community services.
• Another frequent misunderstanding is that WIC is only for unemployed families. In fact, many participants are working families. Eligibility is based on income, and numerous families may qualify without realizing it.
• Concerns about stigma should not discourage participation. WIC is a public health program that supports healthy pregnancies, early childhood development, and family wellness.

If you need help finding a WIC clinic near you, please use the map below to locate a clinic close to your home, or visit chicago.gov/WIC

Healthy Chicago Podcast

On a new episode of Healthy Chicago Podcast, Tessa Day, epidemiologist at CDPH, and Clarissa Stanhope, Director of Accessibility Services at Parkland College and formerly with the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, discuss the report Neighborhood Conditions for Adults with Disabilities in Chicago, which highlights the lived experiences of people with disabilities and the neighborhood factors that affect them, providing public servants, elected officials, and community leaders with the insights and data needed to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Chicagoans with disabilities.

Listen or Watch on the service of your choice!

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