30 Days Wrap Up

30 Days Wrap Up

Dear IDPH Family,

Memorial Day weekend is generally seen as the unofficial start of summer, a time when we start thinking about cookouts, family getaways, and many other fun and relaxing activities. I hope you will find time in the days and weeks ahead to take advantage of those opportunities to unwind and recharge your batteries. You've earned it in what has already been an eventful 2026.

Earlier this month, Illinois was recognized by Trust for America's Health as a high-performance state for emergency preparedness, the highest ranking a state could receive. This recognition is a testament to your leadership and hard work and a reminder of all we do to protect our residents at home and abroad from emerging illnesses and other future emergencies. I am so proud to work at this agency, and I am constantly inspired by the recognitions, large and small, that we receive as we protect our residents today and prepare them for tomorrow. I felt that pride in abundance during our 30 Days of Public Health communication efforts in April.

During the month, we set out to tell the stories of public health that people don't see every day. Our "You Might Not Know It" campaign put a spotlight on essential but overlooked public health services. Now, after 30 days of unique spotlights, many more people are aware of the important work you do to keep Illinoisans safe. During the 30 Days of Public Health campaign, our social media engagements skyrocketed, with thousands more followers added to our social media accounts and almost one million more views than we had during the 2025 campaign.

View the video below for a recap of some of the programming and team members featured during this year's campaign.

Thank you all for your hard work, now and all year round. I hope you have a relaxing holiday and an exciting, safe summer, as we continue protecting the health of Illinoisans today while preparing them for tomorrow.

Yours in good health,

Sameer