Illinois Department of Public Health, State Rep. Katie Stuart Host Women’s Health Information Session at SIUE

Illinois Department of Public Health, State Rep. Katie Stuart Host Women's Health Information Session at SIUE

Women's health access and policy were the focus at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Monday, March 2, as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) partnered with State Rep. Katie Stuart to host a community information session highlighting resources and legislative initiatives supporting women across the state.

Held in the Morris University Center, the event connected residents with information about state programs and services supporting women's health. Presentations from IDPH and Stuart were followed by a discussion with attendees about healthcare access, public health and priorities affecting women across Illinois.

"I am so pleased with how the event went," said Stuart. "It's always rewarding to sit down with neighbors, connect them to information and have productive chats about how we can improve our communities. I'm grateful to SIUE for providing a venue for this event and look forward to more on campus events and conversations."

Phallisha Curtis, chief of Women's Health Services at the Illinois Department of Public Health, opened the program with an overview of the agency's work supporting maternal health, reproductive services and preventative care measures. Curtis explained that IDPH operates through a network of regional offices and local health departments, partnering with community organizations to expand access to health education programs. Many Illinois initiatives are designed to increase access to care to under-insured individuals and support families through preventative education and early intervention opportunities.

Stuart followed with remarks outlining several women's initiatives currently being discussed in the Illinois General Assembly. Her presentation addressed legislation aimed at strengthening workplace protections for nursing mothers, expanding access to menstrual hygiene products in public facilities and schools, improving insurance coverage for hormone therapies and increasing access to contraception through pharmacies.

Additionally, State Rep. Stuart shared proposals to lower the recommended age for routine mammogram screenings and other efforts designed to expand maternal health support in communities across the state.

Following the presentations, attendees participated in a discussion about women's healthcare access and the role of public policy in expanding services across Illinois.

Michele Landeau, chief operating officer of HOPE Clinic in Granite City, attended the event to learn more about available state resources and opportunities for collaboration.

"The resources that the state of Illinois prioritizes for residents are so impactful," Landeau said. "You can see a difference in being able to say to someone with an unmet healthcare need, 'I know exactly where you can go to get help,' versus places where those resources simply don't exist."

Photo: Illinois State Rep. Katie Stuart. Photo by Howard Ash.