Oak Park Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan (IPLAN)

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Many people of varying ages gather at the Oak Park Farmers' Market

Read below to learn more about our IPLAN and scroll to the bottom to leave feedback or share your thoughts.

The Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN) is a community health planning process required of certified local health departments in Illinois every five years. Through the IPLAN process, the Oak Park Department of Public Health works with residents, community organizations, health care providers and other partners to assess community health needs, identify priority issues and develop strategies to improve health outcomes. The IPLAN is composed of two parts: the Community Health Assessment (CHA), which examines community health needs and assets, and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which outlines goals, objectives and strategies for addressing identified priorities.

Purpose

The purpose of the IPLAN is to provide a structured framework for assessing community health, identifying priority issues and developing coordinated strategies to improve population health. By combining data analysis with community engagement, the IPLAN helps ensure that public health efforts are responsive to local needs, informed by evidence and focused on achieving meaningful and equitable health outcomes.

History

The IPLAN process was established by the Illinois Department of Public Health as a requirement for certified local health departments. Conducted on a five-year cycle, IPLAN serves as the foundation for local public health planning across Illinois. The Oak Park Public Health Department was established in 1902 and gained Local Health Department certification in 1947. It is one of only five municipal public health departments in the state. Our most recent IPLAN was completed in 2022.

Process

Spring and summer 2025:

  • The community health survey was launched, and data was analyzed using appropriate statistical methodology

  • Collected and analyzed secondary data on the community's health needs and assets

  • Collected data on the social, economic and environmental conditions in which residents live

Summer and fall 2025:

  • Residents and community partners were engaged through outreach activities, interviews, and discussions to provide context and deeper insight into the data

  • A core group of public health professionals from across the community was convened to review findings, identify root causes of health inequities, and establish priorities for the Community Health Improvement Plan

Winter and spring 2026:

  • A broader group of community interest holders met to refine the priorities and develop goals, objectives, and strategies that will guide community health improvement efforts over the next five years

Public Health Focus

The overarching health priority for Oak Park is to advance health equity. Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just chance to reach their highest level of health and wellbeing, without being held back by social, economic, demographic or geographic circumstances. It considers disparities linked to factors such as income, education, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age and others.

Advancement of health equity will occur through three sub priorities.

We will advance health equity through:

  1. Increasing access to healthy and safe environments

  1. Increasing access to and positive experience with the medical and mental health systems

  1. Implementation of focused health promotion strategies

With the overall goal of advancing health equity in Oak Park, our plan shifts the focus away from specific health conditions and toward the systems in our community. It is meant to increase attention on the underlying factors that affect community health. Our strategy emphasizes ongoing relationship-building, community participation and collaboration to shape our health ecosystem in Oak Park. By building ownership amongst community members and organizations in both the problems that cause inequity and the solutions that move us toward equity, we will identify and implement the most sustainable and effective interventions.

Moving Forward Together

  • With the IPLAN now complete, the next step is to share our findings with the community and gather feedback on the proposed priorities and goals.

  • Once feedback has been incorporated, the Oak Park IPLAN will be submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

  • As we implement the IPLAN, community input will continue to play a vital role in shaping implementation efforts and ensuring that planned actions reflect local needs, strengths and lived experiences.

Read below to learn more about our IPLAN and scroll to the bottom to leave feedback or share your thoughts.

The Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN) is a community health planning process required of certified local health departments in Illinois every five years. Through the IPLAN process, the Oak Park Department of Public Health works with residents, community organizations, health care providers and other partners to assess community health needs, identify priority issues and develop strategies to improve health outcomes. The IPLAN is composed of two parts: the Community Health Assessment (CHA), which examines community health needs and assets, and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which outlines goals, objectives and strategies for addressing identified priorities.

Purpose

The purpose of the IPLAN is to provide a structured framework for assessing community health, identifying priority issues and developing coordinated strategies to improve population health. By combining data analysis with community engagement, the IPLAN helps ensure that public health efforts are responsive to local needs, informed by evidence and focused on achieving meaningful and equitable health outcomes.

History

The IPLAN process was established by the Illinois Department of Public Health as a requirement for certified local health departments. Conducted on a five-year cycle, IPLAN serves as the foundation for local public health planning across Illinois. The Oak Park Public Health Department was established in 1902 and gained Local Health Department certification in 1947. It is one of only five municipal public health departments in the state. Our most recent IPLAN was completed in 2022.

Process

Spring and summer 2025:

  • The community health survey was launched, and data was analyzed using appropriate statistical methodology

  • Collected and analyzed secondary data on the community's health needs and assets

  • Collected data on the social, economic and environmental conditions in which residents live

Summer and fall 2025:

  • Residents and community partners were engaged through outreach activities, interviews, and discussions to provide context and deeper insight into the data

  • A core group of public health professionals from across the community was convened to review findings, identify root causes of health inequities, and establish priorities for the Community Health Improvement Plan

Winter and spring 2026:

  • A broader group of community interest holders met to refine the priorities and develop goals, objectives, and strategies that will guide community health improvement efforts over the next five years

Public Health Focus

The overarching health priority for Oak Park is to advance health equity. Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just chance to reach their highest level of health and wellbeing, without being held back by social, economic, demographic or geographic circumstances. It considers disparities linked to factors such as income, education, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age and others.

Advancement of health equity will occur through three sub priorities.

We will advance health equity through:

  1. Increasing access to healthy and safe environments

  1. Increasing access to and positive experience with the medical and mental health systems

  1. Implementation of focused health promotion strategies

With the overall goal of advancing health equity in Oak Park, our plan shifts the focus away from specific health conditions and toward the systems in our community. It is meant to increase attention on the underlying factors that affect community health. Our strategy emphasizes ongoing relationship-building, community participation and collaboration to shape our health ecosystem in Oak Park. By building ownership amongst community members and organizations in both the problems that cause inequity and the solutions that move us toward equity, we will identify and implement the most sustainable and effective interventions.

Moving Forward Together

  • With the IPLAN now complete, the next step is to share our findings with the community and gather feedback on the proposed priorities and goals.

  • Once feedback has been incorporated, the Oak Park IPLAN will be submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

  • As we implement the IPLAN, community input will continue to play a vital role in shaping implementation efforts and ensuring that planned actions reflect local needs, strengths and lived experiences.

Page published: 02 Jul 2026, 10:47 AM