What is the Illinois State Physical Activity and Nutrition (ISPAN) Program?
The Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) is proud to be funded again to continue and expand the Illinois State Physical Activity and Nutrition (ISPAN) program, a five-year initiative to make it easier for Illinoisans to live the healthiest lives possible, especially in low-income, rural, and communities of color communities that have been the hardest hit by chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IPHI is collaborating with the Illinois Department of Public Health, local health departments in two regions of the state, and a unified coalition of organizations from multiple sectors to tackle the root causes of obesity and related chronic diseases. IPHI was previously funded for SPAN from 2019-2023.
Explore
Explore the ISPAN Strategies
Breastfeeding
Increase access to programs/providers that support birthing people in breastfeeding babies as long as they want to.
Early Care & Education
Increase supports for childcare providers to improve nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding practices that affect children under their care.
Physical Activity and the Built Environment
Increase physical activity through community design.
Nutrition
Increase access to nourishing foods.
Impact
Successes & Impact
Successful Collaboration Around Breastfeeding Support in Peoria
Illinois Park District Adopts a Health and Wellness Policy to Support Staff and Community Residents
Early Care & Education: Go NAPSACC Yielding Results
Community Sidewalk Audit is the First Step in Promoting Physical Activity in Murphysboro, Illinois
ISPAN Years 1 -5 Impact
IPHI worked to bolster partnerships, engage communities in strategic planning, and worked with ISPAN partners to yield successes!
Improved Supports for Early Care Providers
Complete Streets Policies Passed
Sites implemented/improved nutrition/food service policies
Sites Improved Breastfeeding/chestfeeding Supports
People Impacted
Partners
ISPAN Partners
- Active Transportation Alliance
- Chicago Department of Public Health
- Chicago Food Policy Action Council
- Cook County Department of Public Health
- HealthConnect One
- Illinois Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
- Jackson County Health Department
- Peoria City/County Health Department
- Tazewell County Health Department
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Woodford County Health Department
Contact ISPAN Staff for More Information!
Contact the ISPAN Director, Sarah Flores, for more information.
Interested in implementing food service guidelines in your worksite or community site?
Contact the ISPAN Nutrition Program Director, Kathryn Bernstein today!
Want to learn more about how to connect public health, transportation, and planning to connect activity friendly routes to everyday destinations? Contact the ISPAN Physical Activity Program Manager, Kiearra Jones, today!