SHAPING CHANGE
Policy and Advocacy
Illinois Public Health Institute improves health policy from the ground up by connecting data and community input with institutions and policymakers.
Our Expertise
IPHI supports legislative and organizational policies that advance health justice in Illinois and beyond. We work across sectors to support the governmental public health infrastructure, improve multi-sector data sharing, and ensure state investment, planning, and support for disease prevention and health equity.
IPHI Health Policy Work in Practice
State Public Health Infrastructure
IPHI worked to keep community voices at the core of the State Health Improvement Plan by advocating for changes to the law that directs the state's planning process. IPHI also supported a law creating the Healthy Illinois Survey—one of the nation’s largest state-level multi-mode, address-based studies—to enhance and streamline data focused on the root causes of health inequities.
Medicaid Policy
IPHI successfully advocated for Illinois Medicaid to cover the National Diabetes Prevention Program and Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support services—a range of solutions to help prevent and manage diabetes. We also support the implementation of the Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver to address the root causes of health inequities.
Institutional Change: Hospital Breastfeeding Policy
IPHI supported Peoria health systems to collaborate on policies and environments that increase support for breastfeeding. As a result, OSF HealthCare, an integrated health system founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, has improved their policies related to hypoglycemia screening and treatment and to “rooming-in,” meaning keeping babies close to parents—and not in a separate nursery. New medical residents rotating through the system receive an updated training on how best to support breastfeeding.
Data Across Sectors for Health: State Data Policy Change
In the wake of COVID-19, Data Sectors Across Health (DASH) partnered with Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services to amplify the voices of people who have been historically marginalized and better align decision-making to reduce poverty across the state. As a result, the state passed legislation requiring stipends for low-income or underrepresented community members of state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
IPHI’s Policy Agenda
IPHI’s policy platform reflects our commitment to multi-sector partnerships to promote health.