Lunch & Learns

Joining a Lunch & Learn is a great way to stay up to date and connected on how Community Health Workers (CHWs) can be empowered to provide care in their communities. Registration is required for all Lunch & Learns. Register for the sessions that you would like to attend using the links below. You will receive the Zoom link upon registration. You can earn a certificate for one hour of attendance by attending a Lunch & Learn and completing the post-Lunch & Learn evaluation.

Other Events and Trainings:

June 30, 2026, 10:00 – 11:00 AM: Tracey Smith, with IPHA, Gregory Scott, with Carle Health, and Payton Langen, with the Christian County Health Department, will provide an overview of current Medicare billing pathways for CHW services, including eligible activities, documentation requirements, workflow considerations, and strategies for program sustainability.

July 22, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Tracey Smith and Stephanie Standish, with IPHA, and Tonya Potts, with the Egyptian Health Department, will kick off a three-part training series designed to strengthen CHW documentation, billing, and compliance skills. Participants will explore documentation best practices, common documentation mistakes, Medicaid billing requirements, and strategies to reduce compliance risk while improving continuity of care. The following sessions will occur on August 11, 9:00 – 10:00 AM virtually and September 1, 12:00 – 2:00 PM in person at the IPHA Pre-Conference. You are not required to attend all three sessions

(Select “From Outreach to Reimbursement: CHW Documentation for MCO Billing Success” as your pre-conference session.)

June is Pride Month

Pride Month, is a month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer culture and community. In the United States, Pride Month is observed in June, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests. The first pride marches were held in four US cities, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, in June 1970. Following the Stonewall riots and the first pride marches, the number of LGBTQ groups rapidly increased, and the pride movement spread across the United States. While many Pride celebrations around the world are held in June, some cities vary the observation at different times. Today, pride marches, parades, and celebrations are held in cities and towns throughout the United States. Click here to find a Pride Festival near you.

For Pride Month, the American Cancer Society is running a campaign, I Love You Get Screened. Follow the links below to view and utilize their resources.

• The I Love You Get Screened social media asset above can be shared on your socials
• Familiarize yourselves with American Cancer Society Disparities Research and Surveillance, understanding the increased disparities faced by LGBTQIA+ communities
• See Cancer Facts & Figures by population
• Read “How Tobacco Harms LGBTQ+ Communities”
• Use the Fact Sheet for Health Care Professionals

Illinois Pride Connect helps LGBTQ+ individuals across Illinois find trusted resources, including legal assistance, healthcare support, and services that promote well-being and stability. Whether you're looking for support yourself or sharing resources with someone you love, IL Pride Connect is here to help. No one should have to face barriers to healthcare, income, housing, or stability alone. Visit ilprideconnect.org or call 855-805-9200.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign is the national campaign of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Let’s Stop HIV Together is an evidence-based campaign created in English and Spanish. It aims to empower communities, partners, and health care providers to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV testing, prevention, and treatment.

Illinois HIV Care Connect provides medical case management, health care and support services to persons living with HIV in Illinois. To enroll confidentially at no charge, contact your regional office. You may be eligible for benefits including medication cost assistance, insurance premium assistance, Ryan White Part B, and housing opportunities. Today, living healthy with HIV is a primary goal for HIV-positive individuals. Thanks to advancements in HIV treatment, living a long and healthy life is not only possible, it can be expected in most cases. Visit the HIV Care Connect website to begin treatment, achieve viral suppression, and prevent transmission of HIV to others.

June is Brain Health Month

As we recognize Brain Health Month, the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) is proud to continue our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Illinois Chapter, through the Illinois Brain Health Project (ILBHP). Over the past two years, we have worked together to advance community-driven strategies that promote brain health across the lifespan and strengthen public health efforts throughout Illinois.

Through this collaboration, IPHA has engaged Community Health Workers (CHWs) and other public health professionals in building knowledge, skills, and awareness around brain health. Our efforts have included trainings, community convenings, Lunch & Learn sessions highlighting promising practices and resources, and the development of brain health tools and materials accessible through our HelpGuideThrive platform.

As trusted messengers in your communities, CHWs play an important role in promoting brain health and connecting individuals to information and resources that support healthy aging and cognitive well-being. During Brain Health Month, we encourage you to continue incorporating brain health into your outreach, education, and community engagement efforts.

One of the key resources developed through the Illinois Brain Health Project is the "Your Brain Will Thank You" website, which provides practical information, tools, and tips to support brain health at every age. To learn more, visit the Illinois Brain Health Project website at www.yourbrainwillthankyou.com.

Alzheimer's Disease is Affecting Our Communities. It's Time to Talk About It. 

By Delia Jervier, Executive Director, Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter 

Alzheimer's disease does not discriminate. It steals from families of every background, every zip code, every walk of life. As Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter, I know there are families who brushed off early warning signs because they didn't know what to look for. I know there are communities where the conversation about memory loss and cognitive decline simply isn't happening because it feels too scary, too heavy or too hopeless to begin. 

But here is what I also know: the science is clear that there are real, practical steps that all of us can take to protect our brain health at any age. Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, quality sleep, managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, staying mentally and socially engaged; these are not radical changes to our everyday lives. They are simple choices that add up over time, and they are available to all of us. 

That is why the Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter has been working to bring this message to communities across our state in an accessible, straightforward way. Awareness is the first step. When people understand that cognitive decline is not inevitable and that the small choices we make today genuinely matter for the health of our brains tomorrow, something shifts. Hope becomes possible. 

Alzheimer's is a formidable disease. But silence and a lack of access to basic health knowledge make it worse. We can change that. 

If you want to take a first step toward protecting your own brain health, or the health of someone you love, I invite you to visit yourbrainwillthankyou.com. You will find simple, evidence-based tips that anyone can start using today. You’ll also find a practical Brain Health Habit Builder tool that will help you deploy these tips and take charge of your brain health. 

The Your Brain Will Thank You campaign is part of the Illinois Brain Health Project and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $730,000.00 with 28.85% funded by CDC/HHS and 71.15% funded by Illinois Department of Public Health. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. 

Illinois Public Health Association Announces Upcoming Statewide Recruitment Campaign for Community Health Workers

The Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), in partnership with statewide community anchors, ambassadors, and health organizations, announced this month that a comprehensive Community Health Worker (CHW) Recruitment Campaign will launch in the coming weeks. CHWs help bridge gaps in the health and human services system by offering culturally responsive education, advocacy, and care coordination.

This first‑of‑its‑kind, statewide initiative will raise public awareness of the CHW profession, support local workforce development, and connect aspiring CHWs with trusted training programs across Illinois. In addition, this campaign will help promote official statewide certification.

“This campaign is about building visibility and pride around a profession that is essential to the health of our communities,” said Tom Hughes, Executive Director of the Illinois Public Health Association. “Whether someone is looking for a new career, returning to the workforce, or hoping to make a difference in their own neighborhood, becoming a certified CHW is a powerful and accessible path forward.”

“Community Health Workers are trusted messengers who help individuals navigate systems that often feel overwhelming or out of reach,” said Tracey Smith, Associate Executive Director for Public Health Practice Illinois Public Health Association. “This campaign will help the public better understand the value of CHWs, while also opening the door for more Illinois residents to pursue meaningful, community-centered careers.”

Campaign Goals

The upcoming campaign will introduce a fresh, engaging creative platform that highlights the essential role Community Health Workers play in improving health outcomes, strengthening care navigation, and addressing social determinants of health in Illinois communities. It will be supported through digital outreach, community-based engagement, storytelling, and employer partnerships designed to boost recognition of CHWs as vital members of the public health and human services workforce.

The statewide initiative aims to:

• Increase public awareness of the CHW role and its impact
• Promote recruitment for certified CHW training programs
• Support employers interested in integrating CHWs into their organizations
• Highlight CHWs as a sustainable, community-rooted career pathway
• Help existing CHWs move along the pathway to becoming a certified CHW

What’s Coming Next

Illinois residents will begin seeing:

• Educational toolkits for schools, employers, and community organizations
• New resources on the HelpGuideThrive website
• Statewide digital and social media advertising
• Community outreach efforts led by regional partners
• Video stories showcasing CHWs in their communities

This multi-phase rollout will ensure Illinois residents, from students exploring career options to employers seeking to strengthen their workforce, have access to accurate, accessible information about CHWs’ critical services, and how to become a certified CHW in Illinois. Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Click here to read the full press release.

Find the CHW recruitment toolkit on the HelpGuideThrive website.

 Have a safe month,

Tracey Smith, Associate Executive Director for Public Health Practice at IPHA, Director of the CHW Capacity Building Center and Claire Hughes, IPHA Program Manager.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. 

We strive to keep CHWs, their employers, educators, and allies informed and connected. If you would like to contribute information for a future newsletter, please contact Mariah Menietti at mmenietti@ipha.com. We look forward to showcasing ways in which CHWs are making an impact in Illinois.