Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Teams Up with Area Grocers to Make Healthier Food Selections Easier

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) has been working with area schools the past six years to promote healthy eating and physical activity through the CATCH program (Coordinated Approach to Child Health). Now, CUPHD is teaming up with local grocers to help shoppers identify healthier foods.

CUPHD is inviting local grocers to participate in a campaign to help shoppers easily identify smarter food and beverage choices. Healthy eating is supported by helping kids and families easily identify which foods are healthy and which foods should be eaten less often. Students at the CATCH schools can now share the tools they have been given with their families to identify foods by the use of GO, SLOW and... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges Residents to Continue to Take Precautions

Champaign, IL - A mosquito sample collected last week in the City of Urbana has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). "As West Nile virus activity increases during the
summer months, it is important for people to take precautions when outdoors and to eliminate sources of standing water around their property," said Jeff Blackford, Program Coordinator at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD).

The best way to prevent WNV infection or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Supports World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7, 2011

Champaign, IL - Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn, has declared August 2011 as Breastfeeding Promotion Month in Illinois. The proclamation aims to increase public awareness of breastfeeding as the normal and expected way to feed all babies in Illinois. It works in conjunction with breastfeeding advocates in more than 170 countries worldwide who will celebrate the 20th anniversary of World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7, 2011. The 2011 theme is "Talk to Me! Breastfeeding - a 3D Experience!"

The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous, well known, and research based. Babies who are breastfed are protected against respiratory and ear infections, asthma, allergies, childhood cancer, and obesity. Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Honors Today as
World Hepatitis Day

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) honors July 28th as World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. World Hepatitis Day was launched by the World Hepatitis Alliance in 2008.
The alliance is a non-governmental coalition of advocacy groups that serves as a global voice for the 500 million people worldwide living with chronic viral hepatitis B or C. According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, one in 12 people are living with either chronic hepatitis B or C which surpasses the number of individuals living with HIV or any cancer. The goals of the alliance are not only to raise awareness, but to extend existing support for the disease with long-term goals of preventing new infections and delivering improvements in health outcomes for people living with... more...

Local Health Department Program is One of 41 Nationwide to Receive "Model Practice Award" in 2011

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) was honored at the 2011 annual conference of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), a body of peers, for developing and implementing a program that demonstrates exemplary and replicable qualities in response to a local public health need. "Real time advanced digital mapping to plan, identify, and respond to vaccination penetration rates" was one of 41 public health programs developed by a local health department selected from across the nation to receive NACCHO's Model Practice... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency Urge the Public to Check on Individuals That May Be in Need


Champaign, IL -Officials from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) urge religious organizations, apartment and mobile home park managers, clubs and fraternal organizations to reach out and check-up on their vulnerable members or tenants who might need assistance during extreme heat. "These organizations are in a much better position than anyone to reach out during a heat wave or other emergency," says Julie Pryde, Administrator of CUPHD. "Religious and fraternal organizations are an immense resource. They often have directories, phone trees, prayer lines, and other resources that make it easy for them to reach out and conduct a welfare... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency Urge the Public to Take Extra Precautions to Stay Safe in the Heat

Champaign, IL -The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and the Champaign County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) urge everyone to watch for the symptoms of heat-related illness, and to take precautions to keep their families and communities safe.

Heat-related illness can take many forms ranging from a mild case of heat exhaustion to a more serious and life-threatening case of heat stroke. Heat-related illnesses occur when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body's temperature rises rapidly and the body looses its ability to perspire and cool down. Rising to temperatures of 106 degrees F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes can result in death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Hosts Food Program Providing Free Meals to Children

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is hosting the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) again this year beginning on Thursday, June 16, 2011. The program provides free meals and snacks throughout the summer months when children are not in school.

SFSP is sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education and will run until August 19, 2011 in the lobby of CUPHD located at 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. Breakfast is served from 9:00 am - 11:00 am, a morning snack from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, and lunch from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. All meals are free to children ages one to 18 regardless of income or... more...

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is hosting the 3rd Champaign County Public Health Summit July 13-14, 2011. This year's theme is "Next Steps: Mobilizing Communities through Innovation, Outreach, and Planning".

Featured keynote speaker is Dr. Nathan Wolfe, Director of the Global Viral Forecasting Initiative (Rolling Stone's Top 100 Agents of Change, 2009). The 2-day conference will satisfy diverse professional interests by offering over 15 different presentations and workshops related to this year's proactive theme. There will be many expert speakers with local, national, and international credentials.

On July 13, the Summit will take place at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine located at 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue in Urbana from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM and will include topics covering GIS Mapping and Epidemiology. Seating is limited. On July 14, the Summit will conclude at the I Hotel in Champaign and will host... more...

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Hosts a FREE Women's Wellness Workshop to Provide Healthy Habit Ideas

Champaign, IL - The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be hosting a FREE Women's Wellness Workshop on Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM (speakers begin at 5:30 PM) at 201 W. Kenyon Road in Champaign. This educational and fun workshop will be geared towards increasing positive healthy habits of women.

"The women of today are busier than ever before and too often women do not realize the strain that they inadvertently place on their health, which may lead to unfortunate consequences in the future," said Nikki Hillier, Program Coordinator for CUPHD. "CUPHD hopes that this Women's Wellness Workshop will give participants the tools necessary to meet these challenges in a healthy... more...