The Illinois Department of Health announced on April 2 the launch of its “30 Days of Public Health” initiative, expanding National Public Health Week into a month-long statewide campaign to raise awareness about public health and promote health equity across Illinois.
The campaign aims to inform residents about the essential services provided by IDPH, many of which are often overlooked but play a crucial role in keeping communities healthy and safe. The observance also coincides with National Minority Health Month, emphasizing resources available to all residents and the importance of advancing health equity.
To highlight these efforts, IDPH is debuting new video and audio public service advertisements developed in partnership with the Ad Council’s Creative Studio and Storyteller Studio. The “You Might Not Know It” creative focuses on vital public health services such as newborn screenings, cancer prevention, food safety, and community health programs. These PSAs will run statewide across digital video, audio, and out-of-home formats throughout April.
IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said: “From newborn screenings and cancer prevention to food safety and community health, IDPH works to improve the health of Illinoisians. The scope of our programs allows us an opportunity to support people at every stage of life and in every corner of Illinois. We want people to know that when they have health challenges, we are here as a trusted resource. This April and beyond, we are focused on making public health more visible, more relatable and more connected to the everyday lives of the people we serve.”
Derrick Feldmann, lead researcher and managing director at the Ad Council Research Institute said: “Ad Council research revealed an opportunity to deepen public awareness and understanding around IDPH’s full range of services. Effective public health communication starts with relevance and clarity. By elevating everyday public health services through relatable storytelling, this campaign helps make systems feel more accessible and meaningful to the people they serve.”
For further information or updates on available programs throughout April or beyond, residents can visit https://dph.illinois.gov/resource-center/communications.html.
