Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has commenced the 2024 Healthy Illinois Survey, a comprehensive statewide initiative aimed at gathering crucial data on health and wellness in the region, as well as identifying areas where public health measures can be enhanced.

As per Illinois law, IDPH is mandated to conduct an annual survey to collect reliable data from every county and zip code in the state. This information serves as a baseline for public health, enabling progress tracking and measurement annually. The current year marks the first full implementation of the survey, following a pilot project in 2023.

"One of the most important lessons of the COVID-19 public health emergency was the need for public health to have accurate and timely data," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "IDPH is excited to launch the Healthy Illinois Survey to get detailed information on how to best respond to emergencies and improve the health of our residents across the state. I encourage every Illinoisan to watch your mailbox starting this week for an invitation to complete this important, confidential, and volunteer survey."

The Healthy Illinois Survey aims to reach approximately 55,000 households this year, with a target of garnering at least 400 responses per county and participation from every zip code in the state. To ensure maximum participation, surveys will be conducted online, by phone, and through paper copies sent by mail. The survey will be available in English and Spanish.

The questionnaire will cover various health-related topics such as overall health status, access to care, chronic conditions, use of tobacco and alcohol, diet and nutrition, immunization practices among others. All responses will remain strictly confidential with only aggregate data being made publicly available.

In an effort to boost participation rates, respondents will receive an incentive ranging from $1-$2 per household prior to taking part in the survey and $10 upon completion.

The IDPH has partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago to administer the statewide survey. The Healthy Illinois survey is being conducted concurrently with the Illinois Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Households in Illinois may receive invitations to participate in one or both surveys.