NEWS & EVENTS
WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT & COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
Public Announcements
2022 WCHD Annual Report
The Will County Health Department’s 2022 Annual Report is now available.
WCHD to Offer Free COVID Vaccine Clinics
The Will County Health Department will be offering three free COVID Vaccine Clinics in the upcoming weeks.
Dr. Kathleen Burke Named to National Commission
Will County Health Department’s Dr. Kathleen Burke has been named to the National Association of Counties new Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Armando Reyes Named to NAMI Will-Grundy Advisory Board
Will County Health Department’s Armando Reyes has been selected to serve on the advisory board on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Will-Grundy.
Learn about the WCHD’s Medical Reserve Corps
The Will County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps is actively recruiting new members. View the video above to learn more about the Medical Reserve Corps.
WCHD Reminds Residents to Stay Current on All Vaccines
Will County Health Department is reminding residents to make sure they’re staying current on all of their scheduled vaccines. In particular, the WCHD is urging everyone to get their seasonal flu shot and encouraging adults 50 and over to receive a shingles vaccination
Did You Have COVID-19? Did You Try to Get Treatment?
If you tested positive for COVID-19, the Illinois Department of Public Health would like to know about your experience in getting treatment for the disease.
Call 815.740.8143 to schedule an appointment for the NEW bivalent COVID-19 vaccine
WCHD’s Immunization’s Program is now offering the new bivalent vaccine booster for individuals ages 12 and older who have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series. Pfizer and Moderna’s new bivalent vaccines have been modified to be effective aginst both the original strain of COIVD-19 and the most recent Omicron subvariants [BA.4 and BA.5].
WCHD Offers Tips To Preventing Respiratory Illnesses
With the common cold, flu, COVID-19 and RSV occurring simultaneously, the Will County Health Department encourages preventative measures to help avoid respiratory illnesses.
WCHD Celebrates Sue Olenek’s Retirement
Staff and community members came together to celebrate the retirement of Will County Health Department Executive Director Sue Olenek after 33 years of dedicated service. View the video above for a look back at the celebration.
WIC Staff Volunteers at Northern Illinois Food Bank
Members of the Will County Health Department’s WIC staff recently volunteered their time at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. View the video above for a look at their visit.
Will County Health Department State of the Agency Address
Will County Health Department Executive Director Susan Olenek delivered the 2023 State of the Agency Address on January 20, 2023.
Elizabeth Bilotta named WCHD Executive Director
The Will County Board of Health has appointed Elizabeth Bilotta as Will County Health Department’s next Executive Director, effective February 4, 2023.
Pharmacy in Community Health Center Closed
Basinger Pharmacy at the Will County Health Center has closed. A new pharmacy is coming soon, but in the meantime, here is a list of other 340B participating pharmacies you may bring your prescription to.
Become a Health Hero with the Medical Reserve Corps!
You can become a Community Health Hero by joining the Will County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps. View the video above to learn more.
WCHD Hosts NACo Large Urban County Caucus
The Will County Health Department hosted the National Association of Counties (NACo) Large Urban Counties Caucus on December 2, 2022.
NOFO Announcement: Fit & Strong Senior Program
IDPH is offering a funding opportunity to offer the Fit & Strong! Program. Fit & Strong! Improves arthritis joint pain and function as well as strength, mobility, anxiety and depression.
Federal Government to Offer Free COVID Tests
The federal government is offering free COVID-19 at-home tests this winter. Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests.
Visit covidtests.gov to order your free at-home tests.
IDPH Expands Free COVID Test Kits
IDPH has expanded the distribution of its free COVID home testing kits. All zip codes in Illinois located outside the City of Chicago are now eligible to request free COVID rapid tests for home deliver.
Visit accesscovidtests.org to enter your zip code and sign up.
WCHD to Offer Free COVID Vaccine Clinics
The Will County Health Department will be offering three free COVID Vaccine Clinics in the upcoming weeks.
Will County Health Department’s Dr. Kathleen Burke Named To Nationwide Commission On Mental Health & Wellbeing
WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTWill County Health Department’s Dr. Kathleen Burke Named To Nationwide Commission On Mental Health & Wellbeing The National Association of Counties (NACo) has announced 14 county leaders appointed to the new Commission on Mental Health...
Armando Reyes Named to NAMI Will-Grundy Advisory Board
Will County Health Department’s Armando Reyes has been selected to serve on the advisory board on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Will-Grundy.
ELIZABETH BILOTTA NAMED WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Will County Board of Health has appointed Elizabeth Bilotta as Will County Health Department’s next Executive Director, effective February 4, 2023. Bilotta takes over the executive director role following the retirement of Susan Olenek after 33 years of service. “After 33 years of public service to this community, leaving is bittersweet,” said Olenek. “But I leave knowing this agency and the community will be in very capable, dedicated hands.”
Health Insurance Enrollment Events
The deadline for the ACA marketplace open enrollment is January 15th. Our certified enrollment counselors are here to help with marketplace and Medicaid open enrollment events. The Will County Health Department will be hosting the following three enrollment events. All the events are first come, first serve for walk-ins and appointments are not available.
Tips for Surviving the Holiday Blues
The holidays are often viewed as a time of happiness and cheerfulness. But for some, the holiday season can evoke feelings of sadness, depression and anxiety, often simplified as the holiday blues. Dr. Joe Troiani, Will County Health Department’s Director of Behavioral Health, offers some tips to alleviate the blues.
Will County Health Department Meetings Update
The Will County Board of Health Selection Committee Meeting scheduled for November 28, 2022 has been canceled. The Will County Board of Health Selection Committee will meet on November 29, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in person at 501 Ella Ave, (Joliet, IL 60433) in conference room 1005A.
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week
Antibiotics can save lives, but they aren’t always the answer. November 18-24 is U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week.
Will County Board Of Health Meeting
WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT The Will County Board of Health will hold its regular meeting on November 16, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in person at 501 Ella Ave, (Joliet, IL 60433) in conference room 1005A/1005B. View Agenda.
Will County Board Of Health Selection Committee Meeting
The Will County Board of Health Selection Committee will meet on November 15, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in person at 501 Ella Ave, (Joliet, IL 60433) in conference room 1005A.
WCHD Offers Tips To Preventing Respiratory Illnesses
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued a health advisory noticing elevated respiratory illnesses, especially in children, caused by multiple viruses occurring simultaneously.
Will County Health Department Reminds Residents To Stay Current On All Vaccinations
With flu season quickly approaching and certain diseases attempting a comeback, Will County Health Department (WCHD) is encouraging residents to stay up to date on all of their vaccinations. Parts of the United States are seeing a resurgence in some diseases that haven’t been seen in a long time, including polio, a disease that paralyzed more than 35,000 people every year in the late 1940’s. Polio has surfaced in a New York City suburb, resulting in the first case of paralytic polio in the U.S. in over a decade.
This Thursday WCHD to Offer Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic
Will County Health Department will hold a by appointment only monkeypox vaccine clinic on Thursday, September 8 from 1PM-6PM at its 501 Ella Ave., Joliet location. First and second dose appointments are available. Call 779.230.6051 to schedule an appointment.
WCHD Announces First Probable Case of Monkeypox in County
Today, Will County Health Department [WCHD] announces the first reported case of probable monkeypox infection in a resident of Will County. Confirmatory testing is pending at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CLOSED on Monday, July 4th
The Will County Health Department and the Community Health Center will be CLOSED on Monday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, July 5.
Will County Board Of Health Meeting June 15, 2022
Due to the sharp reduction in COVID-19 positive cases in Will County, the movement from substantial community transmission to low community transmission, the increase in icu bed availability, and the lifting of the mask mandate by governor Pritzker, the board of health president has determined that meeting in person is both practical and prudent for all meetings of the Will County Board of Health effective march 11, 2022.
As Second Bat in Will County Tests Positive for Rabies, WCHD Cautions Public
As summer begins and people begin to enjoy the outdoors more, Will County Health Department wants to remind everyone about the potential for rabies exposure.
First Mosquitoes In Will County Testing Positive For West Nile Virus Reported In Mokena
The Will County Health Department’s Environmental Health division announced that mosquitoes trapped in Mokena on May 17, 2022, tested positive for West Nile virus [WNV].
CLOSED on Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day
The Will County Health Department and the Community Health Center will be CLOSED on Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, May 31. Please remember, honor and never forget the brave men and women who fought for our country.
Will County’s COVID-19 Community Level Moves to RED
As of Friday, May 27, 2022, Will County is one of 15 Illinois Counties now Rated at High Community Level for COVID-19
Public Health Officials Stress the Importance of Being Updated on Vaccinations and Boosters; Vulnerable People Should Exercise Caution in Indoor Spaces.