NEWS & EVENTS
WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT & COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
Public Announcements
Will County Health Department Releases 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment and IPLAN
The Will County Health Department and the Will County Mobilizing for Action Through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) Collaborative are excited to share two important new reports: the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and the Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN).
2025-26 COVID-19 Vaccine Available
The Will County Health Department (WCHD) is informing residents that the new 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine is available at the Will County Health Department Immunization Clinic and at the Will County Community Health Center.
Will County Warming Centers
With temperatures dropping and sub-zero wind chills being forecasted, here is a link to Will County's warming centers provided by local governments for those having issues with properly heating their homes.
ByHeart Infant Formula Product Recall
ByHeart Infant Formula has issued a nationwide recall during an ongoing investigation by the FDA and CDC of a multistate outbreak of infant botulism.
Read the Latest Environmental Health Newsletter
Read the 2025 Fourth quarter newsletter from the Will County Health Department Environmental Health Division
WCHD To Open New Milk Depot in Bolingbrook
Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes and the Will County Health Department have partnered to bring a new human milk drop-off depot to Bolingbrook, Illinois at the Will County Health Department's Northern Branch Office (323 Quadrangle Drive). The grand opening will be on June 13, 2025.
WCHD Adds 10 Additional Red Naloxone Distribution Boxes
The Will County Health Department continues its efforts to reduce opioid overdose deaths, making access to the life-saving, overdose-reversing drug Naloxone (Narcan) easier by adding 10 additional red Naloxone distribution boxes throughout the County, bringing the total number of red distribution boxes in Will County to 20.
Will County Health Department Announces New Breastfeeding Support Group Starting In August
The Will County Health Department has announced the creation of a new breastfeeding support group, called the Milk Circle. The Milk Circle will meet twice a month on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The group will hold a separate kick-off meeting on August 5, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to Noon, before hosting its first meeting on August 19, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Infectious Disease Clinic is Latest Service at Community Health Center
The Will County Community Health Center has added an Infectious Disease (ID) Clinic to its list of medical services available to the public. The ID Clinic has partnered with the Care Clinic and specializes in the treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV care while also offering general infectious disease consultations.
WCHD Expands Behavioral Health Services at Branch Offices
The Will County Health Department (WCHD) is in the process of expanding mental health services at both its Northern Branch Office in Bolingbrook and Eastern Branch Office in Monee
Have You Tested Your Well Water?
Even if you’ve never gotten sick from your well water, it is your responsibility to properly maintain your well and regularly test it to ensure you have safe drinking water. See the Fact Sheet on well testing from the IDPH.
Our Environmental Health Lab can test for bacteria and nitrate well also testing chlorine, fluoride and hardness.
Learn more about our EH Lab here.
Press Releases
Fourth Positive West Nile Virus Mosquito Sample Found in Will County
The Will County Health Department has 14 mosquito traps positioned around the county to track West Nile Virus activity. The Will County Health Department Environmental Division reports that a fourth mosquito sample this season has now tested positive for West...
Will County Community Health Center Welcomes Teens With “Teen Friendly Space”
Will County Community Health Center, 1106 Neal Avenue, Joliet Did you know that high-risk behaviors, such as substance abuse, unsafe sexual activity, interpersonal violence, and suicide are the primary cause of disease and death in adolescents ages 12 to 21? ...
Will County has Second Confirmed Rabid Bat of Year
A woman off of Aberdeen Road in Frankfort found a dead bat on her driveway on Tuesday, July 2nd. The bat was collected by local Animal Control and sent to the State lab for testing where it was found to be positive for the Rabies virus. The couple who lives at the...
State Takes Action to Make Vaccines More Easily Available for Low-Income Children
Vaccines to be provided for Children’s Health Insurance Plan and Vaccines For Children SPRINGFIELD – In its ongoing commitment to increasing vaccination rates across the state, the Pritzker administration is taking action to make vaccines more easily available...
Taking the MAPP Mission to 1340 WJOL’s Airwaves
Will County Health Department MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) Program Manager Nicole Garrett appeared on Scott Slocum's 1340 WJOL morning program on July 1st to discuss MAPP's objectives, and encourage Will County residents to take the...
SUMMER PICNICS: Celebrate Family and Fun, and Celebrate SAFE FOOD
With many families hoping to enjoy outdoor picnics all summer long, the Will County Health Department once again reminds everyone of some simple safety tips. 1. Remember the importance of washing your hands and washing all work surfaces (cutting boards, picnic tables,...
NEW STATE LAW TAKES EFFECT: The Age to Buy Tobacco is now 21
Tobacco 21 reduces medical costs and improves Illinois’ health SPRINGFIELD – Effective July 1, 2019, people must now be at least 21-years-old to buy tobacco in Illinois, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vapes. Governor JB Pritzker...
Will County Health Department/Community Health Center Participates in First Annual Joliet PrideFest
Joliet's First Annual PrideFest at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park on Saturday, June 29th included information booths from the Will County Health Department, in addition to the Community Health Center Mobile Medical Van offering free HIV testing.
Eastern Will County, Including Crete and Steger Areas, Hit by Substantial Flooding
Please go to this Illinois Department of Public Health website for important flooding preparedness and response information. http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/emergency-preparedness-response/flooding-preparedness
Aqua Illinois Concludes Assets are Safe, Releases Statement of Apology for Inconvenience
For any questions or concerns about your water supply, please contact the IEPA at one of these numbers: 800-621-8431 847-294-4036 217-782-3397 217-558-1536 217-782-7027 For any questions or concerns concerning possible lead consumption, please contact your family...
Free Fitness Classes Available for Will County
Will County residents are invited to join in on the physical fun. Local sponsored established gyms have partnered with the MAPP (Mobilizing for Action Through Planning and Partnerships) collaborative to endorse physical fitness courses lead by certified fitness...
WCHD Environmental Health Interns Help Explain Mosquito, WNV Issues on WJOL Radio
On Thursday afternoon June 20th, Environmental Health interns Brendon Flynn, Hana Asfar, and Jacky Triplett joined Will County Health Department PIO Steve Brandy and on WJOL's Kevin Kollins show to discuss the battle against mosquitos and West Nile Virus. (L to R)...
Will County Community Health Center Expanding Services to Monee Location
Will County Community Health Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Byrd says she’s quite proud of the CHC’s upcoming expansion to the Will County Health Department’s Monee location. “When I began here at the CHC, we only had two locations of operation. Our main...
Fourth Hepatitis A Case of 2019 Reported in Will County
The fourth Hepatitis A case of 2019 has been reported in Will County. The Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting over 90 cases throughout Illinois for the year 2019. The majority of cases are among individuals at high risk for infection–including men who...
Illinois Department of Public Health Expands Newborn Screening
Adrenoleukodystrophy added as the 48th disorder SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is rolling out today a test for adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) for all newborn babies statewide. ALD is a rare hereditary disorder that affects the brain,...
Illinois Officials Caution Residents Recreating in Illinois Lakes or Rivers to be Aware of Blue-Green Algae
SPRINGFIELD – As temperatures begin to rise, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Public Health are reminding residents to be cautious if they are planning activities on Illinois lakes and rivers, now and throughout the summer. Water...
WCHD PrEP Clinic Offering Free HIV Testing During June 29th Joliet PrideFest; Testing Location will be CHC Mobile Van
The Will County Health Department PrEP Clinic, a cooperative effort between the WCHD's Community Health Center and Family Health Services Divisions, has been invited to the inaugural Joliet PrideFest. This event will take place Saturday, June 29th, Noon to 4 PM at...
Will County Health Department Busily Making Sure All Swimming Locations are Safe
Once again, the Environmental Health Division of the Will County Health Department is busy checking all swimming locations in the county to help keep everyone healthy while they are having fun in the water. In Will County there are 135 pools subject to WCHD...
Will County’s First Rabid Bat of 2019 Found in Steger
A bat captured in the 34-hundred block of Florence in Steger has tested positive for rabies, making it Will County's first rabid bat of 2019. A resident stated that no one in the house of one adult and one cat had any direct contact with the bat. The cat has...
Will County Community Health Center Offering Free Wednesday Optometry Services
The Will County Community Health Center offers FREE optometry services for Will County residents including: eye examinations for children and adults, prescriptions for lenses, screening for cataracts and glaucoma, diagnosis and treatment for eye conditions.Will County...