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
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Flu Season Could Be Very Challenging
Even as coronavirus was devastating populations around the world last year, doctors and public health officials noticed something else was missing – there was almost no flu. Many believe that measures taken to help control coronavirus also prevented the spread of...
Why Experts Say Ticks are out of Control This Year
Tom Mather, an entomologist at the University of Rhode Island and director of a tick awareness program called TickEncounter, said he’s seen an uptick in reports of American dog tick sightings and bites around the country this year. TickEncounter, which crowdsources...
CDC: As Home Pools are More Plentiful, Focus on Safety
Residential in-ground pools now number about 5.1 million, and home above-ground pools are estimated at 3.5 million, according to the National Swimming Pool Institute. During the pandemic, many families added a backyard pool for at-home recreation and relaxation. The...
For Outdoor Outings All Summer Long, Remember to BE CAUTIOUS WITH PICNIC FOOD
Unlike last summer, this year there are many families and friends out and about for family fun. And that means food and picnics. But the excitement of the return of much of the fun does not mean we should turn our backs on safety when it comes to food preparation. ...
It’s Fireworks Safety Month: Be Careful During Holiday Weekend and at All Times
July is Fireworks Safety Month! According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 9,100 fireworks-related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2018. Here are nine fireworks safety tips (with infographics) including watching...
Free School and Sports Physicals Offered with COVID-19 Vaccine at Will County Community Health Center Joliet Location
Parents Urged to Schedule Physicals Now JOLIET, IL – The Will County Community Health Center (WCCHC) has announced that they are offering free same day school and sports physicals with a COVID-19 Vaccination for children age 12 and up at their Joliet office, 1106 Neal...
CDC Investigating Salmonella Illnesses in Several States, Caution Advised
CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to contact with backyard poultry. A total of 474 sick people have been reported from 46 states, with 103 people hospitalized and one death reported...
Improve Cognitive Health During Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, a time when people around the nation are having conversations about their own cognitive health. To identify specific ways to take action, public health professionals can look to the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) — a...
Public Health Officials Announce More Than 80 COVID-19 Cases Now Associated with Downstate Youth Camp Outbreak
Secondary outbreak now connected with previously reported youth camp outbreak in central Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is now reporting 85 teens and adult staff at a summer youth camp held in mid-June in central Illinois tested...
WCHD Immunizations Says “Come In as Soon as You Can” and Be Ready for School
Lots of Immunization Needs Expected after 2020’s Coronavirus Effects JOLIET, IL - At the Will County Health Department (WCHD), the Family Health Services (FHS) Immunizations office is urging parents to MAKE THEIR CHILDREN’S APPOINTMENTS FOR NEEDED SCHOOL IMMUNIZATIONS...
Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Lake County
Lake County, Ill. — A mosquito “pool” (batch of mosquitoes) sampled on June 16, 2021 in Lake Bluff, Illinois has tested positive for West Nile virus. This mosquito pool is the first confirmed indicator of West Nile virus presence in Lake County in 2021. “As we...
Will County Health Department Advises: Go Forth from Pandemic with Good Habits, and Stay Informed
Pandemic is Not Over, and Adjustments are Here to Say With the world becoming more active during this “Open Summer of 2021” following months of closure during the pandemic, there are two very major points WCHD (Will County Health Department) would like to make. The...
First Illinois Mosquitoes Testing Positive For West Nile Virus Reported in Cook County
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed the first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus in Illinois for 2021. The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District collected a positive mosquito batch on June 9, 2021 from Skokie,...
Second Will County Rabid Bat of Season Found in Peotone
A bat captured in Peotone is Will County's second confirmed rabid bat of 2021. This bat was found in a residence in the 400 block of South Third Street. The bat was found in the main level bathroom, and no other bats were found in the rest of the home. All other...
Will County Board of Health COVID-19 Response Committee Meeting Scheduled for June 23rd Cancelled
The Will County Board of Health COVID-19 Response Committee meeting scheduled for June 23rd has been cancelled.
National Men’s Health Week: June 14th through June 20th (Father’s Day)
National Men’s Health Week starts June 14 and is observed each year leading up to Father’s Day. This week is a reminder for men to take steps to be healthier, but they don’t have to do it alone! Whether it’s your husband, partner, dad, brother, son, or friend you can...
State of Illinois Moves to Phase 5 of COVID-19 Recovery on Friday
The WCHD (Will County Health Department) is reminding residents that by order of Governor J.B. Pritzker, the State of Illinois will move into Phase 5 of recovery from the COVID-19 virus tomorrow (Friday, June 11, 2021). This transition from the Bridge Phase to Phase 5...
Illinois Department of Public Health Expands COVID-19 Testing to Elementary Schools
Testing currently available for middle schools, high schools, and community colleges SPRINGFIELD – To help ensure schools can more safely resume in-person learning, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced it is expanding access to no-cost and...
Veggies and Fruits Increase Provides More Nutritional Access to WIC Families
Will County Health Department WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program Coordinator Pat Krause wants county residents to be aware of increased WIC benefits that are available for program participants during the summer months. “We are proud that Illinois chose to...
Gov. Pritzker Issues Guidelines for Illinois Reopening on June 11
With Continued Progress on Vaccination Rates, All Businesses and Industries to Fully Reopen as State Concludes Restore Illinois Plan Outdoor Mask Requirement to be Lifted in Schools Following CDC Guidance SPRINGFIELD – Following weeks of steady decreases in new...