IDPH Is Offering Public Health And Services Information At The Illinois State Fair Aug. 8-18

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will provide a variety of public health information and services at several locations during the Illinois State Fair, Aug. 8 through Aug. 18 in Springfield.

The IDPH main tent will be located on the east side of the Annex Building, just across from the Lincoln Stage. Each day of the fair, IDPH staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide an array of information and services, including:

Oral Health: Educational information and interactive opportunities to learn about the importance of oral hygiene;

Office of Women’s Health and Family Services (OWHFS): Information about the IL Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP);

Office of Racial and Cultural Health Equity (ORCHE): Educational materials on what their office does, information about Rural Health scholarships;

Emerging Health Issues: Educational materials on overdose injury including distribution of naloxone; firearm injury prevention, including distributing gun locks; and information about suicide prevention and the 988 Suicide Hotline;

The Vital Records division will have information on how a person can access birth and death records and other important documents;

Information on lead exposure and lead testing;

And recruitment and information about available positions at IDPH, as well as information on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the department.

While supplies last, IDPH will also have giveaways at its main tent, including sunscreen, cooling pouches, water bottles, hand sanitizer wipes, and COVID test kits.

Also, the IDPH will present at Conservation World at the State Fair, with information about how to prevent “vector-borne” diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks, along with information on safe consumption of fish from Illinois waterways.

In addition, IDPH is partnering with outside groups to provide back-to-school physicals and immunizations for children under the age of 18 during the fair. Mobile Care Chicago will have a unit outside the Illinois Building on Friday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fifth Street Renaissance in Springfield will also provide screenings and immunizations outside the Illinois Building on Aug. 8 and from Aug. 11-18.