By IPHA Staff
Community Health Workers responded to 5,586 service requests in September.
Behind each request is someone experiencing the harmful, long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As demonstrated in the data table below, most of the service requests received in September were for basic human needs, such as food and household items, income assistance (including rent and utility payment programs), and even finding a safe place to quarantine…
Notice also that Region Five, despite being a more rural, sparsely populated part of Illinois, had the highest number of service requests for the month. Health administrators in those southernmost 20 counties reported all intensive care unit beds were in-use as a surge tore through the region. This left patients who would have otherwise been hospitalized with few options other than to remain isolated at home for several days.
Community Health Workers respond to service requests after they are received directly from the person in-need or through a referral from a local public health department. Identities of those requesting help, as well as the specifics of the ask, are treated as confidential information, but normally fulfilled within 48 hours of their receipt.
There are now more than 800 Community Health Workers in Illinois participating in the Pandemic Health Navigator Program, who are trained and supported by the Illinois Public Health Association in partnership with the Illinois Primary Health Care Association.
With that in mind, here is a breakdown of all service requests they have received since the Navigator Program launched in April…
This pandemic is not over, which means these numbers are far from final. We hope to see the number of individuals opting for vaccination to go up so that the number of families affected by these trying times goes down. Wear a mask. Get vaccinated. Make healthy decisions.
Morreale Communications
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