The Illinois Department of Public Health is on the hunt for groundbreaking ideas to tackle the stubborn issue of health disparities in certain communities. In a recent announcement , the IDPH has officially opened the door to proposals for its Health Equity Zone (HEZ) pilot project, which aims to empower local health departments and community groups to create meaningful change with innovative health solutions. They've put a clear deadline on the table: Applicants have until December 3 to submit their pitches for a slice of the $500,000 in grant funding that's up for grabs.
With $1 million in total appropriations from the General Assembly, the HEZ initiative is poised to not only address but also to robustly confront racism as a public health crisis—a top priority identified in both the Healthy Illinois 2028 State Health Improvement Plan and State Health Assessment. Dr. Sameer Vohra, IDPH Director, emphasized this commitment, stating, "IDPH is excited to partner with our local leaders to create innovative, cross-sector, community-led solutions to address health disparities and improve outcomes," according to an Illinois government press release .
This isn't just about throwing money at a problem and hoping for the best. The two projects that manage to secure funding will also gain technical support to help weave together multiple sectors—like healthcare, public health, and education, to transportation and environment—effectively knitting a cohesive strategy for tackling .
