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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COOK COUNTY BIRTHDAY HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAM
WHEREAS, lack of access to medicine and health care screenings can negatively impact health outcomes of residents, regardless of socio-economic status, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship status, and other categorizations; and
WHEREAS, since its inception, Cook County’s public health system, including its hospitals, clinics, and myriad of public services, continues to provide medical care to all residents of Cook County, regardless of a resident’s socio-economic status, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship status, and other categorizations; and
WHEREAS, Cook County’s two hospitals, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County and Provident Hospital of Cook County, along with Cook County’s several healthcare clinics, provide more than half the charity care performed in the County. Additionally, Cook County Health, through its hospitals, facilities, and services, provides more charity care than any of the other 70 non-County hospitals throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Cook County allocated approximately $4.37B of its total $9.26B FY 2024 budget to public health and health care; and
WHEREAS, according to the latest national census data from April 2020 Cook County, Illinois has a population of approximately 5,275,541 residents; and
WHEREAS, according to the latest national census data from April 2020 Chicago, Illinois has a population of approximately 2,696,561; and
WHEREAS, according to the latest national census data from April 2020, approximately 20.9% of Cook County residents are persons under the age of eighteen (18) years old and 16.2% of Cook County residents are sixty-five (65) years old or older; and
WHEREAS, according to 2022 data from CCDPH approximately 9.01% of Cook County residents, not living in Chicago, are uninsured. Of the 9.01% reporting as uninsured, approximately, 16,66% identify as Hispanic, 8.5% identify as non-Hispanic Black, 4.75% identified as non-Hispanic White, 7.9% identified as Asian, and 16.39% identified as Native American; and
WHEREAS, according to 2022 data from Chicago Department of Public Health approximately 9.75% of Chicago residents are uninsured. Of the 9.75% reporting as uninsured approximately: 53.5% (140,581 residents) identified as Hispanic Chicago residents, 25.5% (67,027 residents) identified as non-Hispanic Black Chicago residents; 13.4% (35,155 residents) identified as non-Hispanic White Chicago residents; 5.5% (14,472 residents) identified as Asian Chicago residents; and 2.1% (5,393 residents) identified as Native American Chicago residents; and
WHEREAS, as of 2022, approximately 13.8% of Cook County residents, not living in Chicago, live at or below the federal poverty line; and
WHEREAS, approximately 17.06% of Chicago residents live at or below the federal poverty line; and
WHEREAS, as of 2022, approximately 10.1% of Chicago residents reported being unemployed. Unemployment defined as the percent of residents sixteen and older in the civilian labor force who are actively seeking employment. Moreover, unemployment is a leading factor to many households and residents’ inability to secure health insurance, afford healthcare, and/or routinely visit a doctor and/or primary care physician; and
WHEREAS, according to a 2019 study by the New York University School of Medicine, the City of Chicago has the largest life expectancy gap between its residents depending on where in the City of Chicago they live. Specifically, there is a 30-year gap between the Englewood neighborhood (approximately 60 years) and Chicago’s Gold Cost (approximately 90 years); and
WHEREAS, Cook County continues to address and expand access to health care for all Cook County residents. For example, Cook County passed several resolutions furthering its commitment to access to healthcare for residents by passing resolutions, including, but not limited to; Resolution 23-2260 “Calling For A Hearing Of The Health and Hospitals Committee to Examine Maternal Health Morbidity and Mortality Rates in Cook County”, Resolution 22-1703 “Requesting a Meeting of the Cook County Health & Hospitals Committee to Discuss the Cook County Department of Public Health & Cook County Health Analyses of Health Outcome Disparities in Cook County and Recommended Solutions”, Resolution 23-5053 “For Treatment Not Trauma”, and Resolution 23-5456 ”Food is Medicine”; and
WHEREAS, second to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women and prostate cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in men; and
WHEREAS, expanding access to healthcare through free prostate and/or mammogram health screenings will: 1) promote preventative care throughout Cook County; 2) promote wellness and good health; 3) promote early detection of any underlying health concerns; 4) promote the increased selection of primary care physicians throughout Cook County; and 5) promote increasing the life expectancy of all Cook County residents, especially in communities in Cook County with lower life expectancy rates.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, Cook County shall facilitate the free annual prostate health screening and/or mammogram screening during the resident’s respective birthday month provided the resident is able to provide verification of his, her, or their date of birth through means and/or documentation determined acceptable by Cook County Health. This program will be the Cook County Birthday Health Screening Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Cook County Health will develop the program, guidelines, and protocol for executing the Cook County Birthday Health Screening Program, notwithstanding final approval of the proposed guidelines and protocols by the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Cook County, through Cook County Health, hereby supports and extends itself and resources to effectively communicate and collaborate with its counterparts across all levels of government, to facilitate effective access to healthcare for all Cook County residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County will send a copy of this resolution, either a physical or electronic version, to all 135 municipalities comprising Cook County, to the Governor of Illinois and the State Legislature, and to the President of the United States and Illinois’ federally elected officials; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: a copy of this Resolution will be filed within the records and archives of Cook County.
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