Please "save the date" and join the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) for the introduction of the Consortium's 2021-25 Policy Agenda in an online Quarterly Meeting on Thursday, December 17th, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

CLOCC's Policy Agenda establishes policy priorities with the potential to shape and transform the obesity prevention landscape in Chicago and beyond over the next five years. In this meeting, policy experts will discuss updates and changes to the most recent agenda and identify where policy and advocacy opportunities are likely to exist in the coming months and years. Additionally, CLOCC Executive Director Adam Becker, PhD, MPH, will discuss the introduction of a new collection of policy priorities related specifically to social and political influencers of health.

We are excited to also welcome the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), to introduce new childhood obesity prevalence data for the City.

The 2021-25 CLOCC Policy Agenda was generated through open feedback from Consortium partners and a detailed review by CLOCC's staff, Executive Committee, and External Advisory Board. We look forward to sharing the evolution of our collective priorities and generating enthusiasm for breaking down the policy barriers for public health.

As the U.S. is facing its most dramatic spike in COVID-19 rates to date, including previously unseen rates of positive diagnosis in children, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital and the pediatric medical community urge parents and caregivers not to delay critical care for kids.

For non-emergency medical needs, caregivers should seek medical attention for their child by first contacting a primary care physician or pediatrician. However, for urgent medical concerns or if there is no access to a primary care physician or pediatrician and a child’s injury or illness is worsening, do not delay seeking care. The Lurie Children's pediatric Emergency Departments (EDs) at the main downtown campus, Central DuPage Hospital and Northwest Community Hospital are distinct facilities from general EDs which may be seeing adult COVID-19 patients. The pediatric EDs take precautions to keep patients, families and staff safe in the hospital. This includes wearing personal protective equipment; screening patients, families and staff for COVID-19 symptoms; and isolating every patient visiting the ED in an exam room upon arrival. 

For questions related to testing criteria and general information about COVID-19, please contact Lurie Children's COVID-19 Call Center at (312) 227-5300. The Call Center is staffed by Lurie Children’s nurses and is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The new Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities, which houses CLOCC, serves as the hub for all community-focused initiatives at Lurie Children’s Hospital. We partner with community organizations to reach youth where they live, learn and play and help them thrive, as well as strive to address the root causes of health disparities for children and adolescents. The Magoon Institute is currently seeking to fill the following positions:

America SCORES Chicago (ASC) is a nonprofit organization focused on providing after school and summer programming that combines soccer, poetry, and service-learning. The mission of ASC is to inspire youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. Currently serving neighborhoods in West and Southwest Chicago, ASC provides programming for students in K-8th grade.

ASC has the opportunity to expand its 21CCLC program and is currently hiring for 5 Resource Coordinators (RC). The RC is responsible for the overall implementation and management of the 21CCLC site, maintaining the bridge between the school and community and providing leadership for the collaborative process and development of a continuum of services for children, families, and community members. The RC strives to integrate and align programming at the school by working with school leadership, teachers and staff, Local School Council members, families, and community members to develop a vision and strategy for programming that reflects student and family interests and addresses gaps/community needs. Learn more here (PDF).

The Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) seeks to hire an experienced, resourceful, and team-oriented Communications Director to lead IPHI’s communication function in alignment with the organization’s values and strategic priorities. Public health and health equity are at the forefront of the minds of people throughout the communities served by IPHI. The Covid-19 pandemic, persistent racial injustices, climate threats, and economic uncertainty are among several factors that continue to destabilize the health and well-being of all Americans, especially BIPOC. IPHI team members and partners work to understand, communicate, and take action to address these factors, with a specific focus on health inequity, to engage strategic partners and build power to improve health outcomes. The director will collaborate with internal and external partners to advance the narrative of the organization’s impact on the health of communities throughout Illinois and the nation. Learn more here (PDF).

Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) is seeking an individual to join our team as a part-time Project Coordinator in the greater Chicago, IL area. The Project Coordinator plays a key role in successful implementation of AFHK’s program model by supporting healthy school environments and family-school partnerships, focused on food access and nutrition education, physical activity and active play, and social-emotional health and risk behavior prevention. The Project Coordinator is responsible for developing strong relationships with AFHK’s network of underserved districts and schools in the greater Chicago area and providing training and technical assistance to AFHK-funded districts/schools to implement AFHK’s program model. Learn more here (PDF).

From the DNAPO Research Round Up - In 2017–2018, nearly 6 in 10 US youths aged 6 to 17 years were involved on a sports team or in a sports activity, according to a new study. Participating in sports is a nationally recognized public health strategy to promote physical activity. Sports participation was highest among non-Hispanic White males aged 10 to 13 years. Participation also increased with more parent and caregiver education and higher household income. Disparities were especially pronounced in younger children. View the Research Brief Here.

Additionally, if you would like to contact a social worker, psychologist or child life specialist for information on community referrals or coping resources, you can call (312) 227-4118 and leave a message. Your call will be returned within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.