DRIVE CHANGE.

>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PUT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS FRONT AND CENTER.

NOW THE CITY OF CHICAGO HAS A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER FILLING THIS HIGH-PROFILE ROLE.

DOCTOR SYMBOL IGE IS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO LEAD THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ON A PERMANENT BASIS.

THIS AFTER MANAGING A NONPROFIT IN NEW JERSEY AND SPENDING MUCH OF HER CAREERS SERVING AS ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE.

DOCTOR IGE WAS TAPPED BY MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON TO FILL THIS CABINET POSITION AND SHE JOINS US NOW HAVING BEEN ON THE JOB FOR LITTLE OVER A MONTH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HOPE YOU GET TIME TO UNPACK SOON.

HAHA, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS JOB IN CHICAGO?

>> THAT TENDS TO BE THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN IN THE I THINK THAT VERY COMPELLING.

I ALSO WAS I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT NOT BEING A MINORITY.

CHICAGO A CITY WHERE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, BUT PEOPLE IN IT MINORITY HERE WE HAVE MINORITY TIES STEP, BUT WE UNITED MINORITY.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING TO WAKE.

I WAS ALSO EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS COMMITTED TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL JUSTICE AND HEALTH EQUITY.

I IT WAS A RIOT POLICE ME TO BRING MY EXPERIENCE MY TO BE A AND THEN FINDING THE THE VISION AND THE MISSION OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN WORKING FOR NUMBER OF YEARS TO ADDRESS THE RACIAL GAPS IN LIFE EXPECTANCY.

I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I THOUGHT COOL.

ADD VALUE TO THAT.

WHAT CAN HELP ACCELERATE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THAT GOAL?

SO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE GOT IN FRONT OF YOU, MAYOR JOHNSON CAMPAIGNED ON HIS PUSH FOR THE RETURN OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.

>> AFTER FORMER MAYORS CLOSED, 14 OF THEM ON HIS BUDGET HAS CALLED FOR RESTORING TOO.

WE KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A MONTH, BUT WHERE WOULD YOU SAY THIS PROCESS IS RIGHT NOW?

AS FAR RESTORING THOSE AND WHAT WILL THE PROCESS TO GET THEM REOPENED LOOK LIKE?

>> YES, THAT IS A FIND ONE THAT NOT SNOW DOWN IN IN TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

SO WHERE WE THE MOMENT IS WITH THE COMMUNITY.

REPRESENTATIVES TO HELP IDENTIFY WHERE THIS CANNING SHOULD BE LOCATED.

WE HAVE STARTED THE PROCESS OF RECRUITING FOR THE LOOK.

FORCES GOING.

OH, MAN, DID.

THIS GUY MAKES AND TO BE BAD WHEN YOU CAN ADD THE LARGE LANDSCAPE OUR SERVICES.

COMMUNITIES HAVE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF DISINVESTMENT.

AND WE KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH GOES AND THEN WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL HEALTH.

THAT'S THE TRIANGLE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE OPEN OUR CLINICS, IT IS PROVIDING A COMPLETE STATE HEALTH SERVICES THAT ALL COMMUNITIES NEED.

SO WE'RE DOING A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT.

WHAT COUNTY, THE COMMUNITY ALONG AND WAS STAFFING TO MAKE THIS A REALITY.

COMPLETE SLATE OF SERVICES.

WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE OFFERED BEYOND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT CLINICAL VERY OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO A SPACE, COME SEE CAN SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH WHEN YOU LOOK CLOSELY, THEY ALSO SEEKING SUPPORT FOR HOUSING FOR A FOOD, FULL EMPLOYMENT.

AWFUL.

MANY OTHER SERVICES AND THE SO PEOPLE WHO OFTEN HAVE PHYSICAL AILMENTS THAT THEY NEED HELP WITH.

SO WE WANT THIS TO BE A ONE-STOP LOCATION WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE IMMUNIZATION.

WE CAN PROVIDE CONNECTION TO NUTRITION.

SOME POINT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE FIND AND CONNECT TO HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES THAT OFFERED BY THE CITY.

SO THIS POLICE WAY PEOPLE CAN GET CONNECTED TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND JUST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 2024.

IS THE LAST YEAR THAT THE CITY CAN APPROPRIATE COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS WHICH HAVE TO BE SPENT BY THE YEAR 2026, A NUMBER OF CITY AND AND MUNICIPAL AGENCIES ARE EXPERIENCING THIS.

BUT WHAT CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT LOOMING FISCAL CLIFF THAT SO MANY AGENCIES ARE LOOKING >> THIS IS ONE OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF PUBLIC WE HAVE EMERGENCIES AND WITH HIM AGAINST HIS COLUMN OF US UNDER FUNDING.

>> AND THEN WHEN HE MADE IN SEASON TICKET TO HAVE ENDED TO THE FUNDING GOES AWAY WITH IT.

BUT A PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES REMAIN.

SO WE ARE ADVOCATING VERY STRONGLY FOR A MORE FLEXIBLE FUNDING THAT CAN PROVIDE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THE NEEDS.

NOT JUST ONE INFECTIOUS DISEASE AT A TIME.

AND SO THAT A CHALLENGE US.

THE CITY ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING REALLY HARD TO HELP ADVOCATE FOR A MORE ROBUST SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO COOK COUNTY'S RECENT A PRELIMINARY REPORT SHIFTING A BIT TO OPIOID CRISIS.

>> THAT REPORT SHOW THAT IN 2023, 90% OF OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE COUNTY INVOLVED FENTANYL COMPARED TO 15% OF OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS INVOLVING FENTANYL IN 2015 AFRICAN-AMERICANS, THOUGH ACCOUNTING FOR 56% OF CONFIRMED OPIOID OVERDOSE DEATHS FOLLOWED BY WHITE AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR 27% OF LATINOS UNDER 15%.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHY AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE MAKING UP THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY THESE DEATHS.

WHEN WE SEE THE IN EQUITIES HEALTH AND EVEN OPIOID.

>> THE CHALLENGE IS ALWAYS WHEN YOU PEEL THE LAYERS, THEY ALWAYS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS UNDERNEATH THIS SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS IN WHICH THAT PEOPLE LEAVE THAT MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO COPE WITH AND AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE SUBOPTIMAL.

AND SO WE SEE THAT MANY HEALTH CONDITIONS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND IS NO DIFFERENT.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS AGAIN FOCUS AND SENT TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE MOUNTAINS CENTERED THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED THE DRIVERS OF PANDEMIC AND THEN STOP PUTTING RESOURCES IN PLACE TO HELP SUPPORT.

I DO WANT TO FLAG THAT THIS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IS NOT JUST THE FAILURE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT JUST A MORAL A WEEK PACKED IT IS A DISORDER.

AND SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE SERVICES THAT CAN HELP THEM IN THEIR RECOVERY.

ONE, WE WANT TO PREVENT OVERDOSE IN THE IMMEDIATE AND SITUATING THE CD WITH KNOCKING THEIR NEW VENDING MACHINES IN ATTACK EVERY PUBLIC AT POLICE STATIONS.

AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE EVERY INDIVIDUAL KNOWS HOW TO ADMINISTER IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

BUT BEYOND THAT IS MAKING MEDICATION ASSISTED RECOVERY AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PEOPLE SUCH THAT PEOPLE CAN GET MEDICATION TO SUPPORT THEM IN GETTING COREY AND DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS JOURNEY FOR THIS TREATMENT OF DOCTOR, DAY BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF CONCERNS FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF IN THE COMMUNITIES.

CERTAINLY FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A 5 YEAR-OLD JOHN CARLOS MARTINEZ, RIVERO.

>> WE JUST HEARD A REPORT IN THE ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN ALLEGED SOME OF THESE SHELTERS, WHAT DOES CARE WAS HEALTH CARE ON THE GROUND?

LOOK LIKE FOR MIGRANTS WITH A RIGHT TO CHICAGO.

YES, I'M WHEN INDIVIDUALS HAVE GONE THROUGH MONTHS AND MAYBE WEEKS TRAUMA TRYING TO GET TO SAFETY.

>> THEY COME WITH NOTE OF HEALTH CAN SENSE.

SO THE VERY STEP IN THAT PROCESS IS IDENTIFYING WHAT ENTAILS NEEDS.

THEY NEED.

SO THEY SAYS SCREENING PROCESS.

THAT HAPPENS DURING THE 19 ZONE IDENTIFYING THOSE WHO NEED HEALTH CARE AND CONNECTING THEM TO SERVICES AND THEN ONCE THEY PLACED SHELTERS, ONGOING SOME POINT, WE START WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL EXAM SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY ALL THE HEALTH ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND THEN THEY ARE ON ONCE TWICE A WEEK THEY PROVIDE IS ON SITE.

ABLE RESPOND TO HEALTH CARE NEEDS.

IS AN EMERGENCY.

THE AMBULANCE SEVICES YOU CALL 9-1-1 TO GET THEM TO CARE.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE NOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN WHAT WE CALL CONGREGATE SETTINGS, LIKE IN THE SHOW TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A SPACE.

YOU KNOW THAT ONCE THEY IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPREADS QUICKLY.

SO WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE MEASURES IN PLACE TO CONTAIN THE SPREAD INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

SO THOSE