Canvassing the West Side to Combat Overdoses

CDPH and the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force are launching an intensive 10-week door-knocking campaign on the West Side to share information and resources with residents and businesses to combat the alarming rise in opioid-related overdoses in the past few years.

Dubbed Operation S.O.S. (Summer Overdose Safety), the effort will send out trained outreach workers with a goal of covering the nearly 1,300 blocks on the West Side that have experienced at least one overdose-related EMS response last year, starting with blocks that have experienced three or more overdose responses in 2023.

The outreach teams will distribute the overdose-reversal medication Narcan and inform West Side residents about the Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) NOW program, which offers free, same-day access for medications to treat opioid use disorder through the Illinois Helpline.

Community Trainings in Trauma-Informed Support

CDPH is partnering with the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport (CHJS) to offer trauma-informed mental health skill-building trainings in communities most impacted by violence. Chicago often experiences an uptick in violence during the summer, and the impacts of violence extend well beyond the immediate victim to family members, friends, neighbors, and other community members.

These hyper-local trainings, designed to address the root causes of violence, will equip community members and organizations with tools to support those affected by trauma through a focus on relationship-building, creating psychological safety, and managing stress through sport-based activities.

Participants will learn strategies to build relationships, create trust and psychological safety, and use evidenced-based activities to help manage stress and emotional dysregulation. Each local series of trainings will convene in person for two 3-hour sessions at a location within the community. In addition, a virtual training option is available. Visit the CDPH website to register for one of the following sessions:

• Austin: July 24 & 31, Austin Public Library, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Greater Garfield Park: July 25 & August 1, Garfield Park Conservatory, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Greater Englewood: August 6 & 13, Harper High School, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Virtual Option: August 8 & 15, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m

Latiné/x Health Summit Recap

Last weekend's first-ever Latiné/x Health Summit for gay, bi, and other same-gender-loving men in Chicago was a rousing success. From Noon until 6pm on Sunday, July 14, a stream of attendees came to Joe's on Weed St., to gather information and resources related to gay and bi men's health, to get tested or vaccinated for mpox, and other viruses, or to get tested for HIV and STIs. CDPH was proud to sponsor this Health Summit with the event's organizers, Project Vida.

More than 15 organizations came together to provide vital resources such as mpox and measles vaccinations, blood pressure screenings, STD/AIDS testing, youth-focused activities and more.

Participants heard from an array of dynamic speakers and panelists (in Spanish and English), including CDPH Commissioner Dr. Simbo Ige and nationally-renowned specialists in men's health. Follow projectvida.org/lhs to be informed of future events.

We Need Your Voices - Health Partner Survey

Community health agency partners, we value your insights and expertise! Your opinion matters. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey about your perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccine. Your feedback is crucial in helping us understand the broader community views and enhance our health initiatives.

EVAC Survey

New Healthy Chicago Podcast

On a new episode of Healthy Chicago Podcast, Commissioner Olusimbo Ige and Deputy Commissioner of Behavioral Health Matt Richards discuss the defining characteristics of substance use disorders, the changing dynamics of the drug overdose epidemic in Chicago and the United States, and the steps that CDPH and residents are taking to combat this epidemic.

Spotify / Apple / YouTube

If you or someone you know experience substance use disorder and would like support, visit www.overcomeopioids.com

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