Oak Park residents are now covered by two overlapping public health strategies after Cook County released a five-year plan on Wednesday, Sept. 2, while the village's own health department continues a separate planning effort.

The county plan, called Building Healthier Communities 2030, covers all of suburban Cook County. The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) developed it with more than 50 community organizations, healthcare institutions and local governments. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined the announcement.

CCDPH identified three priority areas to guide the next five years: mental health and substance use, chronic disease prevention, and maternal and child health. Strategies include expanding access to care, strengthening care coordination and addressing conditions like housing, transportation and food access.

"Every resident of Cook County deserves the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health, regardless of race, ZIP code or income," Preckwinkle said in a statement.

The plan lands amid fiscal strain. Cook County Health faces a $40 million budget gap in 2026, driven by federal cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies. The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday, Aug. 30, that federal changes could knock an estimated 400,000 people off insurance across Illinois, with roughly half in Cook County, according to the state's Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Cook County Health's proposed $4.7 billion budget for 2027 is already $439 million less than the current year's, the Tribune reported.

Oak Park's Public Health Department is running its own parallel effort. The Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN), required of certified local health departments every five years, launched a community health survey in spring 2025. The Village of Oak Park posted Aug. 19 that the department was still seeking community input on health priorities.

The village held a public health open house July 30 at the Oak Park Public Library that drew more than 50 residents. Attendees could get blood pressure and A1C screenings and pick up free Narcan kits, tick removal kits and emergency flashlights, according to the village manager's weekly report.

The county plan does not include specific funding amounts or an implementation timeline. CCDPH said healthcare providers, community organizations and local governments can participate by joining workgroups aligned with the plan's priorities. No Oak Park official has commented publicly on the county plan or its local implications.