URBANA, Ill. — With health information available at the click of a button, finding trustworthy, evidence-based resources can be challenging. As misinformation continues to spread across digital platforms, access to accurate health guidance is increasingly important. In response, educators, researchers, and community partners are collaborating to connect individuals with credible information that supports informed health decisions.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute and University of Illinois Extension, is launching the Autumn Health Picks 2026 webinar series as part of the Community Seminar Series. The program will offer community members opportunities to explore the latest health research, access science-based information, and engage directly with U. of I. experts on topics that promote personal and community well-being. A session in Spanish will also be offered to community members on Oct. 21. Registration details are listed below.
“Health is personal, but it is also shaped by the communities around us. Autumn Health Picks brings together experts from across the university to share insights on a wide range of topics that affect everyday life and well-being,” says Dee Walls, Extension outreach associate. “Whether participants are interested in healthy aging, supporting children, or understanding stress, we hope they leave with new perspectives and practical knowledge they can use in their own lives and communities.”
Series Details
Continuing education units, or CEUs, are available.
All sessions are presented online from noon to 1 p.m., and topics include:
- Active Moments, Healthier Days: Reducing the Risks of Too Much Sitting | Oct. 7
- Inside the Stress Response: Understanding the Amygdala’s Role | Oct. 14
- Mapping Change: Exploring English Use and Gentrification in Puerto Rico | Oct. 21
- Mapear el Cambio: Explorar el uso del inglés y la gentrificación en Puerto Rico | 21 de octubre (This session will be presented in Spanish and will begin at 1 p.m., following the English-language session.)
- Mindfulness and Music in Early Childhood: Supporting Attention and Emotional Regulation | Oct. 28
- Beyond the Stigma: Conversations and Care in the Opioid Crisis | Nov. 4
- Understanding the Fear of Falling: Insights for Wheelchair and Scooter Users | Nov. 11
- Embracing Differences: Mindfulness that Supports Families of Neurodivergent Children | Nov. 18
Register for free at go.illinois.edu/CSSAutumn2026. For more information about the Community Seminar Series, visit go.illinois.edu/CSSeries.
For the Spanish session on Oct. 21, register at go.illinois.edu/CSSAutumn2026Spanish.
If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, contact Dee Walls at walls1@illinois.edu or 217-300-6862. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.
SOURCE: Dee Walls, outreach associate, Illinois Extension.
WRITER: Herbert Chavez, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.