Health

Strategic Priority

Maximize health equity and access and support health promotion.

Signature Initiative

Advancing health equity, healthcare access, disease prevention, chronic illness management support, childhood wellness, and health promotion through integrated education, community partnerships, and systemic organizational changes

Initiative Summary

Illinois Extension is compelled to contribute to individual health and well-being by reducing the negative impacts of health inequities. Extension is also compelled to address One Health — the intersection of the health of people, animals, and the environment.

Extension will develop and deliver accessible, evidence-based educational interventions and programs via in-person and online formats. Emphasis will be placed on new programs with a holistic approach to health (physical, emotional, environmental, social, intellectual, financial, occupational, and community), delivered in a manner that engages stakeholders and Extension staff to co-create innovative solutions.

Extension will continue to be a health promotion, disease prevention and management hub with innovative programs for individuals, families, communities, and organizations connecting those who seek or provide health-related resources, including strategic partnerships with researchers and community healthcare providers. These innovative programs will work in the continuum of integrated care, improve health outcomes, and enhance overall wellness, emphasizing underserved groups across the lifespan at the local, multi-unit, or statewide level. These efforts will contribute to improved quality of life, social advancement, economic resilience, and equitable resource allocation.

Rationale

Illinois ranks below average in healthcare access, quality, and affordability, disease prevention and treatment, and health parity. Health inequities are related to poorer health outcomes, higher individual costs for healthcare, lower productivity, lost wages, and persistent economic challenges for communities. Underserved and historically marginalized groups are more likely to be impacted by health inequities. By leveraging university research, expertise, and resources, Illinois Extension has the ability and proficiency to develop and deliver education and outreach to maximize health equity and healthcare access to support health promotion and chronic disease prevention.

Key Actions

Education and Outreach
1. Develop and deliver effective evidence-based educational interventions and research-informed programs to diverse audiences.
2. Develop and deliver innovative and interdisciplinary programming related to health.
3. Create opportunities for interdisciplinary volunteer and training programs that recruit diverse individuals to advance health outcomes.
4. Leverage long-term funding sources for programming and sustainability, as applicable.
5. Increase the internal capacity of field staff.
6. Continued Evaluation and Assessment
Integrated Partnerships
1. Leverage internal and external connections and relationships to advance coalitions and networks to reduce healthcare access barriers and promote health and well-being among diverse audiences.
2. Promote collaboration and co-creation of educational training across Extension’s statewide program areas and unit needs.
3. Developing partnerships and collaborations with internal and external entities working on health-related services to support and further widen workforce development efforts.
4. Develop dynamic cross-functional teams around health-related priorities to explore the implementation of evidence-based programs.
Organizational Community and Systemic Changes
1. Develop organizational, community, and systemic approaches to facilitate awareness and discussion, promote healthy living and wellness, and resolve health inequities.
2. Consult with organizations to review policies and practices to reduce barriers to healthy living and healthcare access.
3. Create accessible resources to provide equity on educational opportunities for learning to a diverse workforce of Extension volunteer.
4. Work with other priority groups (technology and discovery, economy, partnerships) to remove barriers for participation (language or digital) and support staff diversification or outreach skillset (workforce pipeline, 4H).

Key Outcome Measures

Number, demographics, and parity analysis of participants reporting a change in knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and skills related to health behaviors after completing an Extension program with health-related content
Number of new volunteers trained to approach health-related problems holistically and with cultural humility
Number of classes or workshops by program area where health-related topics are addressed
Number and type of partnerships, coalitions, or affinity groups established and maintained related to healthy living, health equity, and health access
Number and type of functional teams collaborating to establish action plans on a specific health-challenge area (i.e., mental health, chronic disease self-management, obesity, etc.) and address local health equity and health access issues
Number of organizational, community, and systemic changes made by partner organizations to increase health equity and healthcare access
Number of materials/assets developed in compliance with language access program (LAP), equal digital access (ADA-compliant)

Key Impacts

Primary

Improved Health Knowledge and Equity – Evidence-based education, interdisciplinary programming, and community engagement will enhance health literacy, promote behavior change, and reduce health disparities, leading to improved well-being and healthcare access.

Secondary

Stronger Partnerships and Systemic Change – Collaboration across organizations, coalitions, and Extension units will drive policy improvements, workforce development, and systemic changes that promote long-term health equity and accessibility.