Emerging Trends in Public Health
Sharing Session - 30 Minutes
Elizabeth Jarpe, PhD, MPH, MST
Evaluation Director
UIC
Elizabeth Jarpe, PhD, MPH, MST
Evaluation Director
UIC
Amanda Mehl, RN, MPH
Public Health Administrator
Boone County Health Department
Amanda Mehl, RN, MPH
Public Health Administrator
Boone County Health Department
Emily Morales Reyes
Student Intern
UIC
Work, specifically precarious work, is an important social determinant of health, yet it remains incredibly challenging for health department to meaningfully address. Precarious work is characterized by low wages, hazardous conditions, few benefits, and limited opportunities for workplace participation or advancement. The Boone County Health Department has played a pivotal role in bringing together a diverse array of partners throughout their county to focus on work as a determinant of community health and wellbeing. They participated in a capacity building effort led by the University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Healthy Work, a NIOSH-funded Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health®.
Leaders from UIC and Boone County will describe the work done in the county to work within existing government committees to develop an action plan. Goals include conducting an environmental scan to identify perceptions and experiences among workers in different sectors and among employers, adopting a joint resolution to commit to addressing precarious work among Boone County governmental bodies, and ultimately creating a resource center for workers to receive assistance in a safe environment to address issues in the workplace and establish a united effort among all governmental entities in the county. The presentation will include a description of the capacity-build initiative led by UIC, a description of Boone County’s approach to address precarious work including findings from their environmental scan, and lessons learned from their process in bringing together key stakeholders and elected officials from throughout the county to adopt a resolution focused on promoting healthy work.