Overview
Position Overview
The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to consult, train and assist local health departments, communities, schools, professional groups, private/public partnerships and oral health care organizations for the development, implementation and evaluation of programs to improve the oral health of the public. Participates as an acting member in coalitions as assigned. Participates in surveys and other surveillance activities. Assists with special projects and grant development to aid in improving the state oral health program. Travels extensively throughout an assigned region, to central office as well as other areas of the state.
Job Responsibilities
Offers consultation, technical assistance and evaluation to local health departments regarding Oral Health grants requirements and management.
• Maintains close working relationships with local health departments and communities as assigned.
• Provides onsite quality assurance for grantees and other school based providers.
• Scans the environment for opportunities to provide consultation regarding state oral health programs within local communities.
Maintains fluoride surveillance of community water systems in compliance with the mandatory water fluoridation statute.
• Compiles, analyzes and reports water system fluoridation status. This is achieved through cooperation with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and local health departments.
Promote on-going and comprehensive oral health programs for school children by providing consultation, initiating fluoride mouth rinse programs where indicated, supplying toothbrushes, mouth rinse and educational materials as adjuncts to oral health programs.
• Advising in such matters as oral health education, dental sealants, protective mouth guards, dental emergencies and to promote dental exams as noted in School Code 27-8.
About Illinois Department Public Health
In Illinois, if you have eaten at a restaurant ... required hospital or nursing home care ... vacationed at a campground or swam at a public beach or pool ... drank a glass of milk ... got married or divorced ... had a baby, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has touched your life in some important way.
Assuring the quality of our food, setting the standards for hospital and nursing home care, checking the safety of recreation areas, overseeing the inspection of milk producing farms and processing plants, maintaining the state's vital records and screening newborns for genetic diseases are just some of the duties of IDPH.
In fact, IDPH has 200 different programs that benefit each state resident and visitor, although its daily activities of maintaining the public's health are rarely noticed unless a breakdown in the system occurs. With the assistance of local public health agencies, these essential programs and services make up Illinois' public health system, a system that forms a frontline defense against disease through preventive measures and education. Public health has provided the foundation for remarkable gains in saving lives and reducing suffering. Today, life expectancy is 80 years for women and 74 years for men compared with fewer than 50 years at the at the beginning of the 20th century.
In the past, IDPH directed state efforts to control smallpox, cholera and typhoid, virtually eliminated polio, reduced dental decay through fluoridation of community water supplies, and corrected sanitary conditions that threatened water and food supplies.
Today, IDPH has programs to deal with persistent problems that require continued vigilance – infectious diseases, such as AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and meningococcal disease; foodborne and communicable diseases, such as E. coli 0157: H7, monkeypox, salmonella and West Nile virus; vaccine preventable diseases; lead poisoning; lack of health care in rural areas; health disparities among racial groups, breast, cervical and prostate cancer; Alzheimer's disease; and other health threats -- sexually transmitted diseases, tobacco use, violence, and other conditions associated with high-risk behaviors. In addition, IDPH has been charged with handling the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of bioterrorism.
IDPH, which is one of the state's oldest agencies, was first organized in 1877 with a staff of three and a two-year budget of $5,000. IDPH, now has an annual budget of $2.9 billion in state and federal funds, headquarters in Springfield and Chicago, seven regional offices located around the state, three laboratories, and 1,200 employees.
IDPH is organized into 12 offices, each of which addresses a distinct area of public health. Each office operates and supports numerous ongoing programs and is prepared to respond to extraordinary situations as they arise.
