Chicago Department of Public Health Releases "The State of Health for Blacks in Chicago"
Press Release, June 15, 2021 -- The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) released The State of Health for Blacks in Chicago, a first of its kind data brief describing the health status of Chicago’s Black population and the root cause inequities disproportionately affecting the lives of Black Chicagoans. The brief provides an in-depth look at the top drivers of the life expectancy gap between Black Chicagoans and non-Black Chicagoans, which is 9.2 years and rising. That gap widens even further when comparing specific neighborhoods – for example, it jumps to 14.6 years between predominately white Edison Park (83.1 years) and majority Black West Garfield Park (68.5 years).
“This week of Juneteenth, The State of Health for Blacks in Chicago is a stark reminder of the legacy of unacceptable inequities that continue to plague our city and country to this day,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “This brief is also a call to action for our city and one we take very seriously and are acting upon.”
The brief is the result of the work of a group of five Black women from CDPH who formed the Health Equity Index Committee (HEIC). The working group applied their diverse skills and expertise—including data analysis, community engagement, and research—to present a unique perspective on how to define, measure, analyze and discuss health and health equity for Black Chicagoans.
The CDPH Health Equity Index Committee (HEIC) is Blair Aikens, Dana Harper, Rachelle Paul-Brutus, Donna Scrutchins and Yaa Simpson.