DuPage County— The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is pleased to announce that DuPage County has been ranked the healthiest county in Illinois, according to the 2021 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. The county rankings, produced annually by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, are an easy-to-use snapshot that compares counties within states, demonstrating that where you live influences how well and how long you live.

“This designation truly highlights the incredible work of our local health department, healthcare systems, community groups, organizations, and residents to continue improving the health and well-being for all of us here in DuPage County,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin.

The rankings use more than 30 measures to help communities understand how healthy their residents are today (Health Outcomes) and what will impact their health in the future (Health Factors), which are used to measure the current overall health of each county in all 50 states. While DuPage County has ranked in the top five in both categories for several years, this year the county was ranked Number 1 in both Health Factors and Health Outcomes among the 102 counties in Illinois.

“This year’s rankings show us what we can accomplish when we come together to build a healthy community for our residents,” said Karen Ayala, Executive Director of DuPage County Health Department. “We will continue our work to further improve the health of our communities, recognizing that not all residents enjoy the same access or outcomes. This is particularly important as we face the challenges further revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

View the full 2021 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps report.

The Rankings are the outcome of robust county-wide partnerships that meet the priority health needs of residents. This includes Impact DuPage, a group of organizations committed to creating a common understanding of community needs, gaps, and priorities that will advance the well-being of the DuPage County community. Our 2018 county-wide assessment identified Behavioral Health, Affordable Housing, and Health Status Improvement as the top three strategic issues that must be prioritized and addressed in order to advance the well-being of our community. Examples of efforts to address these issues through Impact DuPage include:

• DuPage Health Coalition’s work to provide access to health services for low-income populations;
• The ongoing efforts of the DuPage County Heroin/Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Taskforce, Prevention Leadership Team, and Behavioral Health Collaborative to address substance use and mental health needs of residents;
• The DuPage Housing Collaborative’s work to create affordable housing opportunities; and
• FORWARD DuPage’s efforts to improve healthy eating and active living opportunities for residents.

DCHD remains committed to the health of its residents and values the information provided by the 2021 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. By working together, we can make DuPage County a healthier place for everyone to live, learn, work, and play.