Board of Health — Skokie, IL
Date: 2025-09-11

Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, September 11, 2025
 7:00 pm
 Village Hall
 5127 Oakton Street
 Conference Room D/E

 AGENDA

I. Call to Order

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of Minutes: June 12, 2025 Meeting

IV. New Member & Trustee Liaison Introductions

V. Health and Human Services Program Presentation – Childhood
 Lead & Flu Program Updates, Jennifer Davis-Spells, Community
 Health Supervisor

VI. BOH Chair Updates, Dr. Edward Linn

VII. Health and Human Services (HHS) Updates, Mike Charley
 A. Public Health Partners of Excellence Awards

VIII. Old Business

IX. New Business

X. Public Comment (3 minutes per person)

XI. Adjournment

 Next Regular Meeting: October 9, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.




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Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, September 11, 2025
 7:00 pm

 Village Hall
 5127 Oakton Street
 Conference Room D/E



 MINUTES

In attendance: Dr. Swapna Dave, Dr. Sarah Franks, Dr. Michael Gottesman, Jimmy Gonzalez Vicker,
Maureen Hanlon, Margaret Keeler, Dr. Girijia Kalyan Kumar, Rohit Pandya, Dr. Kyungran Shim, Dr.
Edward Linn (Chair), Dr. Romil Sood, Patricia Urbanus, Irtaza Usman, Ruth Varma, Dr. William
Werner, Liaison (Vice-Chair); Staff Liaison: Mike Charley; Trustee Lissa Levy

Not in attendance: Dr. Bruce Gaynes, Juliet Haido, Dr. Stephen Lupovitch, Dr. Larry Williams, Sibyl
Yau (Vice-Chair)


I. Call to Order @ 7:00 PM

II. Approval of Agenda: Approved, first by Dr. Sood, second by Keeler

III. Approval of Minutes: June 12, 2025 Meeting: Approved, first by Dr. Sood, second by
 Keeler

IV. New Member & Trustee Liaison Introductions: Dr. Linn welcomed two new BOH
 members, Dr. Franks and Jimmy Gonazalez Vicker and our new Trustee Liaison Lissa Levy.
 Gonzalez Vicker shared that he is an assistant professor and librarian at UIC, the college,
 the Library of the Health Sciences, and the liaison to the College of Dentistry. He related
 that he continues to learn as much as he can, and he primarily lectures on authoritative
 resources, evidence-based research, and so forth. Dr. Franks shared that she does
 communicable disease surveillance at the City of Evanston Health and Human Services
 Department, and is trained as a community nurse. Trustee Levy, stated she represents
 Village District 3, she has a background on food safety and sanitation. She is looking
 forward to supporting the BOH’s work.

V. Health and Human Services Program Presentation – Childhood Lead & Flu Program
 Updates, Jennifer Davis-Spells, Community Health Supervisor: Davis-Spells provided an
 overview of the Village’s ongoing efforts in lead poisoning prevention and influenza
 vaccination outreach. She reviewed the history of lead use and regulation in the U.S.,
 highlighting the long-term health consequences of lead exposure, particularly for children,
 pregnant women, and vulnerable populations. The presentation outlined the goals of the
 Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, which include eliminating childhood and prenatal lead
 exposure through testing, case management, education, and mitigation. Current Illinois
 Department of Public Health (IDPH) blood lead reference levels were discussed, along with
 Skokie’s approach to case management, home assessments, and family support services.

 The presentation also addressed seasonal influenza prevention, including data on flu
 vaccination rates and flu-related deaths. Ms. Davis-Spells emphasized the significant
 number of pediatric and adult deaths that occur annually, particularly among the
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 unvaccinated. She provided details on upcoming Skokie community flu vaccination clinics
 at Oakton Park Community Center, which will offer both regular and high-dose flu shots.
 Overall, the presentation underscored the importance of community education, preventive
 health services, and ongoing public health initiatives to reduce risks from both lead
 exposure and influenza.

 Discussion: Board of Health members encouraged HHS to provide regular education on
 childhood lead and lead-service line programs to Skokie residents.

VI. BOH Chair Updates, Dr. Edward Linn: The following was presented by Dr. Linn:

 • Cannabis: Shared insights from a recent UIC webinar (confidential slides available). Use
 and addiction rates are rising nationally, especially among young adults. Concerns
 include high addiction potential, reproductive impacts (effects on oocytes and sperm),
 and lack of regulation for CBD products. Governor may pursue executive action.
 Emphasized need for community awareness similar to alcohol/tobacco.
 • Vaccines: Illinois considering stronger unified messaging to counter misinformation. Dr.
 Linn was appointed to the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee and will provide
 updates. Public confusion remains high due to conflicting sources. Emphasized
 importance of evidence-based medicine, building trust, and clear communication.
 • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Increase in diagnoses largely due to expanded criteria
 and insurance coverage considerations. Ongoing misinformation linking vaccines to
 autism persists despite debunked research. Recent Harvard study raised questions
 about acetaminophen use in pregnancy, but current guidance (ACOG) affirms safety
 under medical supervision.
 • COVID-19 & Influenza: Vaccination uptake remains a concern, with access and
 insurance coverage issues noted. Current hospitalizations include COVID, influenza, and
 rhinovirus. Paxlovid use continues, though alternatives are limited. Preliminary research
 suggests azelastine nasal spray may reduce COVID transmission.

 Discussion: Trustees and members discussed strategies for community and patient
 education, including multilingual outreach, village communications, and possible public
 programs. Emphasis placed on defining credible experts, unifying BOH messaging, and
 leveraging Village communications for broader reach.

VII. Health and Human Services (HHS) Updates, Mike Charley
 A. Public Health Partners of Excellence Awards: Charley presented the nominees for the
 2025 Public Health Partners of Excellence Awards:
 • Chicago House & Howard Brown Health – Recognized for hosting bi-monthly walk-in
 pop-up STI clinics at Skokie Village Hall, offering HIV/STI testing, prevention
 education, and linkage to care. The partnership also expanded vaccine access
 (MPOX, COVID-19, and flu) and removed barriers by not requiring appointments, ID,
 or insurance. Their efforts closed local access gaps and advanced health equity.
 • Early Childhood Alliance (Niles Township) – Honored for ensuring children from
 birth to age five have access to early learning opportunities, while supporting
 families with healthcare, benefits, emergency aid, and interpretation services. Their
 multilingual family liaisons (Urdu, Dari, Farsi, Arabic, Assyrian, Spanish) reduce
 disparities, build equity, and strengthen both education and public health.
 • Endeavor Health Infection Prevention Team – Recognized as a critical partner in
 communicable disease investigations with Skokie HHS. Their team ensures timely
 test result interpretation, patient notification and treatment, accurate case closure,
 and urgent specimen transport. They also provide provider education and are
 known for reliability, responsiveness, and collaboration in public health response
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 Following the presentation, the Board of Health voted to approve all four nominees for
 the award. Mr. Charley will contact the Village Manager’s Office to coordinate when the
 award presentation can be added to a future Village Board meeting. Award winners will
 be notified soon.

 B. General HHS Updates: Charley provided an overview of recent activities and initiatives
 within the Health & Human Services Department.

 He reported on June updates, including a mass biologic preparedness exercise,
 Operation DropBox, volunteer recognition at the MRC Summer Celebration, and new
 public health initiatives such as epinephrine auto-injector availability at the Farmers’
 Market and the Condom Connect distribution program. HHS also welcomed a new
 environmental health intern, launched a beekeeping education program, and began
 using new custom data processing software to improve inspections and complaint
 investigations.

 For July, Charley highlighted a visit from Illinois Department of Public Health leadership,
 the appointment of Dr. Ed Linn to the Illinois Immunization Advisory Committee, and a
 new partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to continue free STI testing in
 Skokie. Additional efforts included a literacy and health initiative providing free books to
 children, flavored nicotine sales enforcement, and the addition of a Senior Health
 Insurance volunteer.

 In August, updates included participation in National Night Out, collaboration with
 Rebuilding Together on a grant application, support for Medicare open enrollment, and
 ongoing work to implement the Village’s Human Relations Ordinance. Staff also attended
 external training and leadership events.

VIII. Old Business: None

IX. New Business: None

X. Public Comment (3 minutes per person): None

XI. Adjournment @ 8:32 PM, first by Gonzalez Vickers, second by Varma



 Next Regular Meeting: October 9, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.




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