SPRINGFIELD, IL-Illinois State Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago) has recently been appointed to the Illinois State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) planning team, which will work to improve the public health system throughout Illinois.

“I am honored to have been appointed to this planning team by the Illinois Department of Public Health,” Delgado said.  “As Chairman of the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee, I have always focused on ways to make health care more accessible.”

Under current law, Illinois is required to produce a State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) every four years. This plan must include priorities and strategies for health status and public health system improvement in Illinois, with a focus on prevention. In addition, the plan must address ways to reduce racial, ethnic, geographic, age and socioeconomic health disparities.

The members of the team represent a broad range of public health stakeholders who will contribute to crafting a blueprint for action on health improvement by the public, private, and voluntary sectors.