Category: Health

Mariyana Spyropoulos, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, will host her third Mental Health Summit on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the Maywood Courthouse in partnership with Cook County Presiding Judge Geary Kull. The event will focus on discussing mental health services, emergency hospital orders, powers of attorney, guardianship, special needs trusts, crisis intervention, firearm restraining orders and Mental Health Treatment Court. The Mental Health Summit will be held at Maywood Courthouse, Courtroom 102, 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Attendees will also have the opportunity to obtain mental health resources from local service providers. To register, scan the QR code on the attached flyer or visit www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.

Photo Credit: Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Mariyana Spyropoulos

Food insecurity in Chicago is widespread and worsening, according to the 2026 Hunger in Chicago Report released on Monday by the Greater Chicago Food Depository in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. Based on a June survey of 1,200 Chicago residents, the report finds that 36% of Chicago households — about 417,000 households — lack consistent access to enough food. And nearly 1 in 2 Chicago households with children (47%) are struggling to put food on the table. The findings show that cost of living is outpacing people’s ability to make ends meet. Rising costs and historic cuts to critical safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are forcing hundreds of thousands of neighbors to choose between groceries and essentials such as housing, utilities and medicine. Key findings include:

• More than one in three Chicago households are food insecure. As of June 2026, 36% of Chicago households — approximately 417,000 households — reported not having consistent access to enough food.

• Families with children are at even greater risk. Nearly half of Chicago households with children, 47%, are struggling to put food on the table, compared with 30% of households without children.

• Unaffordability is driving the crisis. Forty percent of Cook County households cannot afford the basic cost of living. Since 2021, food prices have increased 22% and rent prices have risen 31% in the Chicago metro area.

For the full report, visit chicagosfoodbank.org.

Courtesy of Dr. Michael Denz, Orthopedics

I’ve always considered myself an athlete, someone who’s enjoyed exercise. I know that’s not for everyone, in fact, growing up I had friends and family who could think of plenty of things they’d rather do before activities requiring physical exertion. My love for being active, however, is why I chose to become an orthopedic specialist.

I can’t imagine living life without the ability to be fully independent or enjoy activities I love because of my physical limitations. There’s the joggers, cyclists, softball players, and pickleball fanatics; I can help them get that joy back again – pain free. And there’s also the lifelong gardeners who’ve lost their ability to bend and plant seedlings or weed a flower box. The retirees who can remember when they didn’t dread climbing stairs or walking their dog; I love telling everyone that I have solutions that can give all that back to them.

Yes, I’m a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, but that doesn’t mean the first solution begins in an operating room. My philosophy is to help patients understand all their available options to get back to living life pain free, what outcomes they should expect from a procedure, and allow them to make an informed decision. There are, in many cases, less invasive options before choosing surgery or joint replacement. My job is to let a person know what they can do to eliminate joint pain and treat them using the best of my training, skills, and experience. Their responsibility begins after that. This is a partnership. The patient must do what is prescribed, whether that’s initial rest or a dedicated exercise routine to regain strength and flexibility.

Orthopedics and technology have advanced significantly, and recovery is faster than ever, typically at home, without the need for hospitalization. In no time, many people I help exclaim, “Why didn’t I do this before now?!” We at Saint Mary of Nazareth care for a community with many aging residents who suffer with arthritic joints or damage to their cartilage or ligaments. It’s human nature to put off with dread what we imagine we may have to do to eliminate our discomfort or pain. But, even for the multitude of patients for whom I’ve replaced shoulder joints, knees and hips, the relatively brief recovery far outweighs living with suffering.

And for those who do their part – the physical therapy, the exercises to regain their strength and range of motion after a procedure – having their life back to live it as they choose and to do the things they love make it all worthwhile. We have a terrific team of nurses, technicians, and therapists at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital who find joy in seeing their patients smiling again.

Photo Credit: Prime Healthcare

On September 9th, the Cook County Health Office of Behavioral Health convened more than 800 representatives from behavioral health and community organizations across the County at its second Behavioral Health Summit at the UIC Forum. The theme of this year’s summit, Driving Action to Impact, reflected a shared focus on moving beyond discussion and towards solutions that strengthen partnerships, expand access to care, and accelerate meaningful change across Cook County’s behavioral health system. The day began with opening remarks from local leaders, who emphasized both the urgency of the behavioral health crisis and the need for continued collaboration and investment. Despite an increasingly challenging federal funding landscape, Cook County expects to continue prioritizing grant opportunities that put resources directly into the hands of community organizations providing critical behavioral health services. The event builds on the progress achieved at the first summit in 2024, held shortly after the establishment of the Cook County Health Office of Behavioral Health (OBH).  For more information or resources, visit obh.cookcountyhealth.org.

Photo Credit: Cook County Health

Mariyana Spyropoulos, Secretariade la Corte del Circuito del Condado de Cook, presentará su tercera Cumbre de Salud Mental el martes, 22 de septiembre 2026, en el Tribunal de Maywood en colaboración con el Juez Presidente Geary Kull. El evento estará enfocado en discutir los servicios de salud mental, las órdenes de hospitales de emergencia, poderes notariales, tutela legal, fideicomisos para necesidades especiales, intervención en crisis, órdenes de restricción relacionadas con armas de fuego y Tribunal de Tratamiento de Salud Mental. La Cumbre de Salud Mental tendrá lugar en Maywood Courthhouse, Courthroom 102,1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, de 4:30 a 8:00 p.m. Los asistentes tendrán también la oportunidad de obtener recursos de salud mental de proveedores de servicios locales. Para inscribirse, escaneé el código QR en el volante anexo o visite www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.

Crédito Fotográfico: Secretaria de la Corte del Circuito del Condado de Cook, Mariyana Spyropoulos

La inseguridad alimentaria en Chicago se ha extendido y empeorado, según el informe ‘Hunger in Chicago’ (El hambre en Chicago) de 2026, publicado el lunes por el Greater Chicago Food Depository en colaboración con NORC de la Universidad de Chicago. Basado en un estudio de junio, de 1,200 residentes de Chicago, el reporte encuentra que el 36% de hogares de Chicago – aproximadamente 417,000 familias – carecen de un acceso consistente a suficiente comida. Y cerca de cada dos hogares de Chicago con niños (47%) están luchando para poner comida en la mesa. Los hallazgos muestran que el costo de vida está sobrepasando la capacidad de la gente para llegar a fin de mes. Los crecientes costos y los históricos cortes a programas indispensables de seguridad, como el Programa Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) están forzando a cientos de miles de vecinos a escoger entre comida y cosas esenciales como vivienda, servicios públicos y medicina. Los hallazgos clave incluyen:

• Más de una de cada tres hogares de Chicago tienen inseguridad alimentaria. Hasta junio 2026, 36% de las familias de Chicago – aproximadamente 417,000 familias – reportaron no tener acceso consistente a suficiente comida.

• Los hogares con niños están aún en mayor riesgo. Cerca de la mitad de los hogares de Chicago con niños, 47% están luchando para poner comida en la mesa, comparado con el 30% de hogares sin niños.

• La falta de asequibilidad está provocando la crisis. Cuarenta por ciento de los hogares del Condado de Cook no pueden hacer frente al costo básico de vida. Desde el 2021, los precios de la comida ha aumentado 22% y los precios de la renta se han elevado 31% en el área metropolitana de Chicago.

Para el reporte completo, visite chicagosfoodbank.org.

Cortesía del Dr. Michael Denz, Ortopedia

Siempre me consideré un atleta, álguien a quien le gusta hacer ejercicio. Yo se que no es para todos, de hecho, al ir creciendo tuve amigos y familiares que podían pensar en muchas cosas que preferirían hacer antes que actividades que requirieran esfuerzo físico. Mi gusto por mantenerme activo, sin embargo, es por lo que escogí convertirme en especialista ortopédico.

No me puedo imaginar llevar una vida sin poder ser totalmente independiente o disfrutar de las actividades que me gustan, por mis limitaciones físicas. Están los corredores, los ciclistas, los jugadores de sóftbol y los fanáticos del pickleball; Yo puedo ayudarles a disfrutar de todo eso otra vez – sin dolor. Y están también los jardineros de por vida que han perdido su habilidad de agacharse y plantar semillas o una caja de flores. Los retirados que pueden recordar cuando no temían subir las escaleras o caminar a su perro; me encanta decirles a todos que tengo soluciones que pueden devolverles todo eso.

Si, soy cirujano ortopédico con formación de subespecialidad (‘fellowship’), pero eso no significa que la primera solución deba ser el quirófano. Mi filosofía consiste en ayudar a los pacientes a comprender todas las opciones disponibles para recuperar una vida sin dolor y los resultados que pueden esperar de un procedimiento, permitiéndoles así tomar una decisión informada. Hay, en muchos casos, opciones menos invasivos antes de escoger la cirugía o el reemplazo de articulaciones. Mi trabajo es dejar que una persona sepa lo que puede hacer para eliminar el dolor articular y tratarlos utilizando lo mejor de mi entrenamiento, destrezas y experiencia. Su responsabilidad comienza después de eso Esto es una afiliación. El paciente debe seguir lo prescrito, ya sea reposo inicial o una rutina de ejercicios específica para recuperar la fuerza y ​​la flexibilidad.

La ortopedia y la tecnología han avanzado considerablemente y la recuperación es más rápida que nunca, típicamente en casa, sin la necesidad de hospitalización. En poco tiempo, muchas de las personas a las que ayudo exclaman: “¿Por qué no hice esto antes?”. En Saint Mary of Nazareth atendemos a una comunidad con muchos residentes de edad avanzada que sufren de artritis en las articulaciones o de daños en el cartílago o los ligamentos. Es propio de la naturaleza humana posponer con temor aquello que imaginamos que tendremos que hacer para eliminar nuestras molestias o el dolor. Sin embargo, incluso para la gran cantidad de pacientes a quienes he reemplazado articulaciones de hombro, rodilla y cadera, la recuperación —relativamente breve— compensa con creces el hecho de vivir sufriendo.

Y para esos que hacer su parte – la terapia física, los ejercicios recuperan su fuerza y rango de movimiento después del procedimiento – recuperando su vida para vivirla como quieran y hacer lo que más les gusta hace que todo valga la pena. Tenemos un tremendo equipo de enfermeras, técnicos y terapistas en el Hospital St. Mary of Nazareth que encuentran una gran satisfacción al ver que sus pacientes sonríen de nuevo.

Crédito Fotográfico: Prime Healthcare

The Chicago River Swim presented by the City of Chicago and Mayor Brandon Johnson will bring back The Big Jump and expand the 2026 field to 750 qualified swimmers. The Big Jump will kick off the weekend on Friday, September 18th, giving registered members of the public a rare, sanctioned opportunity to enter the river while raising funds for ALS research and youth swim education. The Big Jump revives an event first held in 2017, when Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita and Friends of the Chicago River brought public officials together in Chinatown for a sanctioned jump into the river. The event celebrated progress in restoring the river and demonstrated a shared commitment to making the Chicago-Calumet River system safely swimmable and accessible to all. This year’s Chicago River Swim will take place Sunday, September 20th. For registration or general information, visit ChicagoRiverSwim.org.

Cook County Health’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Recovery Support Services (RSS) programming is available throughout the health system. The program aims to actively support patients with SUD to achieve their individual recovery goals; improve their physical, mental, and social well-being, including reducing risk of harm of ongoing substance use; and decrease the risk of overdose from opioids and other drugs in our patient population. You can find SUD and RSS team members at Cermak within Cook County Jail, in the emergency room and inpatient floors at Stroger Hospital and Provident Hospital, in CCH Psychiatry clinics, and in all adult-serving primary care health centers (ACHN), including the CORE Center. It is a core goal of the SUD program to work in partnership with departments across Cook County Health to implement lasting change so that patients can access: medications for addiction treatment, recovery support services, and overdose prevention tools right in their medical home. If you or someone you know needs an appointment with a substance-use disorder team member, please visit cookcountyhealth.org/request-appointment/ or call the MAT/SUD Bridge Clinic at 312-864-4MAT.

Nearly 50 Illinois elementary, middle and high schools will receive new water bottle-filling stations through the H2O On the Go grant program, led by Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation and Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation. Since launching in 2020, the program has made clean drinking water accessible to more than more than 187,000 students by installing water bottle-filling stations at 439 Illinois schools. Grant recipients will also receive reusable water bottles and toothbrushes for students. Access to drinking water at school supports hydration, oral health, and may benefit cognitive function among children, according to the CDC.  The new water bottle-filling stations are touch-free and certified to filter out lead and other contaminants. The stations also reduce single-use plastic waste, contributing to schools’ broader sustainability efforts. See a full list of Illinois schools selected for this year’s H2O On the Go program here:  www.deltadentalil.com/h2o-on-the-go-recipients.

Photo Caption: Student at Arthur Community Unit School District #305, a H2O on the Go grant recipient, uses the school’s water bottle-filling station