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"This type of mutual aid agreement will
significantly improve the state's ability to respond in an emergency
by pulling together the resources necessary to preserve and protect
the health, safety and welfare of our citizens," Gov. Blagojevich
said. "It is an innovative way for our health system to work
collaboratively for the benefit of the public."
Under terms of the agreement, which is
believed to be one of the first of its kind in the nation, aid and
assistance will be rendered to a stricken area by local health
departments that have signed on to the Illinois Public Health Mutual
Aid System in terms of personnel, equipment, supplies and services.
The services and help will be provided at no cost to the area
dealing with the emergency, and each local health department will be
responsible for maintaining its own liability insurance.
The idea of sharing resources has
been discussed for nearly five years but took on more urgency after
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Illinois Association of
Boards of Health was instrumental in the final push for the
agreement over the past two years. Legal staff from the Illinois
Department of Public Health and attorneys from the Cook, DuPage and
Kane county public health departments and the Chicago and
Springfield health departments worked collaboratively to draft the
10-page document. It was patterned after the Mutual Aid Box Alarm
System among fire departments and the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm
System for law enforcement agencies.
While the threat of bioterrorism was
a key impetus, other potential situations include outbreaks or
release of contagious or infectious diseases, infectious agents,
chemical agents or toxins; natural disasters; technological hazards;
man-made disasters; civil emergencies; and community disorders.
"We believe this will be a useful
tool for all of us that we can count on when faced with an
emergency, and it demonstrates a willingness to help each other in
the time of need," said Kay Banta, president of the Illinois
Association of Boards of Health and the Vermilion County Board of
Health. "We are pleased to finally have this agreement in place, and
we have every expectation that local health departments will
recognize its importance and approve it."
Through votes of their governing
boards, 33 local health departments have already agreed to
participate in Illinois Public Health Mutual Aid System, and another
19 have it up for consideration. There are 95 certified local health
departments in Illinois, ranging in size from three employees to
about 1,600 employees.
Once more than half of the state's
local health departments (48) have approved the mutual aid
agreement, a nine-member executive board will be elected to
facilitate requests for assistance, gather and analyze data
regarding requests, and disseminate outcomes information. The
Illinois Department of Public Health will appoint two employees from
its Office of Preparedness and Response to serve as board liaisons.
"This agreement represents an
opportunity for local health departments to support each other in
times of need," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health
director. "It provides the structure for addressing challenges that
may arise and complements mutual aid systems already in place with
fire departments and law enforcement agencies around Illinois."
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Following is a list of local health
departments that have approved the mutual aid pact and those where
the agreement is under consideration.
Approved
(As of Oct. 4)
Carroll
County Health Department
Clark
County Health Department
Clay
County Health Department
Crawford
County Health Department
Cumberland County Health Department
DeKalb
County Health Department
Dewitt-Piatt Bi-County Health Department
Douglas
County Health Department
East Side
Health District
Egyptian
Health Department
Evanston
Health Department
Fayette
County Health Department
Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department
Franklin-Williams Bi-County Health Department
Hancock
County Health Department
Knox
County Health Department
Lawrence
County Health Department
Logan
County Health Department
Macoupin
County Health Department
Madison
County Health Department
McDonough
County Health Department
Oak Park
Department of Public Health
Rock
Island County Health Department
Sangamon
County Department of Public Health
Springfield Department of Public Health
Stephenson County Health Department
Stickney
Township Public Health District
Tazewell
County Health Department
Vermilion
County Health Department
Washington County Health Department
Wayne
County Health Department
Whiteside
County Health Department
Woodford County Health Department
Pending
Bureau
County Health Department
Fulton
County Health Department
Greene
County Health Department
Grundy
County Health Department
Hamilton
County Health Department
Jo
Daviess County Health Department
Lake
County Health Department
LaSalle
County Health Department
Macon
County Health Department
McLean
County Health Department
Menard
County Health Department
Monroe-Randolph Bi-County Health Department
Montgomery County Health Department
Ogle
County Health Department
Peoria
City/County Health Department
Putnam
County Health Department
St. Clair
County Health Department
Will
County Health Department
Winnebago County Health Department
[News release from the
governor's office]
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