The mission of the Illinois Department of Public Health is to promote the health of the people of Illinois through the prevention and control of disease and injury.

We, as a diverse public health workforce, care about the well-being of people and are guided by the following principles:

• Prevention of disease and injury

• Protection of food, water, air and environment

• Promotion of safe and healthy communities

• Scientific approaches to analyzing and solving problems

• Partnership and collaboration to achieve coordinated response to community health issues

• Population-based strategies to address public health issues

• Individual responsibility as important to achieving healthy lifestyles

• Advocacy for public health policies to improve the health of populations

• Recognition of the unique value and needs of diverse populations

• Innovation as essential to the practice of public health