Press Release

January 9, 2010

 

State Public Health Assistant Director Appointed  

High-level policy and education leader Teresa Garate tapped to help keep Illinoisans healthy  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Governor Pat Quinn recently named Teresa Garate as the Illinois Department of Public Health Assistant Director. Garate is a distinguished educator and policy leader who works extensively with community partners and Latino communities.

“I am pleased to welcome Teresa Garate to the Illinois Department of Public Health,” said Dr. Damon T. Arnold. “Her work in policy development and program implementation will help protect the health of Illinois residents throughout the state.”

Formerly a senior level administrator in the Chicago Public Schools who served as the Chief of Staff for the Office of Specialized Services during Arne Duncan’s administration, Garate is experienced in strategic plan development; program implementation and monitoring; research and accountability; and budget and personnel management. Garate works with a number of local community organizations city and state agencies and is widely published in the academic arena. Most recently she was the co-leader of the school health initiative designed to create a collaboration between the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Chicago Public Schools.

“I am honored to be appointed as the Assistant Director for the Illinois Department of Public Health,” said Garate. “Public health is something that impacts just about every area of our lives and I look forward to working for the promotion of safe and healthy communities.”

Garate holds a B.S. in Applied Psychology, a B.S. Ed. in Special Education, holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate. She has provided input in the Chicago area and throughout the state on education, public health, disability and social science issues. Garate has served as a member of the Illinois State Advisory Council to the Governor on Disability, the co-chair for the Joint Statewide Bilingual Special Education Committee, an advisory board member for the Center for Capacity Building on Minorities with Disabilities Research and an advisory board member for the Chicago Park District Disability Policy Steering Committee.




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Illinois Department of Public Health
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone 217-782-4977
Fax 217-782-3987
TTY 800-547-0466
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