History of the Coalition

In 1995, recognizing that community residents are deeply concerned about health care issues that extend beyond the walls of a hospital, the administration of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America - Midwestern Regional Medical Center invited a group of leaders to assemble to discuss ideas to improve the health and wellness of our community. 

While recognizing there are many concerns, the following issues have been the Coalition’s focus:

  • ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE (Including Tobacco and Alcohol)
  • CULTURAL DIVERSITY AWARENESS
  • PARENTING/TEEN SEXUALITY EDUCATION
  • IMMUNIZATIONS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
  • ACCESS TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

The COALITION’s efforts concentrate on the residents and communities within the geographical boundaries of Zion-Benton Township High School (Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor, Zion, and a portion of Newport Township.

The COALITION’s efforts are guided by a group of leaders and citizens representing all of our communities.

The COALITION is a volunteer effort dedicated to community collaboration.

The COALITION has adopted official by-laws, is incorporated by the State of Illinois, and has 501-(c)3 status with the I.R.S.

Community Initiatives

Just to name a few:

  • Co-sponsored a youth resource directory entitled The Yellow Pages
  • Supported and partnered with Care Coach, a mobile medical van providing free health promotion and prevention services
  • Sponsored Health Fairs
  • Sponsored town meetings to listen to concerns and ideas and to present pertinent information
  • Provided increased sites for low-cost immunization for young children
  • Serves as the primary organization to assist members of our communities with education and awareness about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD)
  • Sponsors or co-sponsors programs in all area schools
  • Coordinates numerous community activities during the annual Red Ribbon Celebration
  • Leads our communities in promoting a consistent message regarding use of no illegal drugs and no illegal use or misuse of legal drugs
  • Monitors the appropriateness of local media messages about ATOD
  • Supports the faith community in their efforts to put forth a consistent message about substance abuse
  • Provides specific targeted information about tobacco and marijuana
  • Supports administration of a comprehensive student survey assessing youth attitudes towards and use of ATOD
  • Sponsor or co-sponsor community activities/celebrations that are alcohol and tobacco free
  • Serves as the vehicle to encourage positive adult emulation and modeling for our children and youth
  • Publishes resource materials and initiates media information

CHC Accomplishments

Since 1995, the Coalition for Healthy Communities has been "Leading our communities in a collaborative effort to improve identified health wellness and social issues.”

  • Sponsor Town Hall Meeting on Youth Tobacco Prevention in June 1997
  • Sponsor "Get Off Your Butts And Walk” fundraiser in all 3 communities in September 1997
  • Hold first Teens Against Tobacco Use Training at Midwestern in January 1998
  • Caddie Classic golf outing begins in 1998 to raise funds for the Coalition’s initiatives
  • Co-sponsor a youth resource directory entitled The Youth Yellow Pages - distribute 3000 copies
  • Receive United Way grants to sponsor tobacco prevention programming
  • Support the Care Coach, a mobile medical van providing free health prevention services
  • Sponsor 2001 "Hoofin' in for Health" walk for wellness in Zion
  • Provide increased sites for low cost immunization for young children
  • Develop a web-page connected to the high school's web-site
  • Receive Illinois Department of Human Services Communities CAN! Funding in partnership with the Lake County Health Department 1998-2002 and conduct the following programs:
      Youth Education - over 8,000 students receive Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) Program
      Peer Education - 139 high school students are trained to conduct TATU Program
      Vendor Education - local police departments conduct compliance checks with 19 local tobacco vendors every quarter - 85% of vendors comply with local ordinances.
      Social Marketing – 100 businesses take part in poster campaign and 3 junior highs participate to reduce misperceptions among youth on tobacco use.
  • Conduct Illinois School Youth Survey in 6th 8th and 10th grades in 1999, 2001, 2002
  • Begin conducting Illinois Youth Survey with 12th grade students at ZBTHS in 2004
  • Work to make changes in local tobacco ordinances
  • Winthrop Harbor and Zion police departments receive Illinois Liquor Control Commission grants to conduct compliance checks with tobacco vendors
  • Receive Drug Free Communities Support Program grant in partnership with the Lake County Health Department October 2002 to provide the following programs to the Zion-Benton community:
      Youth Education – Healthy YOUth program
      Social Norms Education - reduce misperceptions on tobacco and alcohol use
      Vendor Education – increase the number of compliant tobacco and alcohol vendors
      Parent Education – educate parents on the effects of tobacco and alcohol on youth
  • Sponsor Reality 101 at Zion-Benton Township High School in partnership with the Lake County Health Department for Teen Pregnancy Prevention
  • Provide Life Skills Program to all Zion 5th grade students in 2002 in partnership with Lake County Health Department
  • Provide Life Skills program in 6th grade classrooms in 2003 and 7th grade classrooms in 2004
  • In the year 2007 Life Skills program 6th and 7th grade lessons are sustained by school classroom Teachers
  • Community Resource Directory is created and distributed in English and Spanish in 2006
  • Mama’s Run is sponsored by the Coalition and CREW to raise money for substance abuse initiatives
  • Tri-community law enforcement initiative sends letters to hotels, churches and vendors for prom 2007 and 2008 to prevent underage drinking
  • Quia computer-based education program to prevent tobacco and alcohol use started in 5th and 6th
  • Grades at Zion District 6 Schools in April 2008
  • Coalition holds Town Hall Meetings on Underage Drinking Prevention in 2006 and 2008 Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force is created in January 2007 for the Zion-Benton Communities
  • Receive Drug Free Communities funding in 2007 for another 5 year term
  • Healthy YOUth Program changes in 2007 from classroom based education program to community and high school awareness and advocacy
  • ZBisMe Town Hall Meeting held in 2008 with 3 new initiatives created
  • Receive STOP Act Grant in October 2008 for Underage Drinking Prevention and Environmental
  • Strategies for the Zion-Benton communities with the 3 strategies:
      1. Increase alcohol compliance checks to a consistent and unified format in Zion, Winthrop Harbor, and Beach Park.
      2. Mandate server/seller training in Zion, Winthrop Harbor, and Beach Park
      3. Identify social source of alcohol for youth and use local ordinances, comprehensive enforcement, and communication strategies to deter the provision of alcohol to youth
  • Develop ZBisMe Website in 2008
  • Develop Coalition Website in 2008
  • In Spring of 2009 – Too Good for Drugs Program will begin in Beach Park at Kenneth Murphy in partnership with Prevention Services program at the Lake County Health Department