Special Interest Sections are the primary professional units of the Association and conduct activities that promote the mission and fulfill the goals of IPHA. Sections create a variety of opportunities for member involvement, making the IPHA experience richer for those who choose to interact with their Sections.
IPHA has 8 Sections that represent major public health disciplines or public health programs. These Sections allow members with shared interests to come together to develop scientific program content and policy resolutions in their areas of interest or fields of practice, and they provide for professional and social networking, career development and mentoring.
To be an active Section member, an individual must have a current membership in IPHA. Anyone who is a member of IPHA may become a member of two Sections.
Academia
The purpose of the Academia Section of IPHA is to promote increased linkages and collaboration between the public health academic community and the practice community. Academic public health presentations and sessions at IPHA meetings will be promoted as well as involvement in IPHA activities by health professions students in the state of Illinois.
Community Health Worker
Emergency Preparedness and Response
The Emergency Preparedness and Response Section is dedicated to creating and promoting a state of readiness and prompt response to protect the health of Illinois communities during catastrophic events, large scale disasters and health emergencies. Through regular meetings and ongoing communication, this Section supports the exchange of ideas, develops position statements, coordinates education opportunities, and works to strengthen relationships at the local, regional and state level to advance the field of emergency preparedness and response.
Epidemiology and Health Statistics
The Epidemiology and Health Statistics Section allows for the exchange of ideas, promotes the incorporation of epidemiology principles to public health problems and programs, fosters the development and use of epidemiologists, provides expert consultation to the IPHA on pertinent issues, and assists in the implementation of Association policy where applicable.
Family Planning & Maternal and Child Health
The purpose of the Family Planning & Maternal and Child Health Section are to support the exchange of ideas, the development of positions on MCH issues and further the dissemination of those positions, and contribute to the development, coordination and extension of MCH programs at the local, regional and state level.
Health Equity
The Health Equity Section aim to increase awareness about health disparities gaps, and promotes the formulation of public health strategies, policies and research that improve access to a healthy living and quality of life. The section fosters the enhancement of data that recognizes emerging concerning trends and successful outcomes through the utilization of a broad range of communication and health education strategies.
HIV/AIDS, STIs and Viral Hepatitis
The HIV/AIDS, STIs and Viral Hepatitis Section of IPHA is to promote the development of public health efforts to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and viral Hepatitis and to enhance the lives of people living with these conditions in Illinois.
Nursing
The purposes of the Nursing Section are to advance the cause of public health nursing in Illinois, to support the exchange of ideas, knowledge and skills among members and to support the increase of membership and participation in the IPHA.
Student
The goal of the Student Section is to further the development of students, the next generation of professionals in public health and health-related disciplines. This section represents and serves students of public health and other health-related disciplines by connecting individuals who are interested in working together on public health and student-related issues.