Climate Change
BRACE ProgramMental Health Effects of Natural Disasters
BRACE – Building Resilience Against Climate Effects
Kendall County Health Department is a proud recipient of a BRACE award. Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Illinois is a Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) funded project designed to help build the capacity of Illinois' public health system in reducing the burden of climate sensitive illnesses. It is managed by the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health (UIC SPH) on behalf of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
BRACE will guide the Kendall County Health Department (KCHD) and our community in preparing for the public health impacts from extreme weather events and climate change. KCHD will have the opportunity to receive training and support in the areas of climate science, public health effects linked to extreme weather and climate sensitive events, public health hazard vulnerability assessment, climate adaptation planning and incorporating it into current planning processes, and strategic planning to address prioritized climate sensitive health effects.
Program Objectives include:
- Increasing local knowledge about climate trends experienced/anticipated locally.
- Planning to adapt to climate change, conducting hazard vulnerability assessments, and utilizing community engagement methods to address climate change.
- Identifying opportunities within existing KCHD programs to address climate change and preparedness for extreme weather events.
Once this work is complete, this process will be evaluated and lessons learned will be shared with local health departments and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). BRACE grants were awarded to three local health departments in Illinois to support the development of local climate change adaptation planning.
To learn how best to prepare for the health effects of climate change, please visit BRACE Illinois
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