Health Department

Iroquois County Demographics

Data on basic demographic characteristics are essential when understanding current and future public health concerns. Iroquois County, the third largest county in Illinois, is an agricultural county that is 35 miles long, 32 miles wide, and contains 1,120 square miles. The county is bordered on the north by the county of Kankakee, on the east by the State of Indiana, on the south by Vermillion and Ford Counties, and on the west by Ford County.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Iroquois County had a population of 29,718 of which 14,519 are men and 15,199 are women. These statistics revealed that the median age of the Iroquois County population was 43.4 years with males at 41.7 and women at 44.7 years, respectively. Individuals who were 65 years and older in 2010 comprised 5,627 of the population. This documented data showed that the Iroquois County’s population was reported to be 94.7 % Caucasian, 0.8% African American, 0.2% American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 0.3% Asian. The ethnic statistics of the county revealed 5.3% of the county’s population was of the Hispanic or Latino culture.

Economically, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), in June 2014, Iroquois County showed a lower unemployment rate of 6.1% compared to the state of Illinois’ average of 7.1% (IDES, June 2014). On further study, the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2012, showed a poverty rate for Iroquois County of 11.7% with a median household income 3-year estimate of $46,794.00 and a per capital income 3-year estimate of $24,831.00 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). The published data on poverty varies from source to source. The American Community Survey 5-year estimates, done through the U.S. Census Bureau from 2008-2012, revealed that 11.7% of the Iroquois County population lived below the poverty level (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008-2012). These poverty level statistics were further divided to reveal that 10.7% of the men and 12.8% of the women in Iroquois County lived below the poverty level. The age determinant further revealed that 16.6% of the population living below the poverty level were less than 18 years of age with 10.6% falling between the ages of 18 to 64 years and 9.3% in those 65 years and older.

Since the poverty status has been proven to have a direct correlation to the educational attainment of the county’s population, we must look at this data to understand further the reasons for Iroquois County’s poverty level statistics. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Iroquois County has seen an increase of 7.4% of individuals completing a high school education bringing the total percent to 87.7% as compared to a state rate of 87%. However, Illinois’ rate for residents completing a bachelor’s degree or higher is 31.1% with Iroquois County’s rate at 14.1% well below the state average.

Through this above data we can gain an understanding of the Iroquois County population and factors that can affect their health status.

What is IPLAN?

The Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN) is a community health assessment and planning process that is conducted every five years by local health jurisdictions in Illinois. Based on the Assessment Protocol for Excellence in Public Health (APEX-PH) model, IPLAN is grounded in the core functions of public health and addresses public health practice standards. The completion of IPLAN fulfills most of the requirements for Local Health Department certification under Illinois Administrative Code Section 600.400: Certified Local Health Department Code Public Health Practice Standards. The essential elements of IPLAN are:

1. An organizational capacity assessment
2. A community health needs assessment
3. A community health plan, focusing on a minimum of three priority health problems.

Community Friendly IPLAN

Iroquois County Officer Contacts

• FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Officer: alongfellow@co.iroquois.il.us | FOIA Page
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Officer: rnelson@co.iroquois.il.us
• PIO (Public Information Officer): trobinson@co.iroquois.il.us
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Officer: ececi@co.iroquois.il.us

Flood Related Resources

For additional information check out the Emergency Preparedness web page for mold and disaster preparedness.

• IDPH Flood Publications & Links
• Flood Safety Guidance
• "After the Flood" brochure (IDPH)
• "Repairing Your Flooded Home" brochure (FEMA)
• "After A Flood" website (CDC)
• Talking to Kids About Floods (CDC)
• Flood Insurance

Iroquois County Public Health Department Privacy Notice

Senior Services Staff

Beth DeWitt – Director of Senior Services

Danielle Walls – Senior Service Professional

Joshua Heeren - Senior Service Professional

Case Coordination/ Community Care Program

The goal of this program is to help older adults live independently. Care coordinators assist individuals who are age 60 years of age or over in determining eligibility for programs and link them to services that will help them remain in their home for as long as possible. A care coordinator can go to the home at no cost to discuss needs and goals, and to help choose what services may be right to meet those needs. Services include In-Home Services, Emergency Home Response Service, and Respite Services at no cost to those who qualify. Service linkage can also be arranged by the care coordinator.

Respite Services

The Respite Program provides a caregiver with relief from the stresses and responsibilities of constant care of a functionally impaired, older person through the provision of a caretaker for the impaired, older adult.

I.C.P.H.D. Administration

- Robin Allen, I.C.P.H.D. Public Health Administrator

- Tyler Robinson, Administrative Assistant

- Tina Crider-Honeycutt, Financial Officer

Phone: 815-432-2483
Fax: 815-432-2198
icphd@co.iroquois.il.us

Iroquois County Public Health Department
1001 East Grant Street
Watseka, IL 60970

For public health emergencies outside of business hours: ICOM (815) 432-4918