Call for Nominations

This is your invitation to recognize your fellow colleagues for their contributions to the public health community. Individuals or groups involved in any aspect of community health, public health, and/or human services should be nominated for these awards. Please review the criteria for each award and select the category most suited to your nominee’s accomplishments. You are not limited in the number of nominations you submit, however, each new nomination will require a new submission. Previous award winners within the past five years in a category will not be eligible for an award in that specific category.

Award Categories

Please note that Illinois Public Health Association employees are not eligible for these award categories.

Emerging Public Health Leader Award

• This award is given to an individual who has shown dedication to making a significant contribution to public health in Illinois by demonstrating outstanding leadership, innovation, and/or creativity. The award recipient shall be a student of public health or a person in the first 10 years of his/her public health professional career.

Beacon of Public Health Award

• This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment, and contribution to advancing public health in Illinois over the past year. The award celebrates advocacy efforts, policy change, volunteerism, mentoring, research, collaborations, innovative approaches, and other impactful work done to influence positive change.

Health Equity Award (Organization Award)

• This award recognizes organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to health equity by reducing disparities affecting vulnerable populations, such as racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, individuals with limited English proficiency, members of rural, Tribal, and geographically isolated communities, and other individuals impacted by persistent poverty and inequality.  Special consideration will be given to organizations that have implemented a suite of policies and practices recommended by Healing Through Policy, an initiative of the American Public Health Association, the de Beaumont Foundation, and the National Collaborative for Health Equity, in collaboration with Results for America. 

Public Health Program of Excellence Award (Organization/Program Award)

• This award recognizes public health programs in Illinois that demonstrate excellence, such as quality of service, dedication to providing evidence-based services, creativity in solutions for the community that improve access to care or address health disparities, increasing the visibility of public health initiatives, promoting the adoption of effective and efficient public health programs, and/or successful collaborative public health initiatives.

CHW of the Year Award

• This award recognizes a Community Health Worker (CHW) who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and impact in improving health outcomes within their community. The award celebrates the unique role of CHWs in bridging gaps between healthcare systems and underserved populations to promote health equity and foster a stronger, healthier community through health education, advocacy, service delivery, and navigation support.

CHW Supervisor Award

• This award recognizes a CHW supervisor who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentorship, and commitment to supporting and empowering CHWs in their roles. The award celebrates the supervisor's efforts in fostering a collaborative, supportive environment where CHWs can thrive, effectively serve their communities, and drive meaningful public health outcomes.

CHW Employer Award (Organization Award)

• This award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated outstanding support, commitment, and investment in CHWs as integral members of the workforce and healthcare team. The award honors an employer who has fostered a positive work environment, provided necessary resources, and created opportunities for CHWs to succeed and make a meaningful impact in public health.

CHW Educator Award

• This award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding dedication to training, educating, and empowering CHWs. The award honors those who have played a pivotal role in developing and enhancing the knowledge, skills, and professional capabilities of CHWs, ensuring they are well-equipped to serve their communities and improve public health outcomes.

For individual nominations, you will enter their name and contact information below.

For organization nominations, you will enter the contact person's information below.

For information that does not apply, please enter N/A.

Nominations will be reviewed after the June 26, 2026, deadline. You and selected awardees will receive notification of their status the week of July 13, 2026.