During COVID-19, the health disparity between ethnic and racial groups became increasingly wider. FORWARD DuPage is responding through a variety of efforts building on our past and strengthening our future. We are committed to:

1) The FORWARD Coalition - A warm thank you to each of you for helping us eliminate barriers to health equity, reducing obesity and improving our resident’s health through improved access to nutritious food, increased physical activity and advances in the built environment while we also address the social determinants of health. If you haven’t already, please join us and Take the Pledge.

2) The NEWLY RELEASED DuPage County BMI Surveillance Report 2018/19 - Thank you to the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) and the Regional Office of Education! Since 2011, thanks to this partnership, FORWARD has been monitoring the obesity rates of kindergarten, sixth and ninth grade students and adults along with DuPage children aged 2-4 years that are enrolled in the USDA’s special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The latest data indicates that DuPage obesity rates are holding steady overall, but more than one in seven (15%) kindergarten, sixth grade, and ninth grade public school students were obese. Additionally, 43.3% of all obese students had an elevated blood pressure reading. What is even more alarming, children aged 2 to 4 years enrolled in WIC (16.9% in 2018) had higher than the national obesity rate among this same group of children (13.9% in 2016). Now more than ever our work needs to continue! Early intervention is key especially in low income, high-risk communities. Click here for more information and please share these new results. For help in planning strategies with your community, contact Tonia Batogowski at toniabato@gmail.com.

3) Aligning our culture and business practices to reflect diversity, equity and inclusion - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is central to our mission and a reflection of the DuPage County we wish to nurture. Please consider joining the FORWARD DEI Workgroup of the Board of Directors which includes local stakeholders to help ensure that all residents in DuPage County have equitable opportunities to achieve optimal health regardless of racial, ethnic background, age, gender, income and/or body size. The DuPage Community should contact Tonia Batogowski at toniabato@gmail.com to be included in the next meeting on Friday, August 27 at 9am.

FORWARD is Leading the Way for Deeper More Lasting & Inclusive Change

Paving the Road to Health Equity: Ending Weight-Based Discrimination

Tuesday, July 27 - 11:30am

 

All people, regardless of body size, deserve respect AND to live free from stigma and discrimination. Understand other factors impacting this complex health issue that are not so easily controlled. Join us and our partner, Benedictine University, as students from the Department of Public Health discuss weight bias. Click here to register for FREE.

Young Lions Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course

Saturday, August 21 - 9:00am to 1:00pm

DuPage County Fairgrounds

FORWARD DuPage has partnered with ShapeUp U.S. to bring you this event along with a FREE Health & Wellness Expo to the DuPage County Fairgrounds for children and adults of ALL ages. There will be 10 obstacles where children can get physically active by running, jumping, crawling, climbing and swinging. Click here to register for the obstacle course (use coupon code SHAPEUPCHICAGO). Limited scholarships are available for at-risk children. Contact Tonia Batogowski at toniabato@gmail.com for more information.



Health & Wellness Expo Partners Wanted 

FORWARD is looking for partners to participate in the FREE Health & Wellness Expo from 9:00am to 1:00pm to provide interactive games and healthy nutritional opportunities targeted to children and families. If you would like to partner with FORWARD or would like more information, please contact Tonia Batogowski at toniabato@gmail.com. 

 

Webinar Series

Take 40 minutes for your health! Our webinars focus on health equity, optimization, and improving the immune system just to name a few. Past recordings of all our webinars are available and can be accessed here.

DuPage Medical Group Funds DEI Activities

FORWARD would like to thank DuPage Medical Group for our recent funding to:



1) Educate, empower, and support families of color to achieve their best health outcomes by engaging our early child care partners to better understand the underlying causes of racial and ethnic health and wellness disparities.

2) Survey at-risk families to obtain a deeper understanding of the role that access to, and knowledge about nutritious food plays in managing weight and ways to mitigate these issues.

 

For details on this effort and to get involved contact Tonia Batogowski at toniabato@gmail.com or go to our website here for more information and resources.

Give the Gift of Equity

Please take a moment to support FORWARD DuPage’s work. When you make a tax-deductible donation today, we can make an even bigger impact towards a healthy and equitable DuPage for everyone. Big or small, every dollar makes a difference and goes to supporting programs that make our mission a reality.

 

Read our statement here on Collaborating for an Equitable DuPage County.