To retain certification, Bi-County Health participates in the Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN).

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 fulfils 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; and
3. a community health plan, focusing on a minimum of three priority health problems.
Bi-County Health undergoes the IPLAN process through a community wide effort to look at general indicators of health status for the community, utilizes the input of community perceptions to identify leading health problems, and then develops interventions to address those problems. From 2017-2022, the following health problems were chosen:

1. Chronic Disease: Heart Disease, Respiratory Disease, Diabetes, and Cancer Focus.
2. Behavioral Health: Substance Abuse Focus
3. Obesity

Franklin and Williamson Counties’ 2017-2022 Community Health Plan – Click here to view.