About this toolkit.
The Healthy Choices Healthy Futures Toolkit is designed to help families and social service providers access reliable, evidence-based tools and resources to support women during their reproductive years.
Racial disparities in maternal health are putting our families at risk and harming Black communities.
New! Healthy Choices Healthy Futures Toolkit Survey
If you have been using the toolkit we’d love to hear from you. The purpose of this survey is to better understand who is using the toolkit, what information is most helpful, and how we can improve the toolkit. The survey is anonymous and confidential, and it should take approximately 5-8 minutes to complete.
In Illinois, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and 83% of pregnancy-related deaths were deemed potentially preventable by the Illinois Department of Public Health in 2021.
While Black women were more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions, white women were more likely to die from pregnancy-related mental health conditions, including homicide, suicide, unintentional drug overdose, or other drug-related conditions. Of these deaths, nearly all were deemed potentially preventable.
We can change these statistics. We owe it to women.
See the Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report for more info.
To learn more about how Illinois compares to other states on key maternal health indicators, review this report card from the March of Dimes.
About the Sponsors.
This toolkit was created initially by EverThrive IL, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and numerous partners in Workgroup E of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA). Funding is provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Public Health, OWHFS, Maternal Child Health (MCH Title V Block Grant), Grant Agreement Number.
About EverThrive Illinois
EverThrive Illinois’ mission is to achieve reproductive justice in the health care ecosystem through community-driven partnership, policy action, and systems change.
The choice to have and raise a healthy family is a human right. Sadly, not all families have the same access to resources and opportunities to thrive. Reproductive oppression—experienced through policies, systems, and practices that control and infringe upon bodily autonomy—threatens the health and well-being of all people. Time and again it leads to poor outcomes in health and care for people from communities most impacted by injustice. EverThrive Illinois envisions a future in which every Illinoisan has the health care and support necessary to determine if, when, and how to become a parent—safely and in a sustainable community.
Our approach to change relies on our four strategic priorities, which complement each other and drive us to foster a healthier, stronger state where everyone thrives.
ACHIEVE BIRTH EQUITY
We will ensure that pregnant and postpartum people in Black and Brown communities receive high-quality care and services they need to have safe and healthy births.
EXPAND ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE
We will guarantee all people have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance and the holistic health care they need to thrive.
UNITE WITH PARTNERS TO ADVANCE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
We will expand our community of partners and supporters statewide to build power and advance reproductive justice.
CREATE SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
We will build systems that improve health and well-being by meeting the economic, social, structural, and other needs of families and communities.