A new five-year public health plan now covers Park Ridge and Niles residents, targeting mental health, chronic disease and maternal health through 2030.

The Cook County Department of Public Health released the plan, called Building Healthier Communities 2030, on Wednesday, Sept. 2. It names three priority areas: mental health and substance use, chronic disease prevention, and maternal and child health. More than 50 community organizations, healthcare providers, local governments and residents helped shape it, according to the department.

The department serves 127 municipalities in suburban Cook County, with the exception of Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park and Stickney Township. Park Ridge and Niles fall within its jurisdiction.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined the announcement. "Every resident of Cook County deserves the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health, regardless of race, ZIP code or income," Preckwinkle said in a statement.

The plan grew out of three health assessments that combined public health data with input from community partners. Strategies include expanding access to care, strengthening care coordination and addressing factors that shape health beyond the doctor's office, such as housing, transportation, food access and economic opportunity.

Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health, said the department developed the plan by working alongside residents and partners to identify where it can make the greatest impact.

The plan launches amid financial strain on the broader county health system. Cook County Health, the county's hospital and clinic network, faces a $40 million budget gap driven largely by federal cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies, the Chicago Tribune reported Aug. 30. Cook County Health is a separate entity from the Department of Public Health, but both operate under Cook County government.

Implementation is already underway, the department said. Healthcare providers, community groups and local governments can join workgroups or align their own programs with the plan's priorities. No specific Park Ridge or Niles organizations were named among the more than 50 partners, and no timeline of milestones has been published.

The full plan and information on how to get involved are available at the department's community health improvement page.