HEALTHIER TOGETHER is the only community-based movement that seeks to transform our metro east counties into the top 25% of healthiest counties in Illinois by 2025, by creating opportunities so all residents can experience a safer, healthier quality of life. Currently, we are focusing on six areas where we know there is a need to improve.

Our mission is to create a healthier metro east region; and our purpose is to create opportunities for all citizens of the metro east area to achieve their best possible health.

The HEALTHIER TOGETHER movement is 100% volunteer driven and governed by an independent Council of Partners whose members include leaders in the healthcare, business, faith, education and local government sectors. The movement seeks to support the efforts of work groups comprised of over 85 volunteers representing over 45 service organizations, currently dedicated to working together to improve community health and overall quality of life.

Currently, our efforts are focused on six areas where we know there is need to improve.  These areas include:

HEALTHIER TOGETHER's strategic focus areas are determined through a concensus building process among the partner organizations. This process works to align with and support the Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs) of many of our metro east hospitals, local health departments and other Qualified Health Centers.

For the last ten years, several counties in the metro east region have consistently ranked high for poor health and low for quality of life when compared with Illinois' 102 counties, despite having some of the highest quality of health care in our country.