CHICAGO - October 4, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement regarding today's announcement of the retirement of U.S. Representative Jerry Costello (D-Ill.).

"Congressman Costello is a tireless advocate for the citizens of Illinois and his district, and has spent his career in Congress working across the aisle to get things done. He has helped boost Illinois' job creation and economic development by working to improve transportation infrastructure and encourage clean coal technologies. I want to thank Congressman Costello for his service to his constituents and the people of Illinois, and wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavors."

Thanks Outgoing IDPH Director Dr. Arnold for His Years of Service

CHICAGO - September 30, 2011. Governor Quinn today appointed Dr. Craig Conover as acting director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Jean Ortega-Piron as acting director of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Dr. Conover replaces Dr. Damon Arnold, who is leaving IDPH to create a Master's of Public Health degree program at Chicago State University.

"As he departs to pursue a new opportunity, I want to thank Dr. Arnold for his years of dedicated service to the people of Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Dr. Conover's experience in a variety of medical fields will ensure that Illinois' public health system continues to protect and improve the health of the people of our great state."

Dr. Arnold's tenure at IDPH has seen the department winning a number of awards and grants, including a $24 million federal grant to implement its "We Choose Health" initiative, announced yesterday. Under his leadership, the department has consistently received top scores from the Centers for Disease Control for public health preparedness, and has transformed its grant tracking and monitoring system to increase accountability. Dr. Arnold also worked to secure public-private partnerships for the state's State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) to improve the health of Illinois residents.

Dr. Craig Conover has held several positions at IDPH since 2002, currently serving as Illinois' chief epidemiologist and medical director of the office of health protection, where he is charged with responding to and preventing disease outbreaks. Before joining IDPH, he served as attending physician at the Emergency Department at the University of Vermont and Chairman of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Provident Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Conover holds a master's degree in public health from the John Hopkins School of Medicine and an M.D. from the University of Rochester.

The Governor also appointed Jean Ortega-Piron to serve as acting director at DCFS. Since 1996, Ortega-Piron has served as Deputy Director, Guardian and Advocacy, acting as guardian for all children committed to DCFS by Illinois' juvenile courts. In that role, she was instrumental in establishing the first-in-the-nation Memorandum of Understanding between a state child welfare agency and Mexico, and also established a system for monitoring psychotropic medications for state wards, described by the Chicago Tribune as the "gold standard" in the country. She has also served as the DCFS chief administrative law judge and administrator of the Appeals and Hearings Unit. Prior to that, she worked as chief legal counsel for the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. Ms. Ortega-Piron is a graduate of Rosary College and the Chicago-Kent School of Law.

Affordable Care Act Funding Will Help Promote Healthy Living,
Control Health Care Spending in Communities across Illinois

CHICAGO - September 29, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Illinois a $24 million grant to support public health efforts to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities and control health care spending. The award, $4.8 million per year over five years, was made through a highly competitive national application process for Community Transformation Grants, an initiative of the Affordable Care Act.

"Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are leading causes of death, disability and rising health care costs," Governor Quinn said. "This grant is the result of federal health care reform, and will support our initiatives to help Illinois' citizens lead healthier lives. A healthier population will also help our businesses and boost our economic growth by controlling the cost of medical care and health insurance."

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) was one of only 35 grantees to receive funds to implement proven methods to improve health and wellness. The CDC received 213 eligible applications for Community Transformation Grants (CTG), and awarded a total of 61 grants.

The CTGs focus on three priority areas: tobacco-free living; active living and healthy eating; and quality clinical and other preventive services, specifically prevention and control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The grants will support planning and implementation of state and community projects proven to reduce chronic diseases.

The IDPH and its state and community partners will implement "We Choose Health," a statewide initiative to reduce chronic diseases. This partnership includes several state agencies, local organizations, health providers, schools, businesses and other community groups.  Strategies will be targeted toward serving residents in rural counties and racial and ethnic minority groups in urban areas to reduce health disparities.

At the state level, efforts will include increased enforcement of the Illinois Smoke Free Act, promoting breastfeeding and training health workers. At the community level, efforts will be directed to consumers, health care providers, businesses and educational institutions. Programs will focus on reducing exposure to second-hand smoke and discouraging access to tobacco; increasing screening and treatment for tobacco-related illness, hypertension and high cholesterol; improving nutrition; and increasing physical activity.

This grant will dovetail with Illinois' State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), a prevention-focused, comprehensive approach to improving the health of Illinois residents. In July, the Governor appointed the SHIP Implementation Coordination Council, which will also work collaboratively with the Governor's Healthcare Reform Implementation Council to promote statewide improvements in public health.

To learn more about Community Transformation Grants, visit www.cdc.gov/communitytransformation.

Illinois' Grain Industry Could See Boost of As Much As $575 Million

SPRINGFIELD - September 27, 2011. As Governor Pat Quinn continues his efforts to increase Asian investment in Illinois, officials from the Quinn administration today announced a major agricultural trade agreement with Taiwan. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture hosted members of a Taiwanese trade delegation in Springfield as part of a goodwill mission designed to further a long-standing trade relationship.

"Illinois' products are the best in the world, and we are committed to selling those products in the global marketplace," Governor Quinn said. "Agreements that help us increase trade with Asia are essential to ensuring our role as a leader in the global economy and bringing good jobs home to Illinois."

The 22-member delegation from Taiwan agreed to import additional Illinois grain in 2012 and 2013 and signed letters of intent with the Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Soybean Association during a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

"The Illinois agriculture industry is dependent upon export agreements like this," Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said. "Forty percent of Illinois grain is shipped out of the country and we thank the Taiwan Feed Industry Association and the Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers not only for their business, but also for their long-standing friendship."

The Taiwan Feed Industry Group signed commitments to purchase 303 million to 413 million bushels of U.S. corn and 0.5 million to 0.75 million metric tons of corn by-products. Illinois will supply approximately 43 million to 59 million bushels of the corn. At current prices, the deal is worth $288 million to $393 million to the state's corn growers.

"Illinois farmers are pleased and encouraged by the sale of Illinois corn and corn products to the Taiwanese," said Illinois Corn Marketing Board Chairman Bill Christ. "Even though this has been a tough year, Illinois farmers remain reliable producers, and Taiwan continues to be a valued customer."

The delegation, which also included representatives from Taiwan's Vegetable Oil Manufacturers and Oilseed Processing Association, signed similar letters outlining its intent to purchase up to 118 million bushels of U.S. soybeans.  Illinois' share of the transaction is around 14 million bushels, or $182 million worth, of soybeans.

"We thank Taiwan for their continued support of our industry and Illinois soybean producers," said Illinois Soybean Association Chairman Matt Hughes. "We look forward to building a stronger relationship with them, especially since more than half of our soybeans are exported to countries like Taiwan each year."

This year Taiwan is the sixth-largest export market for U.S. agricultural products and the fifth-largest market for U.S. corn and soybeans.

While here in the state the delegation will visit a central Illinois farm and tour a rail terminal grain elevator before continuing on its U.S. tour.