As Public Health Administrator for the Peoria City/County Health Department, Monica Hendrickson, MPH develops agency goals and plans, establishes administrative policies and procedures, and evaluates agency efforts and impacts on the public health needs of the community. She also handles interpretation, implementation and assurance activities associated with the enforcement of acts, statutes and rules applicable to protecting the public's health.
Using her background in epidemiology, Hendrickson established comprehensive reports on community health indicators, sexually transmitted infections, mortality, and maternal and child health, which were distributed across the region and statewide, driving a community-based approach to improve population health. She has also led projects in the areas of emergency preparedness, environmental health and communicable disease, serving as a liaison with state and federal agencies and participating in local and regional planning operations.
Working collaboratively with multi-sector community stakeholders and the general public, Hendrickson helped assess and prioritize health needs and quality-of-life issues to develop a community health improvement plan for the Tri-County area. As a result, the Partnership for a Healthy Community now exists to help determine health improvement strategies for more than 100 community partners. She also leads a steering committee to improve behavioral health within the region, working to ensure that sustainable, community-driven efforts are utilized to reduce substance abuse through prevention and access to services.
Hendrickson chairs the Junior League of Peoria's community education group to promote and improve education in the community, and serves as an ELITE mentor with the Peoria Park District, encouraging young people to take on local leadership roles. She also serves as a grant reviewer and Solutions Council member for the Heart of Illinois United Way. A 2017 graduate of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School, Hendrickson received the 2016-2017 Community Contribution Award from Peoria Public Schools, as well as the Certificate for the Promotion of Civil Liberties from the ACLU. iBi
