The Kane County Board has appointed Barbara Jeffers, MPH, as the permanent executive director of the Health Department.

Jeffers had been serving as Interim executive director since June 2012, when she was appointed to the fill the position of former Executive Director Paul Kuehnert, who left for another position.

Jeffers said she will sustain the momentum of the department in terms of protecting the community, maintaining its partnerships and continuing the department’s strategic planning.

Jeffers says her commitment to partnerships is "stronger than ever."

The department's vision is to have the healthiest residents in Illinois by 2030, and it already has initiated projects bearing fruit as part of its Community Health Improvement Plan.

“The CHIP needs the support of everyone if we are to successfully attack the threats to community health and well being and meet our health priorities,” Jeffers said. “This is not just a Health Department document, it is a blueprint for the entire community to follow for a better quality of life for all of us.”

Over the last seven-plus years, Jeffers has held several positions at the Health Department. Prior to being named interim executive director, she was assistant director for administration, where she was responsible for high-level administrative functions including budgeting, human resources, labor relations and facilities management.

Before getting involved in county government, she was employed by the state of Illinois for 14 years, her last appointment being the director of training and development for the Department of Human Services.

Jeffers has a master of public health degree from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department