What is the Employment Plan? The Employment Plan (and Addendum) is a document including the processes that govern hiring at Cook County Health (“CCH”). Because of CCH’s broad array of job types, there are several processes, but they are all designed to hire qualified candidates. They are also transparent, meaning that CCH hiring teams are required to document actions taken in accordance with the applicable process as well as the bases for their decisions.
The Employment Plan is supplemented by a Supplemental Policies and Procedures Manual that includes transparent processes, practices and procedures that govern non-hiring Employment Actions such as discipline, demotion, and the reclassification of positions.
Both the Employment Plan and Supplemental Policies and Procedures Manual prohibit CCH leaders from considering Political Reasons and/or Factors such as an employee, applicant, or potential applicant’s political affiliation in making decisions related to CCH Employment Actions. Decisions based upon other unlawful factors are also prohibited.
The Employment Plan requires both internal and external oversight of CCH’s implementation of Employment Actions governed by the Employment Plan and Supplemental Policies and Procedures Manual.
Human Resources not only establishes, directs and coordinates employment actions, but also provides oversight to ensure compliance with the Employment Plan, Supplemental Policies, Personnel Rules, and other applicable requirements (e.g., CBAs). The Employment Plan Office (“EPO”) is staffed with CCH employees responsible for providing internal oversight over both Human Resources and our departmental leaders’ employment-action related activity and providing guidance to support compliance with the Employment Plan, Supplemental Policies and Personnel Rules. For a more detailed description of the EPO’s duties, please click here. The Office of the Independent Inspector General (“OIIG ”) is a Cook County agency that provides external oversight of CCH’s implementation of the Employment Plan.
Both offices have reporting requirements which provide transparency into their observations and determinations related to CCH’s activities and compliance.
All Employees are required to adhere to Employment Plan and Supplemental Policies and Procedures Manual requirements. Structure is necessary to ensure that CCH is meeting legal and organizational requirements and that requisite transparency is provided.
Where necessary (such as when there have been organizational or operational changes that require new or updated procedures), the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) has the authority to amend the Employment Plan.
The CCH Human Resources (“HR”) Department has the authority to update the Supplemental Policies and Procedures Manual with EPO and OIIG approval. If approved (or in the absence of a timely objection), HR posts the update on the CCH website. For a more detailed description of the EPO’s duties, please click here.
Compliance with the Employment Plan and Supplemental Policies is mandatory in most instances. Please note that a majority of CCH’s workforce is unionized, and the specific requirements of an applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) must be honored where there is conflict with the applicable Employment Plan or Supplemental Policies provision (so long as the CBA does not involve or permit the use of any Unlawful Political Discrimination or Unlawful Political Contact).
In addition to providing structured processes for hiring and other Employment Actions that require documentation to support decision-making, the Employment Plan requires CCH to provide access to the following (available on the HR page of this website):
The EPO is also required to post Semi-Annual reports covering the EPO’s observations and Plan-related activities.
If you have a concern regarding potential non-compliance with the Employment Plan, Supplemental Policies and Procedures Manual or Personnel Rules, please submit a Complaint Form or contact the Employment Plan Officer directly. You may also contact the CCH Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer.
Kimberly Craft, Employment Plan Officer
1950 W. Polk St., 9th Floor
Chicago, IL 60612
epo@cookcountyhhs.org
(312) 864-0368
Nicole Almiro, Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer
1950 W. Polk St., Suite 9217
Chicago, IL 60612
Corporate Compliance Hotline: (866) 489-4949
To report a Political Contact or known or suspected Unlawful Political Discrimination, please contact the Office of the Independent Inspector General directly or submit a completed Political Contact Log or Complaint Form.
Steven Cyranoski, Interim Inspector General
69 W. Washington
Suite 1160
Chicago, IL 60602
Independent.InspectorGeneral@cookcountyil.gov
(312) 603-0350
The office’s primary responsibilities include:
As a native of Chicago, Kaelin Long grew a passion for developing connections, addressing substantial health concerns, and advocating for diversity and inclusion in underserved communities. Her love for community became evident through her passionate and persistent work both professionally and in her personal life. Kaelin is dedicated to giving back to the community through public service with non-profit organizations. Her work with the Ronald McDonald House Charities, allows her to provide support, health resources, and a sense of stability for families and children who are receiving medical attention.
Kaelin obtained a Masters Degree in Public Health from Indiana State University and began her journey into the field of public health and social services. In previous roles, Kaelin worked for Chicago Commons Adult Day Service in the Englewood community and Catholic Charities of the Archdioceses located in Harvey Il. During her time spent with both organizations, Kaelin honed in on improving quality of life, implementing health initiatives, providing senior support services and advocating for seniors diagnosed with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Her goal has always been to make a difference in the lives of others, while maintaining their dignity and respect.
Kaelin accepted her role as a Community Outreach Worker with Cook County Health and immediately saw it as an opportunity to engage and build lasting relationships with community members and leaders across the Chicagoland area. She began helping individuals to connect with our health system, County Care, and broaden their knowledge and access to all the services that are available to them. Kaelin is committed to the empowerment, advancement, and acknowledgement of those who make our community feel like home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkROynjexQw