Bringing Cook County resources such as vaccination clinics into communities is a priority of Kisha McCaskill, the new Cook County commissioner for the 5th District, which covers several south suburbs.
McCaskill, the executive director of the Harvey Park District, was picked by Democratic leaders Jan. 10 to replace Monica Gordon, who was sworn in last month as Cook County clerk.
A formal swearing in for McCaskill took place Jan. 16. She is filling the unexpired term of Gordon and would be up for election in 2026 to a full term.
McCaskill said she also wants to take up a goal of Gordon’s in working to secure a Level 2 trauma center for the district.
The district includes all or parts of Chicago’s 9th, 10th, 19th and 21st wards, and all or portions of Blue Island, Calumet Park, Country Club Hills, Dixmoor, Hazel Crest, Markham, Olympia Fields, Park Forest and Robbins.
McCaskill said she is scheduling meetings with mayors in the district, and wants to bring Cook County resources into district communities.
That will include flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at park district facilities and assisted living or long-term care sites, as well as informing elected officials about Cook County grant programs.
She said Wednesday she is talking with Hazel Crest and Robbins officials about bringing vaccination clinics into neighborhoods.
McCaskill said while Cook County has three health clinics in her district, including Robbins, “bringing those services to the neighborhood level” is important.
McCaskill, a 52-year-old lifetime Harvey resident, has been the Park District’s executive director since May 2015 and is co-founder of the Democratic Women of the Southland Region.
She said a goal of Gordon’s she wants to pursue is bringing a Level 2 hospital trauma center to the 5th District. Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn is the only Level 1 trauma center in the south and southwest suburbs.
“If you have a severe gunshot wound you are going to Christ, which is an issue,” she said. “We want to make sure people get those services immediately.”
The state Level 1 designation indicates the highest level of trauma care, although there are also hospitals with Level 2, such as Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, and Level 3 designations. Level 1 trauma centers offer round-the-clock care with on-site specialists.
The University of Chicago Medical Center in Chicago is also a Level 1 trauma hospital, as is Cook County’s Stroger Hospital
McCaskill said it is possible a hospital such as UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey might be established as a Level 2 trauma center, and that the hospital had that designation in the past.
In the area of economic development, McCaskill said she wants to work to ensure communities have access to grant programs offered by the county, and that small business owners can participate in bidding for county work.
“They know the opportunities exist but there is no connectivity on how to make it happen,” McCaskill said as far as small business bidding. “We’re going to take the misinformation out of it and ensure equitable access.”
She said she is also connecting with Chicago aldermen in the 5th District and south suburban mayors to determine what their needs are, and that she has her first meeting Thursday in Dixmoor.
“My goal is to meet with each mayor one-on-one to find out their goals and what I can do to help,” McCaskill said.
She was one of five candidates competing for the county board vacancy.
Gordon had been tabbed by the county’s Democratic leaders to run for the clerk’s job after the death last spring of Karen Yarbrough.
Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry, who is not up for reelection this year due to term limits, was among the candidates.
He also is Bremen Township Democratic Committeeman and had a vote in picking Gordon’s replacement.
Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher, Chicago Heights Ald. Kelli Merrick and Rich Township Highway Commissioner Dennis White also sought to fill the board vacancy.
mnolan@southtownstar.com
