Conference Overview
The Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC) hosts an annual Illinois Reentry Conference that brings together people who are justice-impacted, their families, their advocates, and professionals from medical and non-medical community-based and healthcare settings for a day of honest dialogue to transform the way we advocate for and work with people who are justice-impacted. Promoting systems of health and healing for those impacted by the criminal justice system, through collaboration, education, and innovation, the 2025 Illinois Reentry Conference aims to advance equity in health justice for justice-impacted people.
This event is free and open to the public, offering a platform for education and collaboration. It will be held in a hybrid format, in Chicago and online.
Registration will open in January 2025.
To stay informed about the 2025 Illinois Reentry Conference and other Community Reentry events, please complete the sign-up form partway down our Community Reentry Project page.
For a peek into past conferences, please scroll down.
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Inspired and hopeful
After seeing all these presenters, I feel inspired and hopeful, which is difficult to find when working in corrections. Thank you!!!
Absolutely enjoyed
Absolutely enjoyed this conference. I’ve been in the social work field for over 20 years and this was very good!
HUGE thank you
I just want to send a HUGE thank you to the entire conference planning team for creating such an accessible and informative conference experience! I very much enjoyed every session I had the chance to be a part of and will certainly use what I have learned to improve my own research and practice.
Second chances
It was amazing to know the services extended to the reentry population but most of the public is not a welcoming atmosphere specially the livelihood aspect. We always hear everyone is entitled to a second chance, but those second chances were so difficult and unreachable to the reentry individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When and where is the Illinois Reentry Conference?
A: The Illinois Reentry Conference is held annually in March. Times and locations vary each year.
Q: Help! I registered but I did not get any information about how to access the virtual conference. When will I get this information?
A: All information regarding how to access the virtual conference will be shared with all registrants the week of the conference.
Q: Can any other Continuing Education Units (CEs) outside of Universal, Licensed Social Worker, and Registered Nurse be added?
A: Unfortunately, we are unable to add any additional CEs to our CE list. We will consider expanding CEs for future events.
Q: Is there a fee required to attend the conference?
A: No. The conference is 100% free!
Q: When will the conference speakers be announced?
A: Please check this page in February for a list of speakers.
Q: I do not see my question listed here. Who should I contact to ask additional questions?
A: You can email reentry@phimc.org for inquiries regarding the Illinois Reentry Conference. A member of our team will respond within 48 hours.
If you have any questions, please contact us at reentry@phimc.org.
Check out content from previous conferences
ABOVE VIDEO: Illinois Reentry Conference Overview
Following are videos from the virtual Illinois Reentry Conference held on March 4, 2021:
- Welcoming Remarks & Opening Plenary, featuring Rashonda Johnson, PHIMC Reentry Manager; Karen A. Reitan, PHIMC President and CEO; Dr. Stephen Schrantz, University of Chicago Medicine; and Dr. Robert Fullilove, Columbia University
- Benneth Lee, CEO of the National Alliance for the Empowerment of the Formerly Incarcerated (NAEFI), offers ways to engage formerly incarcerated individuals as leaders in making the change they want to see.
- Grim Jackson, Performance Artist, offers an artistic examination of the prison-industrial complex, performing a poem called, "When they see me."
Take a look at PHIMC's full Reentry Video Playlist
Following are resources and photos from the Illinois Reentry Conference held on October 3, 2019 in Chicago:
- 2019 Illinois Reentry Conference: Advancing Criminal, Health and Social Justice - presented by Karen A. Reitan, Executive Director, PHIMC
- How the Cook County Jail Improves Reentry - presented by Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff
- Trauma Informed Practices for Providers and Those Working with Justice-Involved Individuals - presented by Talia Peckerman, Chief Performance Analyst - Public Safety, Office of Inspector General
- Injustice Over the Life Course: History, Current Trends & Actions Needed - presented by Mildred Williamson, Interim Executive Director, Ruth M Rothstein CORE Center/ACHN
- Advancing Criminal, Health, and Social Justice: Honoring a Twenty-Year Legacy and Building Skills for Today - Media Release
- Community Reentry Project - 20th Anniversary Timeline - Infographic
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In-Person Reentry Conference photos by Shon Gibbs Imagery (c) 2019
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