CSAC

About

The Chicago Strategic Action Council (CSAC) is a community-driven initiative to advance equitable prevention strategies across Chicago. Grounded in the Theory of Change, CSAC outlines a clear path from shared goals to measurable impact by identifying key drivers of change, addressing root causes, and aligning community efforts toward long-term outcomes. The CSAC operates under the Collective Impact Model, bringing together diverse stakeholders—including service providers, funders, and community leaders—to collaborate through structured, cross-sector partnerships. Through this dual framework, CSAC fosters coordinated action, shared measurement, and continuous communication to reduce disparities and improve the health and well-being of historically underserved communities.

We Amplify Prevention

The Chicago Strategic Action Council (CSAC) was established in 2020 through a partnership between the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and Prevention First to strengthen coordinated, youth- and family-centered prevention services across Chicago. Serving over 2.6 million residents, CSAC operates as a cross-sector collaborative, guided by a Collective Impact Model and a robust Theory of Change framework to improve long-term community well-being.

As the backbone organization, Prevention First supports CSAC’s 23 partner organizations and a five-member steering committee. Together, they focus on advancing high-quality, culturally responsive, and equitable prevention efforts. Through Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) funding, CSAC enhances workforce training, data-sharing systems, and collaborative capacity to reduce substance misuse and address root causes of youth risk factors.

Four core priorities

Improving service quality through professional development and staff retention.

Advocating for equitable, sustainable funding aligned with evolving community needs.

Building a connected prevention network across funders, providers, and grassroots partners.

Ensuring prevention services are culturally relevant and reflect the lived experiences of under-resourced communities.

CSAC prioritizes Chicago’s low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, which comprise 80% of the city’s population. These neighborhoods are especially concentrated on the South and West Sides, where residents face systemic barriers, economic hardship, and limited access to health and prevention resources. Through strategic partnerships, data-driven planning, and inclusive engagement, CSAC works to create healthier, more resilient communities across the city.

A Business Case for Prevention

Developed by the Chicago Strategic Action Council, Prevention Makes Cents explores the deep-rooted connections between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), substance use disorder (SUD), and long-term public costs. By translating complex public health challenges into economic terms, this case outlines why prevention is not just a moral imperative, but a wise financial investment for Illinois. This report highlights how upstream substance misuse prevention strategies can drive lasting community impact and fiscal sustainability, from healthcare savings to improved workforce outcomes.

Our Workgroups

Developed through a partnership between the Illinois Department of Human Services and Prevention First, the Chicago Strategic Action Council (CSAC) is a citywide initiative committed to closing prevention gaps in historically under-resourced neighborhoods, particularly within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. After two years of collaborative planning, vision-setting, and infrastructure building, the CSAC is entering its next phase of work with the launch of four targeted workgroups in early May.

Together, these workgroups represent a critical next step in realizing CSAC’s vision of an equity-centered, community-led prevention ecosystem that promotes long-term health and well-being for all Chicagoans.