New Effort to Prevent Concussions, CTE for Student Athletes in Cook County

Cook County commissioners introduce resolution to address brain injuries in young athletes

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Cook County commissioners have introduced a resolution aimed at reducing and properly treating brain injuries, especially concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), in student athletes. The resolution calls for working with schools and coaches to combat sports-related head injuries, greater research into CTE, and expanding awareness and education around concussion risks.

Why it matters

Research shows one in 10 children experience a traumatic brain injury every year, and local health officials say the numbers are even more concerning in suburban Cook County, where 14.35% of high school students reported experiencing a concussion in 2024. The impacts of these head injuries can appear years later in the form of memory loss, depression, and other behavioral changes.

The details

The resolution introduced by Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps calls for a 'fortified pipeline' to ensure thorough evaluation and treatment of student athletes who present with concussions. It also encourages federal and state leaders to examine the effects of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals on student athlete health, and directs Cook County's public health system to expand awareness and education around concussion risks.

  • The resolution was introduced by Cook County commissioners on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
  • In 2024, 14.35% of high school students in suburban Cook County reported experiencing a concussion.

The players

Tara Stamps

Cook County Commissioner who introduced the resolution to address brain injuries in student athletes.

Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County Board President who spoke about the resolution.

Kiran Joshi

Chief Operating Officer of Cook County Health, who discussed the concerning concussion rates in suburban Cook County.

Liz Nicholson

Wife of former NFL player Gerry Sullivan, who shared her husband's experience with severe medical complications linked to brain injuries suffered while playing.

Gerry Sullivan

Former NFL player who lives with severe medical complications linked to brain injuries he suffered while playing for the Cleveland Browns.

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What they’re saying

“It is real, and it is happening in communities across the country. Too often, concussions are misunderstood, under reported or dismissed.”

— Tara Stamps, Cook County Commissioner (ABC7 Chicago)

“We are saying that when young people present with concussions, there will be a pipeline that has been fortified to make sure that we are doing a thorough evaluation of their condition, to anticipate anything that may be Fallout or symptom of what we're saying is suspected CTE.”

— Tara Stamps, Cook County Commissioner (ABC7 Chicago)

“My husband started experiencing unmitigated rage, depression, suicidal ideation addiction problems, and this was something that really, I had been with my husband for many years at this point, and he became a completely different person.”

— Liz Nicholson (ABC7 Chicago)

What’s next

Cook County Health is developing a referral process to connect injured student athletes with specialized concussion clinics.

The takeaway

This resolution highlights the growing concern over the prevalence of concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among student athletes in Cook County, and the need for a comprehensive approach to prevention, evaluation, and treatment of these brain injuries to protect the long-term health and well-being of young athletes.