Jennifer A. Welch: President & CEO
CHICAGO, IL – Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) has appointed women’s rights advocate Jennifer A. Welch as President & CEO.
During her 25-year career in both the public and nonprofit sectors, Welch has served as a passionate advocate for women’s issues with a strong focus on protections for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Welch comes to PPIL from the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) where as First Deputy Commissioner she administered 55 distinct revenue streams in serving the city’s most vulnerable populations including domestic violence survivors and their children, ex-offenders, people experiencing homelessness, children, at-risk youth, and seniors. She also managed the policy, programming and funding to improve the city’s response to domestic violence. During her tenure, Welch led the effort to build WINGS Metro, the first new domestic violence shelter in Chicago in more than 10 years.
Prior to DFSS, Welch was the Policy Director for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan where she oversaw all policy initiatives including violence against women, violence prevention, internet safety, sex offender management, campus safety, and children’s products safety.
Earlier in her career, Welch served as Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network. She traces her advocacy roots back to her experience as a Medical Advocate at Planned Parenthood of Illinois where she educated women about reproductive choices and advised patients about health issues.
Welch holds a JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law and received her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
She began her duties at PPIL on May 1, 2017.
Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) provides affordably-priced, high-quality reproductive health care services to women and families throughout Illinois. Through health care services, educational programs and advocacy efforts, PPIL works to ensure and protect the reproductive rights of each individual.
