[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT...

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COVID RELIEF HAVE BEEN SENT TO COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO.

WE HEAR FROM ONE RECIPIENT IN ENGLEWOOD.

>> PLUS, NOW THAT WE'RE ENTERING AN ENDEMIC PHASE OF COVID-19 HOW WILL CONTACT TRACING EFFORTS CHANGE MOVING FORWARD?

>> WE'D RATHER BE THERE WITH OUR BABIES WHEN THEY ARE BORN.

>> BABIES BORN TO SURROGATES DURING A WAR IN UKRAINE MILES AWAY FROM PARENTS.

A LOCAL COUPLE SHARES THEIR STORY.

>> AND REVISITING OUR 2003 CONVERSATION WITH MADELINE ALBRIGHT.

THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE WHO DIED WEDNESDAY.

>> BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> TODAY MARKS ONE MONTH SINCE RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE.

AT A MEETING WITH NATO LEADERS IN BRUSSELS, PRESIDENT BIDEN PRAISED THE STRENGTH OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST THE ACTIONS OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN.

>> NATO AS NEVER, NEVER BEEN MORE EKNIGHTED THAT IT IS TODAY.

PUTIN IS GETTING THE OPPOSITE WHAT HE INTENDED TO HAVE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF GOING INTO UKRAINE.

>> ALSO TODAY BIDEN ANNOUNCED NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA AND A PLAN TO WELCOME 100,000 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES INTO THE U.S. >> MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT MAKES HISTORY WITH HER CHOICE FOR THE NEW ALDERPERSON OF CHICAGO'S 11TH WARD.

THE MAYOR SAYS NICOLE LEE WILL STILL THE SEAT LEFT BY PATRICK DALEY THOMPSON WHO RESIGNED AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY ON FEDERAL TAX CHARGES IN FEBRUARY.

IF CONFIRMED LEE WOULD BE THE FIRST ASIAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN CITY COUNCIL.

SHE SERVES ACE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL IMPACT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR UNITED AIRLINES.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO VOTE DURING A SPECIAL MARCH 28 MEETING.

>> WILLIE WILLSON HELD HIS SECOND GAS GIVEAWAY THIS MORNING DONATING A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FREE GAS AT 19 GAS STATIONS IN CHICAGO AND DOZENS MORE THROUGHOUT THE SUBURBS.

LIKE WILLSON'S $200,000 GAS GIVEAWAY LAST WEEK, TODAY'S TRAFFIC WAS SNARLED BY LONG LINES DESPITE PLANS PUT IN PLACE BY THE CITY.

TRAFFIC DEADLOCK OR NOT, HARVEY ILLINOIS MAYOR CLARK THANKED WILLSON FOR OFFERING $50 OF FREE GAS AND CALLED ON OTHERS FOR HELP.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HELP EACH OTHER IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, Dr. WILLSON SHOULD JUST BE THE BEGINNING OF WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.

HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TO RECOGNIZE THE TREND AS FAR AS GROCERY PRICES ARE CONCERNED AND GAS PRICES ARE CONCERNED.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORTH EVERY EFFORT THAT WE CAN AS Dr. WILLSON CALLED OUT AND I WILL CALL OUT MORE.

THOSE WHO HAVE MUCH MORE MONEY THAN HIM, OK, TO COME OUT AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE HELPING COMMUNITIES TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS CRISIS.

>> AND UP NEXT, RECOVERING FROM COVID-19'S IMPACT AND SOME OF CHICAGO'S HARDEST HIT NEIGHBORHOODS.

STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> FOOD, RENT, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE NEEDS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS CHICAGO THESE LAST TWO YEARS ESPECIALLY.

IN THAT TIME, THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST ALONG WITH THE UNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO INVEST $35 MILLION IN NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES AND PANDEMIC RESOURCES AS PART OF A COVID RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORT.

SO JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE EFFORTS ARE SEE ZELDA MELLOW DIRECTOR OF TEAMWORK ENGLEWOOD.

DPLOR YEAH, LET'S START WITH YOU, WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUSING ON COMMUNITIES WHEN ALLOCATING THE COVID RELIEF FUNDS?

>> WELL, WE BELIEVE AN EQUITABLE AND JUST RECOVERY WILL ACCELERATE EQUITY IN A WAY THAT EVERYONE IN THE REGION, EVERYONE WHO LIVED HERE WILL BE ON TRACK TO REACH THEIR FULL ECONOMIC POTENTIAL.

SO IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE LISTEN TO COMMUNITY THAT WE BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY, WE INVEST IN COMMUNITY, WE IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT ARE BUILT OUT OF COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY REALLY KNOW THE SOLUTIONS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE INVESTED $18.5 MILLION IN NEIGHBORHOOD ANCHOR PROJECTS.

AND THOSE ARE IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY DISINVESTED AND NOW BRINGING THE PROJECTS THERE LIKE THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BY SUPPORTING STRENGTHENING THE BLACK AND LATINX BUSINESSES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE SAFER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITIES THAT CAN THRIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED THE PROJECTS AND THE SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES IS ENGLEWOOD.

CECILE HOW CRUCIAL WERE THE FUNDS PROVIDED TO EVENING RESIDENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT THE CLIENTS WE WORKED WITH START THE TO REACH OUT TO US IT WAS A SHOCK NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO WORK THE FOOD INSECURITIES WERE COMMON POUNDED.

WHEN WE RECEIVED THE FUNDS FROM THE UNITED WAY PROJECT WE WERE ABLE TO DO CASH ASSISTANCE AND FOOD DELIVERY SUPPORT A WEEK AFTER THE PANDEMIC HAD STARTED AND THIS WAS IMPORTANT.

A LOT OF FAMILIES RELIED ON THAT AS THERE WAS A TRANSITION.

THERE IS A LOT OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE ENGLEWOOD COMMUNITY THOSE EMPLOYED WERE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND THIS SHOCKED THEIR BUDGETS AND THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

SO WE NEEDED TO GET SUPPORT TO THE FAMILIES ASAP AND I WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH THE INITIATIVE.

>> A WEEK AFTER THE PANDEMIC STARTED THAT IS A PROMPT RESPONSE.

KIMBERLY HOW HAS THE 35 MILLION BEEN DISTRIBUTED?

>> IN THE EARLY DAYS WHEN THE CRISIS WAS UNFOLDING WE SAW THE FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH BASIC NEEDS, FOOD, RENT, MORTGAGE AND PPE WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE EARLY DAYS.

WE STARTED JUST THINK BEING STABILIZING FAMILIES.

AS THE MONTHS WORE ON WE STARTED TO LOOK AT THE DATA TO LEARN FROM OUR COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS ABOUT WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE AS PEOPLE WERE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE AND MEET NEW CHALLENGES WITH THE HEALTH IMPACTS.

SO WE STARTED TO HAVE A BIT OF A FEEDBACK LOOP WITH OUR PARTNERS TO LEARN WHAT WE COULD DO IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC NEEDS.

AND THAT IS WHEN WE STARTED THINK BEING HYPER LOCAL APPROACHES.

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS THAT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE ALSO STARTED HEARING ABOUT NEW NEEDS THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS SUCH AS THE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WAS GOING THROUGH.

AND REALLY ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, SUPPORTING STUDENTS DURING REMOTE LEARNING WHILE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON PROVIDING THE BASIC NEEDS.

>> GLORIA, HOW HAS PREVIOUS RELIEF RECOVERY EFFORTS BEEN EQUITABLE?

>> I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE RELIEF FUND, THE RESPONSE FUND, WAS IMMEDIATE.

IT WAS -- AND I HAVE TO CONGRATULATE KIMBERLY ON THE WORK TO BE ABLE TO MOBILIZE THAT WORK SO QUICKLY ALONG WITH ANNA LEE AT THE TRUST.

THE RECOVERY EFFORT IS ONE IN WHICH WE ARE REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE RESILIENT IN THE NEXT ECONOMIC CRISIS?

WE KNOW THAT IN THE GREAT RECESSION, THE BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITY DID NOT RECOVER THE SAME WAY THAT THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS DID.

SALARIES DID NOT RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINAL LEVELS.

HOME VALUES DID NOT RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL LEVELS AND THAT WIDENED THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC GAP.

THE ROLE OF WE RISE IS NOT SO MUCH THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, BUT TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES IN A WAY THAT WHEN THE NEXT CRISIS HITS THEY WILL BE IN A POSITION TO BE RESILIENT.

AND THAT IS WHY WE'RE FOCUSED ON INSURING FOR EXAMPLE WITH WORKFORCE, WHERE WE'RE SUPPORTING WORKFORCE, THAT AS THE NEW FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE GOING TO COME INTO PLAY, WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES PREPARED TO TAKE THOSE POSITIONS.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE RELIEF, BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM RESILIENCY OF THE COMMUNITIES.

>> KIMBERLY, HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC EXACERBATED THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP IN CHICAGO?

>> IT'S HAD A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP.

EARLY ON WE WERE THINKING IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD TOUCH EVERYBODY.

BUT VERY QUICKLY WE SAW THAT BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WERE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY BOTH JOB LOSS AND COVID-19 THE VIRUS.

SO AS WE STARTED TO MOVE ALONG, WE REALLY WERE THINKING HOW DO WE NOT JUST SUPPORT THESE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, BUT HOW DO WE STAY IN DIALOGUE WITH THEM ABOUT MOVING TOWARDS RECOVERY.

AT THE SAME TIME COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WERE THINK BEING HOW DO WE GET FOOD INTO HOUSEHOLDS THEY WERE THINKING WHAT DO WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE FOR LONG-TERM STABILITY.

AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT UNITED WAY AND NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK COMMUNITIES HAVE WAS INCREDIBLE IN DOING THAT OUTREACH IN COMMUNITIES.

AND WAS SOMETHING TO JUMP START THINKING ABOUT RECOVERY.

SO WE WERE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND TO THREE NEW COMMUNITIES INCLUDING ENGLEWOOD WITH CECILE AND TEAMWORK ENGLEWOOD WHICH WE ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK.

BUT IT IS THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FRAMEWORK WHERE THERE ARE INCREDIBLE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN.

>> AND CECILE MOVING FORWARD WHAT ELSE DO ENGLEWOOD RESIDENTS NEED IN TERMS OF PANDEMIC RECOVERY RESOURCES?

>> I THINK STRATEGIC EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD DEFINITELY ILLUMINATED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO MANY RESIDENTS RELY ON SERVICE AND RETAIL JOBS THAT MAY NOT RETURN IN THE FULL CAPACITY.

HOW DO WE FIND CAREER PATHS THAT MOVES RESIDENTS FROM LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK FOR MORE SUSTAINING WAGES FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AND THE DIGITAL DIVIDE HOW DO WE BRING MORE INTERNET IN THE HOMES IN THE ENGLEWOOD COMMUNITY AND EXPOSE YOUNG PEOPLE AND PARENTS AND ADULTS INTO MORE COMPUTER LITERACY PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM BE COMPETITIVE IN CAREERS AND INJURIES.

AND SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE SUFFERED FROM DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FINDING SAFE PLACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE STRONG AND SUPPORT THEIR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS KEY FOR FUTURE SUCCESS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TAKING CARE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE NOW SO THEY CANNOT HAVE LONG-TERM IMPACTS WHAT THE PANDEMIC DID TO THEIR FAMILIES.

>> AND KIMBERLY, WHAT DOES LONG-TERM RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC LOOK LIKE?

>> LONG-TERM RECOVERY MEANS REALLY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-DRIVEN AND COMMUNITY-OWNED INITIATIVES.

SUPPORTING THE EXPERTISE THAT EXISTS IN COMMUNITIES WITH RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS.

AND REALLY EQUIPPING ORGANIZATIONS WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO BRING THEIR INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY VISIONS TO LIFE.

>> BEST OF LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

UP NEXT, SURROGACY DURING WARTIME IN UKRAINE WE SHARE SAY LOCAL COUPLE'S STORY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

AS MILLIONS OF UKRAINIANS FLEE THEIR HOME COUNTRY AMID RUSSIA'S INVASION MILLIONS ARE LEFT BEHIND.

INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF PREGNANT WOMEN CARRYING BABIES FOR INTENDED PARENTS WAITING IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

THE INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT GROWING FAMILIES ESTIMATES AROUND 950 UKRAINIAN SURROGATES ARE CARRYING BABIES FOR FOREIGN PARENTS.

AMONG THEM ARE A COUPLE WAITING TO HEAR THAT THEIR SURROGATE AND THEIR TWIN BABIES ARE SAFE.

MEET 20-MONTH-OLD DAVID STERLING.

HE LOVES WHEELS ON THE BUS...

THE HORN ON THE BUS GOES BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.

>> HIDING FROM HIS PARENTS.

>> WHERE'S DAVID?

>> AND THE OCCASIONAL HIGH 5 WITH A NEW REPORTER.

AS MUCH FUN AS THEY HAVE WITH THEIR SON TODAY, PARENTS JEFF AND LILAC EPSTEIN STRUGGLED FOR YEARS JUST TO HAVE DAVID AT ALL.

>> HE IS THE LOVE OF OUR LIFE.

WE GOODNESS.

EASY QUESTION?

WE SPENT ABOUT SEVEN YEARS DOING FERTILITY TREATMENTS BECAUSE WE BOTH HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS AFTER SEVEN YEARS AND 10 DOCTORS TWO COUNTRIES, WE DECIDED TO GO THE ROUTE OF A SURROGATE.

>> DAVID WAS BORN VIA SURROGATE IN KYIV, UKRAINE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC IN 2020.

WHILE JEFF IS HIS BIOLOGICAL FATHER HE AND LILAC EPSTEIN HAVE THE HELP OF A SEPARATE EGG DONOR.

AND THIS LITTLE GUY IS GOING TO BE A BIG BROTHER.

LILAC AND JEFF ARE EXPECTING TWIN GIRLS THIS SUMMER VIA SURROGATE AND ALSO IN UKRAINE.

>> WE'RE TERRIFIED.

WE'RE -- WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW -- BECAUSE THINGS SEEM TO CHANGE MOMENT TO MOMENT, AND THERE IS A TIME ZONE DIFFERENCE ON TOP OF THAT WE'RE UP ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.

>> IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, UKRAINE HAS EMERGED AS THE SECOND MOST POPULAR DESTINATION FOR SURROGACY ONLY BEHIND THE UNITED STATES.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO AUSTRALIAN BASED NONPROFIT GROWING FAMILIES WHICH ESTIMATES 1500 BABIES ARE BORN EACH YEAR TO UKRAINIAN SURROGATES FOR FOREIGN COUPLES.

>> IN PART BECAUSE SOME OF THE NATIONS THAT HAD A LOT OF SURROGATES LIKE INDIA AND NEPAL, OUTLAWED SURROGACY SOME MADE IT ILLEGAL.

MOST OF EUROPE HAS OUTLAWED SURROGACY IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER.

AND IT'S STILL NOT CHEAP.

IT'S SO EXPENSIVE.

BUT ABOUT 40,000 OR SO ALL TOLLED FOR A SURROGATE IN UKRAINE VERSUS EASILY OVER $100,000 FOR A SURROGATE HERE IN THE U.S. >> BUT AS THE RUSSIAN MILITARY BOMBARDS UKRAINE, INTENDED PARENTS IN THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES AWAIT WORD HOPING THEIR SURROGATES AND BABIES ARE SAFE.

A DIFFICULT TASK AS IMAGES LIKE THESE POUR IN.

BABIES BORN TO SURROGATES CARED FOR IN BASEMENTS AND BUNKERS HIDING FROM RUSSIAN BOMBS A WORLD AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS.

>> WE HAVE NO -- WE DON'T KNOW HOW THINGS WILL BE TOMORROW OR NEXT WEEK OR THREE MONTHS WHEN OUR SURROGATE IS READY TO DELIVER.

A LOT OF UNCERTAINTIES.

>> THEY SAY THEY ARE THANKFUL THEIR AGENCY WORLD CENTER OF BABY HAS BEEN COMMUNICATIVE KEEPING THEM POSTED ON THE SURROGATE'S SAFETY AND PUTTING THEM IN TOUCH WITH HER DIRECTLY.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH ONE OF THE TEAM MEMBERS RUNNING OPERATIONS FROM CYPRUS.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SURROGATE HAS [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE IS CARRYING YOUR CHILD FOR YOU AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL WHAT IS HAPPENING.

ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING AT THE TIME OF WAR WITH THE SHELLING, BOMBS EXPLODING ET CETERA.

FOR THE PARENTS THIS IS A MOST HORRIBLE TIME IMAGINABLE.

>> WHILE MORE THAN THREE MILLION UKRAINIAN REFUGEES FLED THE COUNTRY, THAT IS NOT SO EASY FOR A SURROGATE MOTHER.

>> MIGHT JUST BE PHYSICAL REASON WHY IS THEY CAN'T.

IT MIGHT BE HARDER FOR THEM TO MOVE QUICKLY OR BE IN A CROWD.

YOU READ ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE FOR 24 HOURS WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER.

AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT IF YOU ARE PREGNANT.

SO IT IS INCREDIBLY HARD FOR THEM, INCREDIBLY SCARY.

>> ADDITIONALLY, SURROGATE WOMEN HAVE THEIR OWN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO CONSIDER.

AND LEGALLY, NOT EVERY NATION RECOGNIZES SURROGACY.

SO IF A SURROGATE MOTHER DELIVERS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY THE BABY'S INTENDED PARENTS MAY NOT BE NAMED ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

SETTING UP AN INTERNATIONAL COURT STRUGGLE.

>> SO IT COULD BE THAT THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE WILL LIST THE BIRTH MOTHER AND THEN THE INTENDED PARENTS MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT IF THEY WANT TO ADOPT THE BABY.

SO THERE MAY BE BARRIERS THERE.

>> WHEN DAVID WAS BORN, LILAC AND JEFF WERE ABLE TO MAKE PLANS TO HEAD TO UKRAINE TO AWAIT HUSBAND ARRIVE.

THIS TIME THEY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.

ONE THING FOR CERTAIN...

THEY REMAINED HOPEFUL FOR THE SURROGATE'S SAFETY AND THANKFUL FOR THE GIFT SHE IS GIVING THEM, DESPITE THE COST, THEY SAY ARE PRICELESS.

>> DAVID'S SURROGATE TOLD US SHE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO -- SHE LOVES HAVING CHILDREN AND SHE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TO ANOTHER FAMILY.

AND YOU KNOW SHE DID.

SHE MADE US A FAMILY.

>> LILAC AND JEFF HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR SURROGATE BY USING WHAT'S ' APP AND GOOGLE TRANSLATE.

THE TWINS ARE DUE IN JULY BUT THE COUPLE IS UNCERTAIN WHERE THEY WILL BE DELIVERED.

GROWING FAMILIES SAYS IT IS ASSISTING WITH 10 INFANTS BORN IN UKRAINE AND NEED BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND SAFE PASSAGE OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE 95 CASES ON THEIR LIST WITH SURROGATES IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PREGNANCY.

>> UP NEXT, CHANGES TO A LOCAL COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING EFFORTS.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT THE WEATHER...

SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS RELIED ON CONTACT TRACING TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE HIRING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK.

BUT AS WE ENTER AN ENDEMIC PHASE THE NEED FOR CONTACT TRACING AND THE WORK OF PEOPLE WHO DID THE JOB HAS CHANGED.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER KRISTEN THOMETZ JOINS WITH US MORE.

REMIND US WHAT CONTACT TRACE SOMETHING AND WHY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS RELIED ON IT?

>> CONTACT TRACING AS I'VE BEEN TOLD BY LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS USED AS A SURVEILLANCE STRATEGY FOR FOODBORNE ILLNESSES AND TYPES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES INCLUDING COVID-19.

CONTACT TRACERS ENTER COVID-19 AND WHEN THEY COME INTO CLOSE CONTACT WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

IT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO BE NOTIFIED QUICKLY AND GET CONNECTED WITH RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED.

>> THE STATE AND CHICAGO WERE ENTERING A NEW PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC WHILE COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING EFFORTS CHANGE?

>> YES, THEY WILL.

AND THEY ALREADY STARTED TO.

LATE LAST YEAR, THE STATE BEGAN CENTRALIZING THE COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING EFFORTS TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND SO HAPPENED RIGHT AS OMICRON WAS BEGINNING TO SPREAD RAPIDLY IN THE AREA.

LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE FOCUSING RESOURCES ON HIGH-RISK CASES AND SETTINGS LIKE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, CONGREGATE SETTING AND SCHOOLS AND UNUSUAL OUTBREAKS.

>> AT THE START OF COVID, CHICAGO HIRED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK.

WILL THEY CONTINUE TO WORK FOR CDPH?

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THEM?

>> THEY WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE CITY'S COMMUNITY LEVEL CONTACT TRACING PROGRAM THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.

NEXT MONTH, THE CHICAGO COOK WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP PICKED BY THE CITY TO HIRE THOSE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO DO THAT CONTACT TRACING, IS ACTUALLY HOSTING A CAREER FAIR FOR EVERYONE WHO IS STILL WORKING IN THAT PROGRAM.

IN ADDITION, THE CITY REGULARLY INFORMS PARTICIPANTS ABOUT JOB OPENINGS.

THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDS IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IS THE END OF THE JOB BUT A PASS TO A CAREER.

ONCE THAT PROGRAM DOES WRAP UP, THE CITY DOES HAVE PLANS TO USE A SIMILAR MODEL FOR BROADER LONG-TERMER TERM HEALTH INITIATIVES BY HAVING CHICAGO RESIDENTS SEARCH AS PUBLIC HEALTH AMBASSADORS.

>> A SHIFT FOR SOME OF THOSE FOLKS AS WELL.

KRISTEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN READ KRISTEN'S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE, THAT'S WTTW.COM/NEWS.

>> UP NEXT, REMEMBERING FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT.

BUT FIRST, A LOOK AT EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND... >> AS WE REPORTED YESTERDAY, MADELINE ALBRIGHT HAS DIED.

SHE WAS 84 YEARS OLD.

ALBRIGHT WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE AND APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AFTER SERVING AS I UN AMBASSADOR.

ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" ALBRIGHT SPOKE WITH PHIL PONCE ABOUT HER MEMOIR AND WHAT THE JOB WAS LIKE FOR HER.

>> IN THE FOOTNOTE YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW AS A WOMAN YOU HAD A DIFFERENT DAILY AGENDA ONE TO DO LIST THAT SAID CALL SENATOR HELMS, CALL KING HUSSEIN, BUY NOT FAT YOGURT.

>> I HAD TO MULTITASK.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT WAS DOING THIS KIND OF STUFF FOR ME.

SO I DID A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

>> WHAT WAS THE HIGH POINT OF BEING SECRETARY OF STATE?

>> FIRST OF ALL JUST HAVING THE JOB.

YOU DESCRIBED THIS AS THOMAS JEFFERSON'S JOB AND THAT IS QUITE INCREDIBLE ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT BORN IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO REPRESENT OUR COUNTRY.

SO ON A DAILY BASIS BELIEVE IT OR NOT I LOVED IT.

I THINK THE REAL HIGH POINT CAME AT THE END OF THE KOSOVO WAR BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN CRITICISM WHAT WE WERE DOING AND IT WAS CALLED MADELEINE'S WAR.

AND WHEN WE WON, I WENT TO THE CAPITAL OF KOSOVO -- >> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE AND REFERRED TO AS MADELEINE'S WAR.

>> AND THE COVER MAKES ME LOOK GRIM.

>> IT MAKES YOU LOOK TOUGH.

>> I LIKE TO DO WITH MY AIR FORCE JACKET.

WHEN I WENT THE CROWDS WERE SO HUGE AND HAPPY ABOUT THE HELP THE UNITED STATES HAD GIVEN AND I FELT A GREAT SENSE OF PRIDE ABOUT THAT.

>> LATE SECRETARY OF STATE MADELINE ALBRIGHT WITH PHIL PONCE ON "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IN 2003.

>> WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED BY SIGN UP FOR YOUR DAILY BRIEFING.

AND CAN YOU GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND WTTW.COM/NEWS.

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AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW".

UP NEXT ON WTTW, "JAY'S CHICAGO".

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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