Chicago Family Health Center Joins Health Collaborative
Chicago Family Health Center is one of three Chicago community-based health organizations that are part of the Collaboration for Equitable Health, which is a joint initiative between the American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society and American Heart Association, and powered by Bank of America. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHICAGO FAMILY HEALTH CENTER.
The $25 million collaboration will last for four years, and its goal is to improve the health outcomes of African-American, Native American, Hispanic and Latino and Asian communities. The collaboration has launched in 11 cities, which includes Chicago, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, San Antonio, Memphis, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington, D.C. and Detroit.
Rita Cook, President of Bank of America Chicago said in a release, “Equitable access to healthcare sets the foundation for thriving communities.” “Persistent health disparities can negatively impact so many areas of our lives, from education to mental health and career growth, and nowhere is this more evident than in underserved communities. Bank of America is honored to convene so many impactful partners and provide funding that will improve access to critical care services and, ultimately, improve health outcomes for our neighbors across Chicago.”
Sherry Pace, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Family Health Center, sees Chicago Family Health Center participating in the Collaboration for Equitable Health as an opportunity to have support in achieving its goal to make an impact on health outcomes in communities of color.
“This kind of collaboration with other organizations and the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and American Diabetes Association really gives us a collaborative approach to work together and come up with ideas, whether that is materials or education for our providers and for our patients and for our staff,” Pace said.
Chicago Family Health Center has six locations on the South side of Chicago. As part of the collaboration, the community-based organizations will look at the leading causes of death in the communities where they are located and what can be done to make an impact. Pace said that heart disease, cancer and diabetes are the leading causes of death in communities of color.
Having a self-monitoring blood pressure program, increasing screening opportunities for patients, and better ways to have education training around nutrition services to help manage diabetes are just some of the things Chicago Family Health Center is already doing to make an impact on health outcomes in the community.
Not only does Chicago Family Health Center provide primary health care services, but dental, maternal health care and behavioral health services, it also provides wraparound services, which includes insurance navigation, nutrition services, health education and outreach services. Chicago Family Health Center has been focused on population health, long before social determinant of health were popular terms, and access to healthcare, along with health equity.
The hope is the grant will help Chicago Family Health continue its mission, along with some new, innovative approaches – the self-monitoring blood pressure program. Through the collaboration, Chicago Family Health Center will share best practices and ideas with Sinai Chicago and Lawndale Christian Health Center.
For more information about Chicago Family Health Center, visit chicagofamilyhealth.org. For more information about the Collaboration for Equitable Health, visit www.collaborationforequitablehealth.org.
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