News
2018
Board Member Michael Gelder Appointed to Pritzker Transition Team
November 16, 2018Founding Health & Medicine Board Member Michael Gelder has been appointed to the Healthy Children and Families Committee of Governor-elect JB Pritzker’s transition team.
Schweitzer Fall 2018 Newsletter Released
November 14, 2018Our latest Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Newsletter provides updates on recent Schweitzer activities including an update from our Fellow’s community garden project and photos from our summer Schweitzer Leadership Award Event.
Schaps Testifies Before Cook County Board: “We must continue to provide the needed resources for CCHHS to flourish.”
October 31, 2018On Monday, October 29, the following testimony by Health & Medicine's Executive Director Margie Schaps on the proposed budget for Cook County Health was presented to the Cook County Board. Schaps urged the Board to approve a budget that will allow the Health System to succeed and flourish while allowing the System to fully implement a strategic vision that will ultimately reduce costs and improve the health of the residents of the County.
Health & Medicine Condemns Trump Administration’s Proposed “Public Charge” Rule Change
October 12, 2018This past Wednesday, October 10, the Trump Administration officially issued a proposed rule change related to “public charge” determinations. This is another abhorrent attack on the health and wellbeing of immigrants and their families that is meant to scare them from seeking access to programs that support healthcare, nutrition, and housing. Health & Medicine Policy Research Group joins immigrants and our partners to condemn this unjust and immoral proposal. As a member of Protecting Immigrant Families-Illinois we urge all of our partners to join us in fighting back.
Health & Medicine to Observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 4, 2018On October 8, 2018, for the first time in the organization’s history, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group will be observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The Indigenous Peoples of America have rich cultures and continue to show strength and resilience in the face of adversity and injustice. They have experienced thefts of their lands, languages, property, and lives since the arrival of settlers from Europe. This struggle for justice continues today, and Native People are often at the forefront of movements against inequities and for their own survival and wellbeing. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Native People and lend our voice in support of all those seeking freedom, sovereignty, and justice.
Chicago Schweitzer Summer 2018 Newsletter Now Online
August 16, 2018Our latest Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Newsletter rounds up our recent Schweitzer activities!
Meet our 2018 HMPRG Award Winners
August 2, 2018Too often those in our community working for health and social justice are not given the recognition they deserve. Today, we're pleased to announce the recipients of our 2018 HMPRG Awards representing Chicago-area leaders whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care.
#FamiliesBelongTogether: Health & Medicine and the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative Releases Statement on Child Separation
June 22, 2018Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and the Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative strongly condemn the forcible separation of children from their parents and caregivers who have crossed into the U.S. without authorization. As a Collaborative committed to expanding the understanding of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma, we know that the loss of a parent is an ACE that results in prolonged exposure to toxic stress and impacts health and wellbeing across the lifespan. To promote healing and build resilience, children must be reunited with their parents and caregivers immediately, as research shows that these relationships are the most important factor in mitigating the impacts of ACEs and toxic stress.
Health & Medicine Welcomes 2018-19 Schweitzer Fellows
June 7, 2018Thirty exceptional health professions graduate students have been selected for the prestigious Schweitzer Fellowship – a year-long service learning program that empowers Fellows to design and implement projects that help address the health needs of underserved Chicago communities. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, the Fellowship exposes students to real-world inter-professional, collaborative care and aims to develop lifelong leaders in service. The 2018-19 Fellows include students from 10 area universities and 20 academic programs, ranging from nursing to disability studies and public health. The exceptional class of Fellows was selected from a pool of almost 100 applicants through a competitive process.
#HistoryMatters: Health & Medicine to Celebrate Juneteenth
June 6, 2018On June 19, 2018, for the first time in the organization’s history, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group will be celebrating Juneteenth, a day regarded as the oldest national celebration of African American liberation in the United States. While the official date of the Emancipation Proclamation was 1863, Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the remote territory of Texas over two years later on June 19, 1865.
New Reports Focus on Helping the Safety Net Navigate the Challenges and Opportunity of Health Reform
May 4, 2018Health & Medicine's Health Equity Initiative recently completed a research project examining how the ACA and state level health reforms can support the move toward health equity and stronger communities in the Chicago area with a specific focus on the Western Suburbs. This research led to two papers that are available now.
This #ILGiveCommunity, be the change you wish to see!
May 3, 2018While 2018 has already presented us with a number of challenges, it has also offered us many heroes. From activists across the country rallying in support of progressive issues to candidates with a renewed sense of purpose, we have no shortage of change makers. Thank you for being one of them, and helping Health & Medicine stand for health equity and social justice.
Action Alert: Protect Consumers from Unregulated Health Plans
May 2, 2018Protect Our Care Illinois--of which Health & Medicine is a member--urges you to take action today to stop junk insurance. We are calling on the General Assembly to pass the Short-Term, Limited Duration Health Insurance Coverage Act, SB2388 SFA1 to protect consumers from these unregulated health plans that don’t meet ACA standards!
#TaxesMakeHealthHappen: Maintaining Illinois’ population? Let’s talk about fair taxes!
April 17, 2018In honor of tax day, Senior Policy Analyst Tiffany N. Ford and Director of Health Equity Wesley Epplin wrote the following response to recent Chicago Tribune editorials looking at Illinois’ tax system in the run up to the gubernatorial election. Recent editorials on the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates ask the question we are all wondering: “who’s got the […]
Chicago Schweitzer Spring 2018 Newsletter Now Online
April 16, 2018Our latest Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Newsletter rounds up our recent Program activities. We invite you check out the newsletter and stay engaged and involved with this innovative service learning program.
Nominations Open for the 2018 HMPRG Awards
March 29, 2018Nominations are now open for the 2018 HMPRG Awards! Honoring individuals and organizations across six categories, the awards celebrate those whose work exemplifies Health & Medicine’s mission to promote social justice and challenge inequities in health and health care. Nominations are due by June 10, 2018.
Health & Medicine Meets with IL Legislators to Promote ACE-Informed Policies
March 26, 2018On March 7th, Health & Medicine and our Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative hosted a Legislative Briefing in Springfield with Representatives Juliana Stratton (5th district) and Sara Wojcicki Jimenez (99th district). The briefing provided an overview of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in Illinois and how state systems can promote trauma-informed approaches to delivering care.
Rauner’s Veto of HB1424 Jeopardizes Services for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities
January 10, 2018Governor Rauner’s veto of HB1424 as reported in the Sun Times on Sunday, Dec 31, which was intended to preserve the Community Care Program (CCP) may foreshadow a blow to the thousands of older adults and persons with disability who rely on this program to remain living in their communities rather than moving into a nursing home.
