Joined CHF’s National Network: August 2003
Home Institution/Affiliation: University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, IL
Medical Director: Icy Cade-Bell, MD
Program Administrator: Felecia Morelon
Sampling of Services:
Areas Served: Urban communities in Chicago's south side.
The Chicago Children's Health Project (CCHP) provides services to children living in medically underserved neighborhoods on Chicago's south side - bringing care directly to children in need through relationships with over twenty public and parochial schools in the city.
Children and families in these communities have histories of chronic asthma, diabetes, obesity, elevated blood pressure and teen pregnancy. Residents in the areas served by the CCHP have limited access to medical care despite their proximity to a hospital system, due to a lack of transportation, lack of health insurance or limited knowledge of available resources. Compliance with even the most basic state medical requirements for school attendance is very low, particularly in the high schools.
The project brings students into compliance with these basic health requirements by performing school physicals, sports physicals and immunizations. CCHP staff use these initial visits to make children and families aware of the project's array of services - all provided without regard to ability to pay.
