FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April… 2010

CHICAGO FAMILY HEALTH CENTER EXPANDS TO SERVE RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO LAWN COMMUNITY

NEW COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER SET TO OPEN AT 63RD AND KEDZIE

Chicago Family Health Center (CFHC) announces the opening of the Chicago Lawn

community health center this June. Located at 63rd and Kedzie, the center will open its doors to thousands of medically underserved and uninsured residents on the Southwest Side of Chicago and surrounding communities.

A team of Family Medicine physicians will provide services ranging from prenatal health,

pediatrics and diabetes, to heart disease programs, senior care and access to many other supportive programs. In addition, health care providers are culturally and linguistically sensitive to their patients’ needs.

“Expanding our services into Chicago Lawn is the natural next step for us,” said Warren

Brodine, Chicago Family Health Center CEO. “For more than 30 years, our health centers have provided access to affordable health care in South and Southeast Chicago. The Southwest Side now faces some of the same barriers to healthcare. With this center, we hope to revitalize the Chicago Lawn community through health and wellness programs for all stages of life.”

There are more than 200,000 people in Chicago Lawn, West Lawn, West Englewood, West

Eldson, Gage Park and Ashburn who live at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. This means many have no medical home for themselves or their families.

A Federally Qualified Health Center, CFHC not only treats illnesses, but strives to prevent

disease from happening by promoting healthy lifestyles. Research indicates that that the poor health status of any community is directly linked to high incidences of teen births, low birth weight infants, infant mortality, lack of prenatal care and poverty. The new Chicago Lawn Center will combat those specific health issues, which are prevalent the area.

Chicago Family Health Center works closely with community residents, businesses and other

stakeholders to ensure patients receive optimal health care. In Chicago Lawn, these include Holy Cross Hospital and the Greater Southwest Development Corporation.

Holy Cross Hospital has been in the community for 83 years and with so many communities economically hard hit, welcomes CFHC to the area. Currently about 30% of Chicago Lawn residents have no health insurance and about 35% are on Medicaid. This makes it extremely difficult for this population to find quality, routine care.

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Contact: Valerie Reynolds Community Affairs Manger

Chicago Family Health Center vreynolds@chicagofamilyhealth.org

773-785-5000, ext. 1095 773-876-7367, cell phone

“Our community is in great need of primary care that is accessible to all residents. This center will go a long way toward making that dream a reality. We at Holy Cross Hospital look forward to working with Chicago Family Health Center to improve the health of our community,” said Wayne M. Lerner, D.P.H., F.A.C.H.E, President and Chief Executive Officer, Holy Cross Hospital.

The Greater Southwest Development Corporation contributes to residential, commercial,

and industrial revitalization efforts in Southwest Chicago. It works with investors, government entities, and local organizations to redevelop key business areas, generate new jobs, and stabilize the local housing market.

“Chicago Family Health Center is the bedrock for a healthier community,” said Nick Kollias,

Commercial Director, Greater Southwest Development Corporation. “Its mission directly correlates with our own, which is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Chicago’s Southwest Side which will be felt for years to come.”

About Chicago Family Health Center: Chicago Family Health Center is a community-based, nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that

provides comprehensive, accessible primary care, dental, social services and supportive programs to the residents

in the far South and Southeast communities and surrounding areas. At CFHC patients receive care regardless of

their race, religion, gender, age, income or ability to pay. In 2009, CFHC served more than 24,000 patients with

over 100,000 visits and more than $3.3 million in charitable care.

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