March 20, 1996

GRANTS AWARDED FOR PRIMARY CARE HEALTH SERVICES

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has awarded $234,922 in grants to 10 federally qualified health centers that provide primary care health services in medically underserved areas of Illinois, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, announced today.

"Primary care is a critical element in protecting and enhancing the health of Illinois' citizens," said Dr. Lumpkin. "Yet, there are many parts of the state where such care is far from adequate. These community clinics play a crucial role in serving the health needs of individuals in these areas."

The one-time grants of up to $25,000 are meant to enhance and strengthen existing clinic operations. They are supported by the Medical Student Scholarship Program's payback funds, which are monies received from scholarship recipients in lieu of fulfilling their practice obligation to the state.

Grant recipients include the following:

• Chicago Health Outreach Inc. ($17,013), which serves homeless persons, persons with HIV/AIDS, immigrants, refugees and chronically mentally ill patients, for the purchase of computer equipment and software and to provide staff training.
• Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation's Rea Clinic ($25,000), located in Franklin County, for the replacement of a blood count analyzer, which will permit better quality and easier patient care access.
• Community Health Partnership of Illinois ($22,332), which is based in Chicago and provides primary health care for migrant and seasonal farm workers throughout the state, to renovate facilities at two sites, purchase essential equipment for four other locations and training needs.
• Community Health Partnership of Illinois, Chicago, ($24,700) to hire a full-time resource development specialist who will work with staff to identify health center funding priorities and match them to individual, corporate and charitable sources of funding.
• Lawndale Christian Health Center ($25,000), which provides approximately 60,000 patient visits per year on Chicago's west side, to allow the center to purchase computer equipment for tracking patient records and support training and implementation of the system.
• Madison County Health Center ($25,000), which records 35 to 45 newly pregnant women every month who report that they have no obstetrician/gynecologist, to provide start-up funds for two month's of an OB/GYN's salary until service reimbursement is sufficient to support the physician.

• Mile Square Health Center ($25,000), located on Chicago's near west side and surrounded by three Chicago Housing Authority developments, to recruit two community liaisons to work with area residents during the center's transition to managed care programs.
• New City Health Center ($25,000), which provides primary care to residents of Chicago's west side in Englewood, New City, West Englewood and contiguous community areas, to allow the center to upgrade its billing system, replace the current accounting system software and add needed computer hardware.
• Parent Child Center's Community Wellness Center ($23,299), which serves residents from the Chicago communities of Austin, East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale and West Garfield Park, to hire a nurse to expand outreach efforts and a part-time research assistant for data management. The center provides prenatal care to 400 women annually and plans to expand services to an additional 400 high-risk women.
• Shawnee Health Service and Development Corporation's Carterville Family Practice Center ($22,578), located in Williamson County and one of five Shawnee community health centers in southern Illinois, to purchase a new management information system.

A total of 22 grant applications were received and reviewed by a panel representing the Governor's Rural Affairs Council, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, the Illinois Rural Health Association and the Southern Illinois University Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments