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“Health cannot be a question of income;
it is a fundamental human right.”

— Nelson Mandela

Across virtually every health metric, the West Side of Chicago suffers disproportionately from higher rates of chronic disease, acute ailments and mental illness. This is the result of historic disinvestments, structural racism and inadequacies in the current health and social service system.

While a good health infrastructure and social service network exists, these are often “islands of care.” Between these islands are gaps. And this is where many fall through and step backward in their journey to wellness.

Wellness West was created to bridge these gaps.

Wellness West is the coming together of proven, well-respected health care and social service providers on the West Side. Its purpose is to create an unprecedented and uninterrupted continuity of care among hospitals, out-patient care, the social service network and community residents.

Wellness West, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is funded by the Healthcare Transformation Collaborative of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

WELLNESS WEST SERVICE AREA

0
K+
Population of the West Side
0
years
Gap in life expectancy between Loop and West Garfield Park
0
%
Population on West Side living below poverty rate
0
%
CDC – Social Vulnerability Index of West Side
0
Median income on West Side

Source: Transformation Data & Community Needs Report: Chicago–West Side February 2021
20210226TransformationReportWestChicagoDigitalCMP.pdf (illinois.gov)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jose R. Sanchez
Board Chair
Humboldt Park Health

Donald Dew
Board Vice Chair
Habilitative Systems, Inc.

David Ansell, MD
Board President
Rush University Medical Center

Tesa Anewishki
Board Secretary
The Loretto Hospital

Mahomed Ouedraogo
Board Treasurer
Access Community Health Network

Bessie Alcantara
Alternatives, Inc.

Esther Corpuz
Alivio Medical Center

 Andrea Gibson
Cook County Health

Karen Janousek
Sinai Chicago

Brenda Palms
North Lawndale Employment Network

Karen Sheehan, MD
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

PARTNERS

Wellness West is a collaboration of leading hospitals, health systems, and community organizations representing hundreds of years of experience on the West Side of Chicago. Working together, this coalition is closing the gaps in the healthcare delivery system.

NEWSROOM

Learn what’s new with Wellness West and its mission to create an unprecedented and uninterrupted continuity of care among hospitals, out-patient care, the social service network and community residents.

STORIES

Members of Chicago’s West Side community have compelling stories to tell about the challenges and solutions they face in seeking or providing wellness. Take a few minutes to meet some extraordinary people.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Building the Next Generation
of Healthcare Workforce

Wellness West is building a multi-faceted program to address staffing shortages faced by our partnering agencies while increasing job opportunities on the West Side of Chicago.

Immediate Opportunity: Training to Become a Certified Community Health Worker (CHWs)

Wellness West is sponsoring a five-day training course to become a CHW; for patients who have been referred by medical homes or other partner organizations within the collaborative. Talk to your medical home care team today to be referred.

  • No experience required.
  • A valuable entry-point to career in healthcare.
  • $500 stipend to complete the course.
  • Assistance getting interviewed and hired.

Wellness West wants to hear from you. Fill out the form below to be added to our mailing list, ask a question, or give us your thoughts.

Two Prudential Plaza
180 N. Stetson, Suite 600-1
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Ph. 312-967-1920
Fax 312-276-4168
wellnesswest@mhnchicago.org