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MISSION STATEMENT Recognizing that healthy infants, children, mothers and families constitute the basis of our society, IMCHC is dedicated to promoting and improving their health and well being through advocacy, education, community empowerment and policy development. The activities of the Coalition address and support the fundamental principles of equity, social justice and fair access to care which are basic rights of all human beings. The Coalition's main objectives are directed to overcome critical barriers, such as poverty and racism, that prevent achievement of maternal and child wellness.
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1988, IMCHC works in a partnership with its 90+ organizational members on advocacy and policy development in the maternal and child health field. It is incorporated as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and is the local affiliate of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. Board members of IMCHC work on maternal and child health issues in different arenas. The members of the Coalition represent public and private sectors, rural and urban Illinois, and they reflect the multi-cultural composition of Illinois' diverse ethnic populations. Committees are established for each of our projects. All members are invited to participate on these committees. The Coalition's accomplishments include leading successful statewide efforts to expand Medicaid and KidCare eligibility, halting marketing abuses by HMOs , and winning substance abuse treatment priority for pregnant women. The Coalition has educated thousands of physicians and nurses on key aspects of childhood immunization and trained hundreds more health care providers on integrating maternal & child health with HIV/AIDS education. We invite you to join us as we move forward to improve the health of women, children and families in Illinois.
PROJECTS
The functions of the Coalition include policy analysis and promotion of sound policy decision-making, education of consumers and professionals, and the development of new legislation. The Coalition acts as a liaison between policy makers and those populations affected by their decisions by informing women about new laws that can help them and by encouraging policy makers to act on women's ideas for change. Recent advocacy efforts have been spent trying to secure affordable and comprehensive health coverage for low income children. Other projects include immunization education and assessment for health care providers, the prevention of preterm low birth weight deliveries, the expansion of school based health centers, and educating consumers and providers about post partum depression.
Click here to view our FY
2007
Annual Report.
(.pdf version)
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LINKS ON THIS PAGE INCLUDE:
National HMHB Coaliton Website