About Us

Mom & Daughter photo

Mission Statement


The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition works to improve the health of women, children, and families over the lifespan through community engagement, partnerships, policy analysis, education, and advocacy.


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.

 

Vision

The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition envisions an Illinois that works towards equity and social justice, fosters the development of healthy families, and provides fair access to quality health care - the basic rights of all human beings.


Values

  • The right to be born healthy and raised in a safe and nurturing environment
  • The voice of the collective to facilitate change
  • Cultural competence and respect for diversity

Priority Issues

  • Access to high-quality, comprehensive health care
  • Immunizations across the lifespan
  • Health care and health education in schools
  • Infant and maternal morbidity and mortality reduction
  • The elimination of health disparities among all populations
  • Leadership development in maternal and child health field
  • Reproductive health


Projects

  1. The Chicago Area Immunization Campaign
  1. The Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers
  1. The Illinois Premature Health Infant Network
  1. The Campaign to Save our Mothers and Babies
  1. Health Reform Implementation and Education

 


IMCHC informational brochure ยป