January 13, 2009  
 

As we start a new year and a new decade, the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition looks forward to the passage of federal health care reform, a state budget that prioritizes women and children’s health and an opportunity for families and individuals of all backgrounds to have equal access to optimal wellness.

IMCHC projects are already busy at work planning meetings, conferences, trainings and advocacy activities throughout 2010. In order to continue these events, we encourage you to become a new member or renew your membership.

Your generous contribution helps fund the majority of our advocacy and policy work that supports hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of families who have no other voice representing them in Springfield or Washington, DC.

Visit our secure donations page on our website and join or renew your membership today.

Mark Your Calendars for 2010 IMCHC Meetings and Events!

Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Tuesday, June 15th
11:30am – 2pm
Maggiano’s at Clark and Grand in Chicago

Contact Lilah Handler for sponsorship opportunities.

Chicago Area General Membership Meetings
Wednesdays, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Metropolitan Family Services, 1 N. Dearborn, 10th Floor, Chicago

February 24, 2010                  
May 26, 2010 
September 22, 2010   
December 8, 2010        

Southern Illinois Chapter Meetings 
Wednesdays, 12:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Municipal West Building, 200 Potomac in Mt. Vernon

January 27, 2010 (this meeting will conclude at 2:30pm)
April 21, 2010
July 28, 2010
October 20, 2010

Lake County Chapter Meeting
Wednesdays, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the University of Illinois Extension Building, 100 South Highway 45, Grayslake

March 24, 2010

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State and Policy Updates

Responsible Budget Coalition CALL-IN DAY, Wed, Jan. 13

Tell state reps to support HB 174!

This week, lawmakers return to the capitol to open a new legislative session. It's critical that members of IMCHC remind the House of Representatives that the painful fallout of the collapsing state budget can't be overlooked any longer. That's why on Wednesday, Jan. 13 members of the Reponsible Budget Coalition (RBC) are staging a CALL-IN DAY to members of the Illinois House.

Please make calls to your state representative--and do everything you can to generate as many calls as possible from throughout your organization and contacts. Call your state rep directly at their Springfield office, or the capitol switchboard at 217-782-2000, if you are unsure who your representative is click here.

When you call, tell them: “Stop devastating cuts to schools, hospitals, human services and state and local governments!”

HB 174 is comprehensive tax reform to raise new revenue that’s desperately needed to close the state’s huge budget shortfall AND make taxes fairer. The bill would raise the income tax by 2 pennies on the dollar, broaden the sales tax base, and expand tax credits for middle-class and low-income taxpayers, homeowners and seniors. It has been approved by the state Senate but must pass the House. For more information about the bill and the Responsible Budget Coalition visit their website.

Governor Quinn Signs Health Insurance Fairness Act into Law

Earlier this month, Governor Quinn signed into law HB 3923 that provides for better protection for consumers in the health insurance market, including uniform applications, an appeals process for denied claims and transparency on how health care dollars are spent in Illinois by insurance companies. This is a big step for everyone in Illinois and IMCHC was proud to work with chief bill sponsors Representative Greg Harris and Senator Heather Steans, as well as the Illinois Department of Insurance and other health advocacy organizations on this important issue.

Visit the Department of Insurance’s website for more information on how this will may affect you.

Exciting News from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is pleased to announce that the federal government has approved the renewal of the Illinois Healthy Women (IHW) family planning waiver program through March 31, 2012.

IHW offers coverage for family planning services including annual exams, pap tests and birth control to women with incomes less than 200% FPL. For more information, visit the IHW website.

Illinois Department of Public Health Releases New EPT Guidelines and Factsheets

Recently, local health departments were notified by email of the new Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) guidance and materials and an email went out about the new EPT guidance to persons who have signed-up to be notified. To view the guidelines visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website.

Reproductive Health Lobby Day

A Reproductive Health Lobby Day will take place in Springfield on Wednesday, February 10th. As a member of the Illinois Campaign for Reproductive Health and Access, IMCHC encourages its members to participate in this opportunity to speak to legislators about the need to protect reproductive choice and offer comprehensive sexual health education in public schools.

Transportation to and from Springfield, as well as a training, lunch and t-shirt will be provided at no cost. Contact Kathy Chan for more information.


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Federal - Health Care Reform Updates

On December 24th, 2009 the Senate passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. IMCHC has been closely monitoring the progress of this bill, as well as its provisions for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), better known as All Kids in Illinois. The CHIP Program has to be reauthorized every four years and is scheduled for reauthorization in 2013. 

Here is a breakdown of the provisions for CHIP in the health care reform bills:

Currently, the leaders in the House and Senate are reconciling the bills that were passed in each of their chambers. Congress routinely combines bills without a formal conference committee, and leaders in the House hope to encourage more generous subsidies for middle-income Americans to make health care more affordable for all.

For more information on the key provisions in the proposed bills for both the House and Senate please visit the Kaiser Family Foundation’s interactive side-by-side health reform comparison tool, with separate summaries of the bill’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program provisions, as well as an outline of the ongoing process that Congress must follow as it works to complete and enact a health reform bill.

For additional questions, you may also email Sara Howard, Staff Attorney at IMCHC who has been closely monitoring this legislation. She can also be reached at 312-491-8161x32.

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Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers

School Health Center Conference 2010 - Call for Presentations.

The Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers seeks presentations for the 8th Annual School Health Center Conference, Building Bridges: Healthy Minds, Bodies, Communities. Presentations should speak directly to collaborative, school-based strategies focused on the holistic health of youth. Presentations, regardless of topic, should aim to fulfill the following goals:

• Promote the integration of mental health services in SHCs.

• Address the impact of mental health issues in SHCs.
• Promote community collaboration in SHCs that focus on the holistic health of youth.

• Provide resources and support for developing school health centers.
• Enrich and strengthen the skills of clinicians, administrators, allied staff, and advocates in the school health center setting.
• Provide opportunities for attendees to share ideas, information and experiences.

For more information about topics and to submit a presentation, visit the ICSHC's website. Email Conor Butkus or call him at 312-491-8161x35 with questions.

Chicago Area Immunization Campaign

Chicago Department of Public Health to Extend the Dates for Free H1N1 Flu Clinics Across Chicago.

For Chicago residents who do not have a doctor or whose doctor does not plan to give H1N1 vaccinations, the Chicago Department of Public Health will offer H1N1 flu vaccinations at six locations across the city. The vaccinations are for people at increased risk for H1N1 and H1N1 complications including:

** pregnant women.
** all children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years.
** people who live with and/or care for infants younger than 6 months of age.
** people age 25-64 with chronic health conditions (like asthma or diabetes).
** health care workers.

 The six locations are:

          ** Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted
          ** Olive Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn
          ** Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S. Pulaski
          ** Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson
          ** Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western
          ** Wright College, 4300 N. Narragansett

The locations will be open to serve Chicago residents on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  Hours of operation are 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturdays.

No appointments are necessary, and all vaccinations will be delivered free of charge, on a first come, first served basis.

If you have any questions about the clinics, or would like more information, please contact Sheila Sanders.

9th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions – Call for Abstracts and Early Registration

The 9th National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions (NCIHC) will be hosted by the Chicago Area Immunization Campaign, a project of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition. NCIHC will take place on May 26 – 28, 2010 at the Westin River North Hotel in downtown Chicago. 

Early registration is now open for the conference!   Payment must be received by February 12, 2010 to ensure the early registration cost. If you are interested in registering for this event, or would like more information, visit IMCHC’s website.

Abstracts are now being accepted!  NCIHC 2010 will showcase successful ways in which health coalitions can improve immunization protection, prevent disease, improve access to care and health outcomes for underserved populations, reduce racial, ethnic, and geographic health disparities, educate new populations, and build community health infrastructures.  Abstracts are welcome from all disciplines and must be submitted electronically no later than February 1, 2010.  If you are interested in submitting an abstract, information is available through IMCHC’s website.  

Illinois Premature Infant Health Network

The Illinois Premature Infant Health network will have its next meeting on March 1st at IMCHC’s office in Chicago. We will be discussing a bill to get more educational materials to parents of premature infants, conducting a subject matter only hearing on prematurity in Springfield and planning NICU tours during the summer of 2010. 

Please contact Sara Howard if you would like more information about IPIHN or to RSVP for a meeting. Details on upcoming meetings include:

March 1st – IPIHN General Meeting, 10am-12pm at the IMCHC Office

*June 21st – IPIHN General Meeting, 10am-12pm, hosted by LaRabida Children’s Hospital, located at East 65th Street at Lake Michigan in Chicago

            *Please note date change for our June IPIHN Meeting.

IMCHC Junior Executive Board

Over twenty-five young professionals are actively involved in IMCHC’s Junior Board planning events to raise awareness for maternal and child health.  Please contact Sara Howard if you would like to learn more about the Junior Board and its activities. Meetings are held on a bimonthly basis at IMCHC’s offices.

Upcoming events include:

March 11th – Junior Board Book Group - Discussion of Reefer Madness:  Sex, Drugs and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market by Eric Schlosser  
Please contact Sara Howard if you would like to attend this discussion.

March 25th – S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G it Out for Student Health: a Spelling Bee of Grown Up Proportions

Thursday, March 25th, 6:00-9:00pm at Mad River Bar and Grill
Cost: $35.00 (Includes food and drink)
Raffle Tickets: $5.00 or 5 for $20.00

Were you a champion speller back in the day? Want another chance to show off your spelling skills as an adult? Join the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers, a project of the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition, for their first spelling bee fundraiser. Teams of two will compete in three exhilarating rounds of spelling for the title of the “Best Spellers in Chicago”. Don’t miss the most exciting fundraiser of the year!

Funds collected will support the youth development work of the Illinois Coalition for School Health Centers.

If you are interested in being an event sponsor or participating as a spelling bee contestant, please contact Megan Erskine at merskine@ilmaternal.org or by phone at 312-491-8161, ext 29.

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Newsletter Archive

Visit our newsletter archive to read about recently listed articles from past issues.

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La Rabida Children’s Hospital Presents: The 14th Annual Perspectives in Care Symposium
On April 9, 2010, La Rabida Children’s Hospital will present “A Collaborative Approach to Cerebral Palsy” at their 14th Annual Perspectives in Care Symposium. For more information, call 773-256-5997.