Erie Family Health Center

Erie Celebrates Grand Opening of Erie Clemente Wildcats Student Health Center

On July 1, 2009 Erie Family Health Center celebrated the grand opening of its first high school-based center; Erie Clemente expects to serve the 2,700 students at the high school.

CHICAGO – July 2, 2009 – The opening of the Erie Clemente Wildcats Student Health Center marks another milestone for the Erie Family Health Center.

Erie Clemente is located on the second floor of Roberto Clemente Community Academy, 1147 North Western Avenue, and features three exam rooms, a counseling room, lab, office space and a number of other state-of-the-art amenities, including an electronic records keeping system.  Hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

From left to right: Jazlin Flecha, Stacy Dobreff, Rosa Herrera, Amy Valukus and Tiosha Goss

The center is staffed with licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, behavior specialists and case managers. Erie Clemente bilingual staff provides the following services to its patients: acute care, school and sports physicals, immunizations, chronic disease management, lab services, rapid HIV testing, reproductive Health Services, and counseling services. The counseling services are available through a partnership with Youth Guidance, an organization that creates and implements school-based programs.

“Our goal is to remove any barriers to health care,” said Tiosha Goss, School and Oral Health Coordinator. “The Center will provide health care to students without interfering with their education by allowing them to see Erie providers onsite. Students are encouraged to make appointments at the beginning and end of day, lunch time and in-between passing periods,” added  Goss.

An added benefit to students utilizing Erie as their health care provider is the long-term connection with the organization. Once an individual becomes an Erie patient they can visit any of the other centers. In the case of Clemente students, upon leaving the high school they are automatically a part of Erie’s health network and can utilize the adult patient care centers. With the electronic health records system implemented at Erie sites, patients can visit any center and providers will have access to all past information. This provides individuals with a continuity of care.

“We are honored to help improve access to quality, affordable health care for Clemente students,” said Amy Valukas, Director, School Health and Health Promotion. “Our mission is to provide accessible, affordable and high quality health care for those in need. Many of the most vulnerable are kids,” Valukas added.
A $130,000 grant from Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation helped to support the renovation of Erie Clemente and made it fully operational on July 1.

About Erie Family Health Center:
Erie Family Health Center was first established in 1957 as a volunteer clinic by doctors from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. It has been Erie’s mission to ensure that all Chicagoans have access to high quality, culturally sensitive, bilingual health care services — regardless of their ability to pay. Today, Erie serves about 30,000 patients annually at ten sites, including four school-based health centers, a teen health center and two oral health centers. Erie’s mission is to provide accessible, affordable and high quality health care for those in need. We believe health care is a right, not a privilege.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Department of Public Health’s Mary Pat Burgess
Honored at Golden Toothbrush Awards Event

May 27, 2009

On May 14, 2009, Erie Family Health Center honored Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Department of Public Health’s Director of School-based Oral Health, Mary Pat Burgess at the First Annual Golden Toothbrush Awards Luncheon. The Golden Toothbrush Awards is Chicago’s first fundraiser for community oral health and raised over $145,000 for Erie’s Oral Health Program. The event, generously sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, aimed to raise awareness around the oral health care crisis.

Dr. Lee Francis, Erie President; Representative Cynthia Soto, Legislator; Mary Pat Burgess, Award Winner; Alfonso Gutierrez, Telemundo; Michael Cole, UnitedHealthcare

Everyone knows that our country is experiencing a “health care crisis,” as the numbers of uninsured Americans increases every day. But few people are aware of the oral health crisis—a widespread problem that often gets overlooked. That is why Erie decided to hold this event. Thousands of children and working adults are living with painful toothaches, cavities and other dental problems that can lead to missed days of school and work, and other medical complications. Poor oral health leads to medical challenges such as pre-term labor for pregnant women, low birth weight, poor sugar control in diabetes, and possibly, heart disease. These conditions disproportionately affect the most vulnerable – those who are uninsured or underinsured and living in communities where there are few dentists who accept Medicaid or offer discounted fees for uninsured families.

Nearly 300 corporate, civic and community leaders attended the First Annual Golden Toothbrush Awards Luncheon at Chicago’s historic University Club. Among those leaders was Illinois State Representative Cynthia Soto of the 4th District, who served as the event Honorary Chair. Erie presented two awards at the luncheon – the Golden Leadership Award and the Golden Toothbrush Award.

Governor Quinn received the Golden Leadership Award for his leadership in addressing the oral health crisis in both Chicago and throughout the state of Illinois. Governor Quinn is a longtime advocate of oral health, pushing for a new Illinois law to require children entering kindergarten, second and sixth grades to receive an oral health exam. Representative Soto accepted the Erie Golden Leadership Award on behalf of Governor Pat Quinn.

The 2009 Golden Toothbrush Award was given to Mary Pat Burgess, a true visionary and enthusiastic leader in community oral health. She successfully created Chicago’s School-based Oral Health Program, which in just nine years has reached over 148,000 Chicago Public School students with dental exams and referrals. The program is available to over 600 Chicago Public Schools and has become the largest school-based oral health program in the United States.

“It was not expected, which makes receiving the award all the more enjoyable,” said Burgess. “It was a representation of everything we’ve done in the last nine years. It’s nice to be recognized for what you’re trying to do and that people are aware of the actions you’re trying to take to make it better for the children of Chicago.”

In addition to presenting these awards, the event featured one of community oral health’s strongest advocates, Burton L. Edelstein, DDS.  He spoke at the event about the importance of community oral health care and its role in community health. Dr. Edelstein is a Pediatric Dentist from Columbia University and is the founder of the Children’s Dental Health Project, a Washington D.C. oral health policy organization that informs policymakers regarding structural fixes to improving children’s oral health in America.

August 3, 2007

Erie Oral Health Program Receives Grant

from Delta Dental

On behalf of Erie Family Health Center, Dr. Ghassan Souri, Erie’s Vice President of Oral Health Services, accepted a $5,000 grant from Delta Dental. The grant was presented by Tim Woods, Director, Training and Public Responsibility, Delta Dental of Illinois. Delta Dental has supported Erie’s oral heath program for the last three years.

Erie Family Health Center opened our first oral health access site, Erie Dental Health Center, in November 2005 to serve children, pregnant women and diabetic adults on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Erie’s oral health program has increased access to comprehensive oral health services for over 2,500 patients and has improved their oral health status.

Due to the program’s success, we will be opening another oral health access site at Erie Humboldt Park Health Center in October 2007. Stay tuned for more information on the new site!

For more information about Erie Family Health Center, please contact Valerie Comprelli at 312-432-7463 or .

September 21, 2007

Erie Board appoints Dr. Lee Francis

as President and CEO

Erie Family Health Center’s Board of Directors has appointed Lee Francis MD, MPH, as Erie’s permanent President and CEO. After serving Erie Family Health Center for 16 years as in Internist — and as Erie’s Vice President of Medical Services since 2001 — he assumed the position of Interim President and CEO in November 2006. Since then, Dr. Francis has brought his passion and expertise in the field of safety-net community health care to his position, leading Erie with vision, professionalism and genuine enthusiasm.

Over the last 10 months, Dr. Francis has been able to provide Erie with a sense of purpose and direction during Erie’s 50th Anniversary celebration year. As the President and CEO, he will ensure Erie’s mission and legacy lives for many years to come.

When announcing the selection to Erie’s staff, Board of Directors chair Jack Murchie stated, “Those of you who have worked with Lee know that he is an exemplary colleague and personally dedicated to the mission of Erie.”

Dr. Francis received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Amherst College, after which he received his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine. Dr. Francis completed his residency in internal medicine at Cook County Hospital. He then served as an Attending Physician at both Cook County and Northwestern Memorial Hospitals. From 1993-1997, he served as the Director of Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cook County Hospital. Dr. Francis joined Erie Family Health Center has an Internist in 1991 and in 2000, he received a Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois. In 2001, Dr. Francis became Erie’s Vice President of Medical Services, a position he held until this recent appointment.

“I am honored to be able to lead Erie at a very challenging time as the number of uninsured increases and as we experience new frontiers in battling chronic diseases and challenges in providing oral health services,” Dr. Francis said.

Erie Family Health Center provides comprehensive primary care services at eight health center sites to over 30,000 low-income patients per year, regardless of ability to pay, in the Chicago community areas of Albany Park, Avondale, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, Irving Park, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, North Lawndale and West Town. Services provided include pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine and women’s health. In addition, Erie provides HIV/AIDS care, behavioral health, case management services, health education (asthma, diabetes, nutrition, parenting and prenatal) and oral health services. Erie’s patient population is 87% Hispanic; 50% are uninsured; 81% live below 100% of the federal poverty level; and, 82% are best served in Spanish. For further information about Erie Family Health Center, please contact Valerie Boosalis at (312) 432-7463, or email at or visit: www.eriefamilyhealth.org.

January 28, 2008

Erie Family Health Center Receives $32,825 Grant from Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC

For the first time, Erie will be able to offer urgently needed behavioral health services at its school-based health center on the west side of Chicago

On behalf of Erie Family Health Center, Dr. Lee Francis, Erie’s President and CEO, accepted a $32,825 grant from Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC law firm on January 28, 2008 at the Ryerson Elementary School in North Lawndale. The grant was presented by Bryan Schwartz, LP, founding partner and chairman of the firm (pictured left).

Levenfeld Pearlstein’s generous support makes it possible for Erie’s school-based health center at Ryerson Elementary School to offer behavioral health services for the very first time. The program will focus on three key areas: 1) access to behavioral health services; 2) an intensive violence prevention workshop; and 3) outreach in the school and community on the availability of these vital services. The program provides individual therapy to assist students with immediate crises such as witnessing or being a victim of physical or sexual abuse, drive-by shootings and muggings — common problems in the North Lawndale community. Group therapy and teacher training are also offered. Fifty-five students will benefit from this program, in addition to teachers and community members. The therapist supported by Levenfeld Pearlstein, Shannon Duffy, LCSW, has found the program to be a success so far. Duffy says, “Children are improving both academically and behaviorally in class. They seem to be happier and they are smiling more often — that’s the kind of impact that makes these programs worth it.”

Erie has successfully implemented a similar school-based behavioral health services at nearby Henson Elementary School in fall of 2006. Elementary schools are an ideal setting to provide the complicated array of services needed to positively impact the lives on children in vulnerable communities. Ryerson’s new program will no doubt provide a much needed additional resource for the North Lawndale community.

For more information about Erie Family Health Center, please contact Valerie Comprelli at 312.432.7463 or .

March 6, 2008

Dr. Steven Geiermann Receives Civic Leadership Award from Erie Family Health Center

On behalf of Erie Family Health Center, Dr. Lee Francis, Erie’s President and CEO and Dr. Ghassan Souri, Vice President of Oral Health Services awarded Dr. Steven Geiermann with the Civic Leadership Award at the grand opening of Erie Dental Health Center-Humboldt Park on March 6, 2008. As a member of Erie’s Oral Health Advisory Board, Dr. Geiermann has been actively involved in the development of Erie’s oral health program, providing invaluable program guidance as Erie endeavored to build a second oral health center in Humboldt Park.

The new facility is unique in its comprehensive approach to community dentistry. Located on the second floor of Erie Humboldt Park Health Center, Erie combines the dental home with the medical home. The five chair state-of-the-art dental suite is devoted to serving low-income pregnant women and children. Within its first year, the dental center expects to provide over 1,200 patients with quality oral health services.

Dr. Geiermann has devoted his career to community dentistry, serving as a civic leader in Chicago and beyond. While at dental school at the University of Michigan, he provided oral health services to people who might not otherwise have access, such as incarcerated individuals or patients in mental hospitals. He later worked on an Indian reservation in South Dakota, before coming to Chicago as Acting Dental Director at the Chicago Department of Public Health. He then served as a HRSA Regional Dental Consultant, before taking his current position as Senior Manager for Access, Community Oral Health Infrastructure and Capacity at the American Dental Association. Dr. Geiermann will continue to serve as a resource for Erie Family Health Center’s oral health program.

Picture, left to right: Dr. Steven Geiermann, DDS, Ghassan Souri, Vice President of Oral Health Services and Lee Francis, President and CEO of Erie Family Health Center

For more information about Erie Family Health Center, please contact Valerie Comprelli at 312.432.7463 or .

September 7, 2007

Erie Oral Health Program Receives Grant

from Illinois State Dental Society Foundation

On behalf of Erie Family Health Center, Dr. Ghassan Souri, Erie’s Vice President of Oral Health Services, accepted a $3,600 grant from the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation. The grant was presented by Dr. LuAnne McClean, President of the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation.

The Illinois State Dental Society Foundation is one of the first private funders of Erie’s second dental clinic: Erie Dental Health Center—Humboldt Park. In November 2005, Erie opened its first oral health access site in Albany Park, Erie Dental Health Center, to serve children, pregnant women and diabetic adults on the Northwest side of Chicago.

As a result of the program’s continued success and support, a second oral health access site was opened in October 2007 at the Erie Humboldt Park Health Center. This new site will allow Erie to serve even more children and pregnant women in need for oral health care services, greatly improving the oral health of the community.

For more information about Erie Family Health Center, please contact Valerie Comprelli at 312.432.7463 or .

March 6, 2008

Hinsdale Residents Beth and Adam Waldo Receive Visionary Supporter of Oral Health Award from Erie Family Health Center

On behalf of Erie Family Health Center, Dr. Lee Francis, Erie’s President and CEO and Dr. Ghassan Souri, Vice President of Oral Health Services awarded Beth and Adam Waldo with the Visionary Supporter of Oral Health Award at the grand opening of Erie Dental Health Center-Humboldt Park on March 6, 2008. Beth Waldo was present to accept the award on her and her husband’s behalf.

Beth and Adam Waldo have been long-time supporters of Erie Family Health Center’s commitment to providing quality health care, regardless of one’s ability to pay. In fall 2000, as a Junior League volunteer, Beth helped Erie’s Executive Leadership Team develop its strategic plan — a plan that led to the building of Erie’s first dental center in Albany Park. Since that time, the Waldo’s have provided loyal support for the organization, which includes being Erie’s first oral health major donor.

The new facility is located on the second floor of Erie Humboldt Park Health Center, combining the oral health home with the medical home; it consists of a five chair, state-of-the-art dental suite devoted to serving low-income pregnant women and children. Within its first year, the dental center expects to provide over 1,200 patients with quality oral health services

As parents of two small children, the Waldos recognize the importance of addressing oral health at a young age. Many disadvantaged children miss school and suffer due to untreated cavities or gum infection. Beth and Adam Waldo are confident that Erie’s oral health program will address the oral health needs of the community’s women and children with quality care, for which Erie is known.

For more information about Erie Family Health Center, please contact Valerie Comprelli at 312.432.7463 or .

Pictured left to right: Dr. Lee Francis; Dr. Robert Dennison

Erie Family Health Center Receives Increased Gift from Delta Dental of Illinois

On behalf of Erie Family Health Center, Dr. Lee Francis, Erie’s President and CEO, accepted a $10,000 grant award from Delta Dental of Illinois on December 10, 2008; this grant will support Erie Dental Health Center in Albany Park. The award was presented by Dr. Robert Dennison, Executive Director of Delta Dental of Illinois. Delta Dental’s commitment to the oral health of low-income community members is commendable.  In fact, in its fourth year of partnership with Erie, Delta Dental increased its financial support for our oral health program in recognition of the great need for oral health services among Chicago’s medically underserved.

Erie opened its first dental center in Albany Park in November 2005. This site serves children, pregnant women, diabetic adults and their families on the Northwest side of Chicago. Since opening, with the steadfast support of partners like Delta Dental, Erie’s oral health program has increased access to comprehensive oral health services to over 4,400 patients and ultimately helped improve the health status of patients. For example, 42% of patients enrolled in the oral health program for one year did not experience new cavities. With the continued success of the program, Erie opened its second Dental Center site in Humboldt Park in October 2007. Erie looks forward to continuing its partnership with Delta Dental in order improve and expand the oral health safety-net, thereby improving the oral health of the community.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2009

For more information, contact:
Jason Milch/ 312-846-9647
Mark Levin/ 312-476-7554

Levenfeld Pearlstein Announces $60,000 In Grants as Part of Ongoing Commitment to Chicago Community Organizations

CHICAGO –Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC is pleased to announce the awarding of $60,000 in grants to two worthy Chicago community organizations. The firm has made grants of $30,000 each to the Erie Family Health Center and to SGA Youth & Family Services as part of its Corporate Contributions Program, launched in 2007. This program commitment is part of a broader civic and social responsibility initiative that Levenfeld Pearlstein has undertaken since its founding in 1999.

“We are pleased that our Corporate Contributions Program can continue the firm’s support for these two outstanding organizations that work tirelessly to improve the lives of at-risk children in our communities,” said Bryan Schwartz, Chairman of Levenfeld Pearlstein. “We realize that not-for-profit organizations are typically the first to lose funding in a struggling economy, but we felt that it was of extreme importance to continue our Corporate Contributions Program, regardless of economic conditions. The commitment to bettering the communities in which we work and live is tightly woven into the fabric of our firm, and to halt this program would go against many of the principles on which Levenfeld Pearlstein was founded.”

Levenfeld Pearlstein’s grant to the Erie Family Health Center represents the firm’s second year of support for Erie’s school-based clinic at Ryerson Elementary School, which serves some of Chicago’s lowest-income communities. The grant will fully fund the continuation of integrated mental health services, community, and education programs, providing students with direct access to mental health services. This will include an on-site licensed clinical social worker to provide behavioral services, teacher and staff training, and outreach to parents and the community. Erie Family Health Center seeks to address the immediate needs of children, give them the tools they need to address their challenges, and provide enhanced intervention to improve the quality of their lives.

“Funding from Levenfeld Pearlstein enhances Erie’s public health approach to improving health in the neighborhoods we serve,” said Lee Francis, President and CEO of Erie Family Health Center. “Levenfeld Pearlstein’s generosity helps us to meet the crucial need for behavioral health services, raising the overall health status of a neighborhood that is disproportionately impacted by psychosocial issues.”

Levenfeld Pearlstein’s grant to SGA Youth & Family Services (SGA), a Chicago nonprofit organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth whose futures are most in jeopardy, also represents the firm’s second year of funding to SGA’s Operation BIG Hug program. This comprehensive program is focused on early detection of autism in pre-school children born to young, low-income parents. It includes screening and assessment, home-based support services and community education and awareness. Operation BIG Hug was launched in early 2007 as part of SGA’s work to enhance the social and emotional development of children and adolescents.

“By renewing its support of SGA’s Operation BIG Hug, Levenfeld Pearlstein will bring early detection of autism to additional low-income families, so that these children can access supportive services and appropriate treatment,” said Susana Marotta, PhD, Executive Director and President of SGA Youth and Family Services. “New data supports better outcomes for autistic children diagnosed under age three, and that is why this grant is so important,”

Levenfeld Pearlstein’s Corporate Contributions Program, is a grant-making program based on the firm’s belief that its accomplishments are routed in accountability and that by supporting the innovation and leadership of nonprofit organizations, it extends its ability to make a difference in the community. Levenfeld Pearlstein realizes that leadership, passion, creativity and focus can make the difference between success and failure. It also knows that challenging convention requires commitment. The combination of endurance, efficiency, balance and resourcefulness is what often makes the difference. The firm supports organizations that incorporate best practices into their work and continuously seek to identify solutions that provide meaningful opportunities to make a difference. In particular, we look for organizations committed to their employees and stakeholders that demonstrate accountability and seek to challenge convention, drive for efficiency and innovate.

For additional information on Levenfeld Pearlstein’s Corporate Contributions Program, please visit http://www.lplegal.com/about/socialresponsibility/charitablegiving. For more information on SGA visit http://www.sga-youth.org/.

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About Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC: Founded in 1999, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC (www.lplegal.com) provides outstanding legal counsel and business advice to sophisticated clients in matters involving corporate and securities law, real estate, and litigation. With more than 75 attorneys and offices in Chicago and Northbrook, Ill., the firm possesses the resources and depth to manage the most complex matters, while ensuring that the needs of all clients are met in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.