News and Media

What could be better for children than to know that even before their births their mothers took advantage of programs that worked toward their optimum health? Research reveals that there are racial disparities between African American women and other cultures in the area of infant mortality and low birth weight babies; with African American women on the West Side of Chicago having a harder time seeing their pregnancies to term and delivering healthy babies.

ACCESS recently held a Near South Region Health Education Fair, which featured free health screenings, food, fun and games. The event was held at ACCESS Grand Boulevard Family Health Center, located at 5401 S. Wentworth Ave.

Access Community Health Network, the largest network of community health centers in the nation, welcomed Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL-6th) Tuesday, July 22nd as he announced a $238,755 grant for ACCESS Martin T. Russo Family Health Center. The funds will be used to expand mental health services at the health center, which is located in Bloomingdale, IL.

Access Community Health Network will host its Annual Awards Dinner Thursday, June 19, at The Mid-America Club, 200 E. Randolph Drive, 80th Floor, Aon Center.

Thomas P. FitzGibbon, Jr., Executive Vice President MB Financial Bank, and Melody Spann-Cooper, Chairman, Midway Broadcasting Corporation and President, WVON and WRLL, are this year’s 2008 “Heroes Awardees for Distinguished Civic Leadership.” These two esteemed community members are being honored for their contributions to civic life.

Pin-A-Sister Sunday, May 11, 2008

A recent study by the Sinai Urban Health Institute has shown that African-American and Latino women die more often from breast cancer, even though they are less frequently diagnosed with the disease.

Chicago-based Access Community Health Network, and faith- and community-based organizations, as well as local political and media figures, are deeply concerned about this health care disparity and are lending their support to increase awareness about the problem.

Access Community Health Network, the largest network of community health centers in the nation, joined Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL-6th) Friday, July 6, to announce a $650,000 grant for a new health center in DuPage County.

The new health center, under the ACCESS network, will be called ACCESS @ Addison-Bensenville and will be located in that area. The announcement was made at ACCESS Martin T. Russo Family Health Center, 245 S. Gary Ave., Bloomingdale, IL

Eighty five years ago a group of women were concerned enough about their community that they started a health center that is going strong even today. Des Plaines Valley Health Center, which has been part of the Access Community Health Network since 2000, has and continues to serve the Summit/Argo/Bedford Park community with a mission that ensures comprehensive, affordable health care for all.

A recent study revealed that a good percentage of diabetic patients would rather die 10 years sooner than maintain a healthier diet and workout regimen. The reasons for their decision were that taking a variety of prescriptions or not being able to eat their favorite foods was too great an undertaking. Consequently, according to the study, diabetics would rather eat as they pleased, forego taking insulin shots and medications, and enjoy life as they had in the past, even though their lives may be shortened.