Co-location to provide access to mental/behavioral health and primary care to individuals and families in the community.
CHICAGO, IL: Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness, one of Illinois’ largest Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), one of the largest statewide providers of social services, are collaborating to increase community access to primary care and behavioral health services in Chicago’s Portage Park and Belmont-Cragin neighborhoods.
Aunt Martha’s staff will provide services at LSSI’s Portage Cragin Counseling Center on Chicago’s northwest side. This will allow LSSI to seamlessly connect its behavioral health clients to Aunt Martha’s primary medical care, nursing, and psychiatric services onsite. Staff from each organization will coordinate primary medical care and behavioral health services for children, youth, and adults. This offers community residents expanded options for primary health care and behavioral health services in one location. A July 2021 opening is planned.
“Through our evidence-based approach to whole-person care, coupled with our shared mission to build well-being of individuals and communities, we are confident our partnership will impact the community positively,” said Raul Garza, President & CEO of Aunt Martha’s.
“Health and human service providers have a responsibility to improve the health and well-being of their community,” said Mark A. Stutrud, President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. “This integrated approach provides whole-person, whole-family care.”
The goal of the program collaboration is to achieve well-being outcomes for clients and patients in the community by providing patient-centered care through a systematic and cost-effective approach. This care model addresses physical health, mental health and substance use conditions, health behaviors (including their contribution to chronic medical illness), life stressors and crises, stress-related physical symptoms, and ineffective patterns of health care utilization.
The site for the collaborative services will be on the first floor of LSSI’s Portage Cragin Counseling Center at 4840 W. Byron Street, Chicago.
About Aunt Martha’s
Aunt Martha’s serves over 105,000 children and adults each year with more than 35 sites, including 23 community health centers spread across nine counties. The agency’s integrated health home model offers value-based, coordinated services, delivering whole-person wellness through the integration of primary and behavioral health care and linkages to additional support services that address social determinants of health. Aunt Martha’s has been continuously accredited by The Joint Commission since 1997.
About Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI)
Serving Illinois since 1867, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is a nonprofit social service organization of the three Illinois synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). LSSI is one of the largest statewide social service providers. The organization provides critical programs for Illinois residents including foster care, mental health services, alcohol and drug treatment, affordable senior housing, residential programs for people with developmental disabilities, and services that help families who have been impacted by incarceration. LSSI is accredited by the Council on Accreditation.
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Media Contacts:
LSSI
Barb Kraeger Hailey
847.635.4686
Barb.Hailey@LSSI.org
Aunt Martha’s Health & Wellness
Kenny Martín-Ocasio
708.747.7441
kmocasio@auntmarthas.org
