On any given night in Illinois, thousands of people experience homelessness, including families with children. Homelessness is defined as not having a home at all, and it’s important to note that it isn’t always the lack of housing or ‘being on the streets. Someone can be experiencing homelessness and staying at a shelter or going […]
Continue ReadingBirth Equity Conference Highlights Health Needs of Pregnant and Postpartum People
In November, EverThrive IL hosted a half-day Birth Equity Conference in collaboration with the Blue Door Neighborhood Center in Morgan Park. Blue Cross Blue Shield opened the Blue Door Neighborhood Centers to improve community health through education, activities, and resources. The opening remarks were led by Chi Chi Okwu, EverThrive IL’s Executive Director, and Nicaya […]
Continue ReadingKeeping Communities Healthy During the Winter Months
In the first week of November, Arias Benitez-Perez, our Immunizations Manager, organized two Community Health Chats in the Chicagoland area. The first chat was at the West40 Intermediate Service Center in Maywood, IL, and the second was at the PASO West Suburban Action Project in Melrose Park, IL. The purpose of these health chats was […]
Continue ReadingBuilding a Culture of Rest and Growth
“Treating each other and ourselves with care isn’t a luxury, but an absolute necessity if we’re going to thrive. Resting isn’t an afterthought, but a basic part of being human.”― Tricia Hersey, Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto In 2021, EverThrive Illinois embarked on a transformative journey to ensure we embody the values we advocate for in Illinois. […]
Continue ReadingPregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month is observed in October. It serves as a poignant reminder of the heartache many families face due to pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and the death of an infant before their first birthday. Everyone deserves to experience a healthy pregnancy and birth and care for a healthy baby. Unfortunately, not all […]
Continue ReadingMeet Our Community Alignment Board Members
Our Birth Equity team manages and convenes 3 Community Alignment Boards (CABs) for Family Connects Chicago (FCC), a universal postpartum nurse home visiting program. With these Community Alignment Boards, we aim to align resources for families enrolled in the program, improve our current maternal, infant, and child health systems in Chicago, strengthen collaboration amongst social service and medical […]
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