June 16, 2008
 

Thank you to everyone who attended IMCHC’s annual meeting and 20th anniversary kickoff on June 10th! We had nearly 200 attendees who helped us celebrate the first of several anniversary events. Our meeting began with a dynamic performance by drum line members from Proviso East High School that illustrated our theme of “Marching Forward – 20 Years & Beyond!”

Executive Director, Robyn Gabel, recognized the contributions of IMCHC’s board of directors by presenting them with a proclamation that declared June 10th “Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition Day."

Special acknowledgment was also given to members of IMCHC’s original Governing Council who helped create the organization 20 years ago. They included: Garry Gardner, Chris George, Arden Handler, Pamela Ippoliti, Joan Kennelly, Loretta Lattyak, Virginia Martinez and Terry Solomon.

Keynote speaker and author Jennifer Block gave the presentation “Pushing for Optimal Births” and said, “In searching for optimal birth, women are being pushed to make sub-optimal choices.”Jennifer’s recommendations were framed in the context of a “women’s right to choose” a birthing experience that results in positive outcomes for the mother and infant. You can email Jennifer to obtain a copy of her presentation.

Save the date for our next anniversary event, our Annual Benefit Gala, to take place on September 10th at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Host committee and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Members of the host committee will be invited to a special rooftop party in the West Loop on July 16th. Please contact Lilah Handler for more details.

1,000 Healthy Kids and Families Campaign

IMCHC is working with Resurrection Health Care and its eight community hospitals for the “1,000 Healthy Kids and Families Campaign,” which is a coordinated effort to enroll 1,000 uninsured children in Illinois All Kids program during the weekend of June 21, 2008.

The “1,000 Healthy Kids and Families Campaign” is the start of an effort to galvanize health care providers, the faith community and organizations across the state to advocate for long-term solutions to the health care coverage crisis and to continue enrolling eligible children and families into public health programs.

All Kids Application Agents and other volunteers are invited to participate in this campaign. The volunteer training schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday, June 17th, 3:30pm-5pm @ West Suburban Medical Center, Room 269, 3 Erie Court in Oak Park
• Wednesday, June 18th, 2pm-4pm @ Westlake Hospital, Brewster Hall, Classroom B, 1225 West Lake Street in Melrose Park

Roundtable forums will also be held in three communities that face severe health crises. Find dates and locations at the 1000 Healthy Kids website.

Additionally, a hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 18th at noon by a joint committee of the Chicago City Council’s Human Relations and Health Committees. Robyn Gabel, IMCHC’s Executive Director, will be presenting testimony at this hearing. The meeting will take place at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street in Room 2018.

For more information about this initiative, please call 1-877-RES-INFO or contact Robert Clarke, at 312-645-9400x27.

Archived Topics

Visit our newsletter archive to read about recently listed articles from past issues. Past topics include:
•    Legislative Updates
•    Summary of School Health Center Conference

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Thanks to the relentless advocacy efforts of IMCHC partners and other school health center supporters, the Illinois General Assembly passed a budget that included $2 million in new money to fund school health center expansions.

However, the Governor has expressed concern about the FY09 budget being unbalanced and has threatened to veto budget items that are not state funding priorities if there is not a plan for new revenue. The FY09 budget year is scheduled to begin on July 1st.

School health center funding has remained flat for the past seven years. There are over 50 communities interested in starting a school health center, but are unable to do so without state support.

Take action today and tell the Governor that school health center expansions should be a state funding priority.

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Job opening for a Doula at Access Community Health Network

Access Community Health Network is the nation’s largest network of community health centers. The mission of Access Community Health Network is to provide high quality, community-based health care to all who need it, regardless of ability to pay.

We have an open position in our Maternal and Child Health Department for a Doula. The Doula will promote healthy pregnancies, breastfeeding and parent-infant attachment, as well as provide prenatal, labor and postpartum education and support.

Some of the requirements of this position include: a High School Diploma or equivalent; completion of a certified Doula training program and training as a breastfeeding counselor; at least 2-3 years experience as a childbirth educator and/or doula; ability to satisfy both inner-city travel and on-call requirements; and bilingual English/Spanish required.

For additional information or to apply for this position please contact Jennifer Snow. View the full position posting on the Access website.

Some Insurers Denying Coverage to Women with Prior C-Sections

The New York Times recently published an article about how some health insurance companies have denied individual coverage to women who have had caesarean sections because they are likely to have another c-section if they become pregnant again. A c-section, which is major abdominal surgery, can cost about $2,700 more than a vaginal delivery.

Over 1.2 million c-sections were performed in 2006, accounting for 31.1% of all births in the United States. Although many women can have a safe vaginal birth after a c-section, many hospitals and physicians require a repeat c-section because of a small risk of uterine rupture.

Last August, the Centers for Disease Control reported that, for the first time in decades, the number of women dying in childbirth has increased. Experts note that the increase may be due to better reporting of deaths, but that it coincides with dramatically increased use of cesarean sections.

Source: National Partnership for Women and Families – June 3, 2008

California Legislature Takes Up Multiple Health Care Bills

The California Legislature is considering over a dozen bills related to health care reform. Several of these proposals include recommendations made by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bills being considered include measures that would require insurers to:
•    Spend a minimum of 85% of premiums on patient care;
•    Seek approval from state regulators to cancel the policy of a plan member who needs extensive medical care;
•    Cover more procedures, such as maternity services and cleft palate surgeries;
•    Publicly release price and quality-of-care data;
•    Allow individual policyholders to compare competing plans and limit their maximum out-of-pocket costs; and
•    Offer coverage of durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and oxygen tanks, for an additional charge.

Schwarzenegger’s administration says that the Governor supports many of these ideas and also plans to introduce his own proposals shortly. A senior advisor said, "This year, the first floor of health care reform will be built, and it will make current coverage more secure, control costs, promote prevention and end the worst of anti-consumer practices by HMOs.”

Source: Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report – June 4, 2008

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Immunization Toolkit Training Sessions
Chicago Area Immunization Campaign/Chicago Department of Public Health
June 20th and July 25th at IMCHC’s office
9am-3pm (lunch will be provided)
1256 W. Chicago Avenue
RSVP to Melissa Ponce, CAIC Project Associate


South Central Illinois Perinatal Advisory Committee
July 18th from 9am-noon*
PHI Dove Conference Center
St. John’s Hospital in Springfield
RSVP to Lilah Handler.

*IMCHC's Central Illinois Chapter meeting will take place from 11am – 12pm

Southern Illinois IMCHC Chapter Meeting
July 23rd from 12:15pm – 2:15pm
Municipal West Building
200 Potomac in Mt. Vernon
RSVP to Lilah Handler.

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IMCHC's 20th Anniversary Benefit
September 10th at the Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago
If you are interested in sponsorship or host committee opportunities,
please contact Lilah Handler.

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