Congressional action in 2010 makes health system reform a mandate at the highest levels of government. Funds have been set aside to expand access to public clinics through new and existing Federally Qualified Health Centers and to fund state-level initiatives to create an interactive health information exchange system. Both of these initiatives provide an opportunity to improve access to primary care and coordinated care through better communication and accountability.

The healthcare resources of the region are vast. Cook County makes the largest investment in publicly funded healthcare of any county in the nation, approaching $1 billion a year. The system provides care for prisoners, the uninsured and the City’s wide array of immigrants with 3 hospitals, 20 clinics, a prison system and the county public health department. The City of Chicago has a network of seven clinics and 12 mental health clinics that provide care to a similar population. Federally Qualified Community Health Centers have nearly 100 clinic sites throughout the region. Yet several factors make it difficult to provide coordinated access to care: increases in the uninsured and underinsured, growing demands for service, increases in the undocumented population and large gaps in affordable dental care. Lack of coordination results in potentially duplicating efforts in some areas and creates gaps in other critical areas, such as specialty care.

Health system change has been a priority of the Trust since the early 1990s. The Trust has supported such projects as the Lawndale Christian Health Center and Heartland Alliance by providing early capital support for founding efforts or expansions of the scope of work. More recently, the Trust has supported expansion programs as demands for basic and extended services have grown along with the needs of underserved and uninsured/underinsured populations.

The strengths of Chicago and Cook County’s health system bear the burden of the needs of collar counties, whose less developed systems must contend with fast moving population shifts and growing need. The funded mandate for Health Information Technology implementation and exchange will create new stresses and opportunities for organization, coordination and expansion of needed services.

The Trust will support efforts led by the public sector and nonprofits to improve access to healthcare for low-income families and individuals. The healthcare accessed can be either primary care or specialty care that improves the quality of healthcare for the uninsured.

This request for proposals will be released in July 2013. View a sample RFP

Please direct all inquiries to Kuliva Wilburn, Senior Program Officer at

The Chicago Community Trust has been a strong supporter of improved and equitable access to healthcare for the residents of the Chicago region nearly since the beginning of its charitable work. Under the federal healthcare reform legislation, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Illinois has the opportunity to fundamentally improve the healthcare system for the 8 million people of the Chicago region. The Trust is committed to providing support for the planning and implementation of the provisions under ACA.

The scope of the ACA federal healthcare reform legislation is broad and deep, impacting how health care and support services are delivered, financed and regulated. The changes—some immediate and some rolling out over the next several years—will affect people of all ages, incomes and health status. The bulk of implementation will rest with states. There are many decisions to be made, creating opportunities to shape the law so that it best meets the needs of people in Illinois and the Chicago metropolitan area.

Several organizations, networks and partnerships are positioned to represent the interests of their respective constituencies and support them through these changes. There is a compelling need for all of the interested groups to coordinate the response to the reforms in ways that are most effective, efficient and inclusive.

Since 2009, the Trust has convened stakeholders and funder colleagues to support a coordinated plan to address obstacles and opportunities for implementation of healthcare reform in Illinois.

Successful implementation of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for the Chicago region, as evidenced by the following:

In addition to working closely with foundation partners to support a coordinated strategy to ensure a successful implementation of healthcare reform in Illinois, the Trust will issue a request for proposals to invite national and local organizations with expertise in Medicaid policy, as well as those who understand the private insurance market as it relates to low-income populations most affected by new rules imposed by federal law, to provide support for the implementation of health care reform.

The request for proposals will also seek service delivery models for low-income families and individuals for services covered under the new healthcare reform.

This request for proposals will be released in November 2013. View a sample RFP

Please direct all inquiries to Kuliva Wilburn, Senior Program Officer at

Obesity is a contributing cause of many other health problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer; these are some of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Obesity now affects 17% of all children and adolescents in the United States. (Source: Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents, 2007-2008) The percentage of adolescents and children who are obese tripled from 1980 to 2008. (Source: Tracking of body mass index in children in relation to overweight in adulthood) In 2008 alone, more than one-third of U.S. children and adolescents were overweight or obese and children of color are disproportionately impacted. The rate of obese and overweight Hispanic and African-American children and adolescents ages 2-19 is 38.2% and 35.9%, respectively, while their white counterparts are at 29.3%.(Source: Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents, 2007-2008)

According to the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity, 62% of Illinois adults are overweight or obese. The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) reports that in the city of Chicago, pre-teen and teen obesity rates exceed U.S. levels. Also, trending with national data, the prevalence of obesity among Chicago children living in communities of color is significantly higher compared to Chicago children as a whole and U.S. children nationally. In addition to the social costs, our state also pays a high economic cost: in Illinois, adult obesity alone adds $3.4 billion to annual health care costs.

Engaging in healthy eating and regular physical activity can help lower the risk for obesity. The Nutrition and Weight Status objectives for The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People 2020 reflect strong science supporting the health benefits of eating a healthful diet and maintaining a healthy body weight. The objectives also emphasize that efforts to change diet and weight should address individual behaviors, as well as the policies and environments that support these behaviors in settings such as schools, worksites, health care organizations and communities.

The Trust's goal is to help all of the region’s children and families eat well and move more. Funding priority will be given to work in communities with highest needs for obesity prevention efforts.

Potential proposals could take the form of planning grants, community-based program implementation, health policy advancement or a combination of these. Please review the RFP for additional details.

This request for proposals will be released in March 2014. View a sample RFP

Please direct all inquiries to Kuliva Wilburn, Senior Program Officer at