Highwood Public Library & Community Center to Partner with NorthShore University HealthSystem to Help Ensure Health Equity
This month, the Highwood Library and Community Center announced receipt of $628,000 from NorthShore’s 2023 Community Investment Fund (CIF) to build on the library’s Health Equity program. This amount is in addition to $578,000 received in 2022 to expand access to health equity programs and services in Highwood and throughout Lake County.
“We are thankful to be able to partner with NorthShore University HealthSystem to provide critical services to a historically-underserved community. As a result of the programs funded by NorthShore, individuals and families in this community are reporting that they have increased knowledge of mental health concepts, access to resources, and the tools to better prevent and manage diseases. This transformational impact would not have been possible without this support,” said Carmen Patlan, Executive Director of the Highwood Public Library and Community Center.
The library’s Health Equity program has had a significant impact on the Highwood community thanks to its highly qualified, bilingual staff of licensed professional counselors, case managers, and community engagement specialists. Over four thousand individuals of the community have been serviced by the program to date, including a coordinated emergency response to the Highland Park July 4th parade shooting. In the three weeks following the tragedy, the library provided over 500 sessions of counseling and case management to more than 300 people.
The additional CIF investment in the library’s Health Equity program will support the completion of a community needs assessment to help community members overcome the barriers related to the social determinants of health including insufficient income, lack of transportation, lack of childcare, and education opportunities. Functional health literacy programs, mental health education, case management, counseling, and support groups will also continue to be available for marginalized community members and families of color throughout Lake County.
“These powerful partnerships are all about creating meaningful, lasting impact through data, relationships and resources,” said Gabrielle Cummings, President, NorthShore Acute Care Operations and Highland Park Hospital, NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health. “In just our first year, we already made impressive strides and have increased our understanding of how we can work together to make our communities healthier.”
NorthShore’s Community Investment Fund began last year as part of the merger between NorthShore University HealthSystem (including Swedish Hospital and Northwest Community Healthcare) and Edward-Elmhurst Health, demonstrating the organizations’ commitment to vibrant, community-connected care. To learn more about NorthShore’s Community Investment Fund, click here.
About NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health
NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system committed to providing access to quality, vibrant, community-connected care, serving an area of more than 4.2 million residents across six northeast Illinois counties. Our more than 25,000 team members and more than 6,000 physicians aim to deliver transformative patient experiences and expert care close to home across more than 300 ambulatory locations and eight acute care hospitals – Edward (Naperville), Elmhurst, Evanston, Glenbrook (Glenview), Highland Park, Northwest Community (Arlington Heights) Skokie and Swedish (Chicago) – all recognized as Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence. Located in Naperville, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, provides for the mental health needs of area residents. For more information, visit NorthShore.org, SwedishCovenant.org, NCH.org and EEHealth.org.
See the official press release here: CIF_Highwood Library_Press Release – Jan 2023