Chicago's low-income, uninsured children and women
trust IWS to care for them with integrated,
preventive medical, dental and mental health services.
We understand our patients' needs and respond with compassion and a
commitment to strengthen families.
As a maternal and child community health center, IWS provides a comprehensive program of medical, dental, educational and mental health services for underserved children up to age 19 and prenatal, gynecological care, general health services and parenting information to underserved mothers. IWS remains committed to its mission "to provide services for the healthy physical and mental development of disadvantaged children to give them a foundation for a future productive and wholesome life."
IWS provides affordable, accessible health care to Chicago's immigrant neighborhoods. Most of our patients come to us from an area encompassing the communities of Logan Square, Irving Park, West Town, Hermosa, Belmont-Cragin, Albany Park, Portage Park, and Humboldt Park, although our programs are open to all low-income Chicagoans.
Our patient population comprises children and women, many of whom are recent immigrants and who face a number of barriers to obtaining quality health care. Cost is a significant deterrent to visiting the doctor when the family budget is tight. In 2005, 71% of IWS patients lived at or below federal poverty guidelines (currently $19,300 for a family of four). Another 28% lived at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Of our adult female patients, only about 10% have Medicaid for routine care. Other factors complicating access to health care for low-income Chicagoans include the low education levels, limited transportation options, cultural isolation, and lack of English proficiency faced by the city’s Latinos, a group heavily represented today at IWS. As a result of these obstacles, our patient population faces more frequent and severe health problems on average than their counterparts of other backgrounds at all stages of life.
IWS's staff of over 92 also offers such innovative programs as children's asthma management, instructional home visits to pregnant women and new mothers, vision screening, lead poisoning prevention and treatment. The health center treats, on a sliding scale pay basis, more than 10,000 women and children annually through over 46,500 service visits.
