Chicago Family Health Center wants you to KNOW YOUR STATUS. Take advantage of free HIV screenings at various CFHC sites.

HIV screenings will be available 2 P.M.—5 P.M. the following dates and locations:

CFHC South Chicago
9119 S. Exchange   
Every MONDAY

CFHC Pullman
556 E. 115th St.   
FIRST and THIRD Tuesday of the month

CFHC Roseland
120 W. 111th St.   
SECOND and FOURTH Wednesday of the month

Your confidential HIV status will be available on-site, as well as a consultation with a healthcare professional.  Walk-ins are welcome, but you can reduce your wait-time by calling ahead and scheduling an appointment at 773-768-5000, ext. 1158.

In the United States, ONE in FIVE people living with HIV don’t even know they are infected.

 The risk is not knowing.

Rev. James Maloney presides over CFHC's grand opening in 1977, then known as Claretian Medical Center.

On November 15, 2011 Rev. James Maloney, a member of the Claretian Missionaries, passed away after a long battle with Hepatitis-C. This loss was felt everywhere, especially in South Chicago where his life’s work had a great impact. Father Maloney served at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on East 91^st Street for many years, but he was also one of the original founders of Chicago Family Health Center. 

“He was the first to mobilize and do something about the lack of healthcare in this community,” said the Rev. Mark Brummel, C.M.F., who is also a Claretian Missionary, a CFHC founder and current board member. “Father Maloney commissioned a study and found very few doctors were caring for the sick in the area.” 

In 1977 Father Maloney and the Claretian Missionaries opened the Claretian Medical Center on 91^st and Commercial with a staff of six. The clinic’s influence was so profound that the Claretian Missionaries and the community soon rallied around its expansion. 

“Although we struggled, we persisted because the residents of the area needed access to healthcare,” added Rev. Brummel.  “With community and government support the center was established as a Federally Qualified Health Center, providing a complete array of healthcare services right here in our neighborhood.” The Claretian Medical Center was later renamed Chicago Family Health Center to reflect its accessibility to all. 

In 1979 Father Maloney left the United States to work as a missionary in more than 60 countries including Africa where he first became ill. According to Father Brummel, the Claretian Missionaries are known for being socially responsible and Father Maloney lived that element to the fullest.  In 1986 he returned to Our Lady of Guadalupe where he served as pastor until 1993. He then served as pastor at a church in New Jersey but returned to Chicago and Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1997 serving there until he retired in 2005. He lived out the rest of his days in a retirement community in Homer Glen, IL. 

“Father Maloney witnessed the growth of Chicago Family Health Center over the years, and he was extremely proud of his work here,” said Father Brummel.  “He was a person of vision who recognized early on that everybody deserves to have access to quality health care.” 

Today, Chicago Family Health Center is a network of five health center locations in South Chicago, Pullman, East Side, Roseland and Chicago Lawn providing medical and dental care as well as support programs like behavioral health, nutrition, chronic disease management and programs for moms and babies. 

Rev. James Maloney

Father Maloney, who has a commemorative brick outside the CFHC South Chicago location, was also instrumental in bringing housing to the area through Claretian Associates, which helped build Villa Guadalupe, also located in South Chicago.

The Chicago Family Health Center Urban Network Board held its first official fundraiser on Wednesday, November 30 at Cans Bar in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Almost 50 people showed up to lend their support to the UNB and the health center’s mission of providing access to quality health to those who need it most.

The evening was a casual night of cocktails, food, friends and a great cause.  In all, the event collected more than $1,400—exceeding its goal by a large margin. This event also served to bring exposure and awareness to the UNB, a newly formed group of young professionals interested in re-investing in their community by helping CFHC raise funds through fun events like this one. Learn more about the UNB and how to become a member.

Check back to us regularly to find out about upcoming mixers and cocktail parties or look for us on Facebook.

The Chicago Family Health Center Urban Network Board (UNB) is hosting, Fall Back Into Giving, its first mixer and networking event on Thursday, November 30 at CANS, 1640 N. Damen in Chicago from 6PM to 9PM. The event is open to anyone looking learn more about the UNB and its role in making healthcare accessible to all. The UNB is made up of young professionals interested in making a difference in the communities that need it most.

Come to CARE, LEARN and CHANGE, stay to ENJOY an evening of cocktails and light fair for a good cause. Donation is $30 and includes wine, beer, well drinks and appetizers. For more information contact Kristine Kim at kkim@chicagofamilyhealth.org

Current Pullman site

The Chicago Family Health Center Pullman site, 556 E. 115^th Street, is in store for some major changes.  Last year CFHC secured more than $6 million in federal funding to build a replacement facility for the antiquated Pullman health center, which first opened in 1987.

 The current building will be torn down and the new facility will be re-built next door to the current site. Look for construction to begin in the spring of 2012 and the new center to open in 2013.

 The Pullman site sees more than 6,000 medical, behavioral and dental patients annually. It currently has 16 exam rooms and three dental operatories on 3,500 square feet of patient care space. The new facility will feature 23,000 square feet of space, 23 exam rooms, two behavioral health consultation rooms, 9 dental operatories and separate space to hold therapy and educational sessions.

 In all, the new health center site is projected to more than double the number of healthcare visits at CFHC’s second-busiest site.  The replacement facility will also aim to enhance, revitalize and preserve the rich culture and history of Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood. The Chicago Family Health Center Pullman site will continue to offer its full array of healthcare services and programs before, during and after construction.

Chicago Family Health Center is offering a FREE Hip-Hop/Zumba Class on Thursday, October 27 from 5—6:30 PM, courtesy of Chicago Contemporary Dance Theater. This free community event is meant to bring area-women together to celebrate healthy living and learn about breast health.  

 The class is open to women of all ages, shapes and sizes and participants can be advanced or beginners in Zumba, hip-hop or dance. Besides the class, the evening will include health information on breast health, healthy snacks and free gifts. This is a family-friendly event.  Last year’s event brought out more than 50 women from the community to participate.

Space for this event is limited, so please call 773-768-5000, ext. 1158 to reserve your spot, or email Kkim@chicagofamilyhealth.org.  Once registered, be sure to come prepared with the proper workout attire and be ready to sweat!

Four new physicians have joined Chicago Family Health Center, providing quality healthcare in various health center sites. The newest CFHC providers include:

Anne Carpinelli MD

Anne Carpinelli, MDis the newest pediatrician at CFHC’s Pullman and Roseland sites. She completed medical school at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine and School of Public Health and her residency at Children’s Hospital in Boston and Boston Medical Center in Boston, MA.

Winfred Frazier, MD is a family medicine physician who will be seeing patients at the South Chicago health center site. He is a graduate of Baylor College of Medicine and completed his residency at UIC Hospital and at Chicago/Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency program. 

Rosalyn Porter, MD

Rosalyn Porter, MD is the first OB/GYN provider to join the Chicago Lawn staff since opening last year.  A graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN, Dr. Porter completed her residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Estela Rutiaga, MD

Estela S. Rutiaga, MD is a family practice physician at South Chicago and East Side. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical School and completed her residency at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, IL.

 CFHC has on staff more than 25 family practice, OB/GYN and cardiology physicians as well as dentists, behavioral health providers, nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants and dental hygienists.

Chicago Family Health Center is celebrating August as Breastfeeding Promotion Month in Illinois. Recently Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a proclamation that encouraged everyone to acknowledge breastfeeding as the normal and best method of feeding all babies.

The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous and include protection against respiratory and ear infections, asthma, allergies, childhood cancer and obesity. Mothers who breastfeed also have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

CFHC is participating in Breastfeeding Promotion Month by highlighting its breastfeeding programs and services offered throughout the communities we serve. CFHC has breastfeeding and peer counselors on staff who advocate for breastfeeding among mothers-to-be as well as new moms. They work with pregnant women throughout their prenatal visits to CFHC to inform them of the importance of breastfeeding for both mom and baby. Counselors also visit recent mothers in the hospital offering training and coaching on how to get babies to latch on and how to hold baby properly.

In addition, CFHC breastfeeding counselors make themselves available to new moms by providing their contact information, visiting with them when they return to the center for post-partum care or for well-child visits. Counselors also assist with teaching moms how to wean baby off the breast and how to use a breast-pump.

This year CFHC is hosting two “Celebrate Breastfeeding Mothers” Luncheons on Tuesday, August 23 at South Chicago and Thursday, August 25 at Pullman from 1 to 3 p.m. The luncheons will have food, games, raffles and a Best Mom and Baby Picture Contest featuring a $50 Walmart Gift Card for the winner.

For more information about breastfeeding programs at CFHC, call 773-768-5000, ext. 1029.