The Alliance
Recent federal executive orders and policy changes have ramped up immigration enforcement and the threat of deportation and family separation. These harsh policy changes have already inflicted significant damage on our communities’ well-being.
A recent study in California, found “worry about deportation was significantly associated with cardiovascular risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and continuous measures of systolic and pulse pressure.”
Other studies have also found that children who have had a parent detained or deported experience an increased occurrence of social isolation, depression, and anxiety. Illinois is home to 249,000 children who have at least one undocumented parent, representing 8% of our total child population (2,969,000).
Further studies have shown that those who worry about being deported or having a relative or friend be deported have a higher likelihood of reporting the need to seek mental or emotional help.
These studies and the growing anxiety and fear in our community led the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) to create the Illinois Alliance for Welcoming Healthcare. The Alliance’s goal is to create a welcoming environment for everyone in every healthcare institution in Illinois.
What We Stand For
The Alliance Supports:
Serving all individuals regardless of race, age, language, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, religion or ethnicity;
Ensuring that immigrants receive equitable access and quality services;
Supporting communities in creating a welcoming climate for immigrants;
Creating a continuum of services that addresses patients’ health needs.
The Alliance Commits to:
Providing quality health care regardless of a person’s race, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, religion or ethnicity;
Educating relevant staff on the rights of patients (consumers) and resources regardless of immigration status;
Establishing relationships with immigrant serving community organizations in our communities;
Not asking for or sharing patients’ information that can endanger their safety or immigration status;
Creating a physically welcoming environment for all.
MEMBERS
Health Care Providers:
AMITA Health
Asian Health Services Family Health Center (AHSFHC)
Chicago Department of Public Health
CommunityHealth
Cook County Health (CCH)
Erie Family Health Center
Esperanza Health Centers
Hamdard Healthcare
Heartland Health Centers
Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
(ICAAP)
Illinois Primary Health Care Association
Lake County Health Department
Loyola University Medical Center
Medical Organization for Latino Advancement
National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities
(NOND)
PCC Community Wellness Center
Planned Parenthood of IL
PrimeCare Community Health
Rush University Medical Center
Sinai Health System
St. Anthony Hospital
The Night Ministry
Organizations:
Access Living
Age Options
Aids Foundation Chicago
ACLU-IL
DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform
DuPage Health Coalition