Community Health Workers

Frontline Connection To The Community

Our Community Health Workers (CHWs) are a cornerstone of both the Alivio Familia and the communities we serve. As frontline agents of change, Alivio’s team of CHWs help bridge gaps in community access to healthcare through countless initiatives that include participating in community events, programs, and coordinating various educational workshops on topics ranging from healthy eating to weight monitoring. Our health advocates keep our communities informed and updated on wellness through bilingual and bicultural education and communication.

CHW Objectives

• Advocate for people in your community so that everyone has access to quality housing, medical, and health support services, regardless of a person’s immigration status, age, sex, race, social status, or religion, or if he or she has health insurance or do not have it
• Connect and offer cultural mediation between communities and health and social services systems
• Provide culturally appropriate health education and information ensuring people receive the services they need.

Our Mobile Health Unit provides outpatient services, information and training for disease prevention and health promotion among the Latino population residing in remote communities in Illinois.

Mobile Health Unit Services Include:

• Timely detections in measurement of glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, among others.
• Immunizations in collaboration with local agencies such as pharmacies, health centers, and the local government to provide vaccines.
• Education through brochures and informative talks.

Download the Mobile Unit Monthly Calendar

Alivio Medical Center also jointly partners with the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago to offer free preventive health services, guidance, counseling, timely detection, and referral in its facilities through the program, Ventanilla de Salud/Health Window (VDS). VDS health promoters work to support care and increase access to primary and preventive medical services. The care is safe, confidential, free and in Spanish, regardless of your immigration status.

VDS services include:

• Recommendation and referral to health services (community clinics) to establish a medical home and/or when a specialized medical service is required.
• Guidance/Counseling on health issues: correct diet, physical activity, obesity, diabetes, women’s health and children’s health, mental health, addiction prevention, sexual health, among others.
• Timely detection of HIV and AIDS, body mass index, cholesterol levels, glucose, among others.
• Application of some vaccines.
• Information on health insurance alternatives for Mexicans residing in the United States.

Download the monthly VDS schedule of service, connect with our CHWs and VDS on Facebook, Download our flyer (pdf), or contact us more information on how our CHW team can help you.