Monday, May 12, 2025
5/12/2025
Fiscal Year 2025 Expanded Hours. - Pillars Community Health (PCH) was formed in 2018 through the merger of Community Nurse Health Association and Pillars. PCH is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), CARF accredited behavioral health provider, Substance Use Disorder SUPR provider, and in process of designation as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC). PCH traces its history serving residents of the western suburbs of Chicago back to 1921. The target service area for PCH Health Center operations includes 21 communities (19 zip codes) in western Cook and eastern DuPage Counties including Berwyn, Bridgeview, Broadview, Brookfield, Burbank, Chicago (Bedford Park), Cicero, Countryside, Hickory Hills. Hodgkins, Justice, La Grange, LaGrange Park, Lyons, Oak Lawn, Riverside, Summit, and Westchester in western Cook County and Willowbrook in eastern DuPage County. Pillars Community Health (then Community Nurse Health Association.) was awarded status as an FQHC in 2012, providing support to address the healthcare needs of the underserved, including local families and individuals transitional housing or experiencing other forms of homelessness. Since that time, Health Center capacity has been expanded to serve new populations, increase available clinic hours and locations, and provide access to a local continuum of care for adults and children. We are embedded in our communities with Health Center services provided in La Grange and Riverside, at the BEDS Plus facility (Summit), the local provider of homeless services, and at Anne M. Jeans Elementary School (Willowbrook) as part of the on-site community services targeting low-income children and families residing in nearby subsidized housing. In June 2024, we will open PCH La Grange Park to further increase capacity and provide integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, and supportive services in a single location. PCH’s target population of low-income individuals and families faces a number of healthcare challenges, including inadequate preventive care, chronic illness, and behavioral health issues. In addition, the local population of those experiencing homelessness face healthcare challenges include alcohol and substance abuse, lack of income which precludes access to healthcare, and behavioral health issues. Health care disparities are prevalent among our target population due to social and economic structures which serve as barriers to physical and behavioral health care and engagement in self-care. Individuals who are Latino, constituting 42% of the area population and 60% of our Health Center patients, experience significant barriers to mental health services including lack of awareness, financial and language barriers, and stigmas attached to mental health. The HRSA Expanded Hours grant will enable PCH to build on our strong foundation of meeting the changing healthcare needs of local individuals and families. Funding will be utilized to establish additional health center operating hours such as early weekday mornings, evenings, and/or additional weekend hours. Increase in operating hours will support the ability of individuals and families to needed services in the primary care setting. Increased access to primary medical, dental and behavioral health care also contributes to a reduction in emergency department visits and preservation of emergency department capacity for area residents with acute needs. Funding for Pillars Community Health Expanded Hours will enhance the continuum of care for underserved individuals and families in western Cook and eastern DuPage County, Illinois
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).