We Provide Funding • Resources • Advocacy

Physician talking to patient

Access to Care

Northwestern Medicine delivers world-class, culturally competent care regardless of race, age, gender, sexuality, ability to pay or any other social factor, in the communities where its patients live and work.

  • We’re the largest provider of Medicaid care in DuPage, DeKalb and McHenry counties.
  • Our physicians created the first Hispanic transplant and African American Transplant Access programs in the nation, providing customized, culturally competent care to those communities.
  • Over the past two years, our system has seen more than 10,000 patients from Erie Family Health Center, one of nine clinical community partners across the Chicagoland area.
Two black men walking together

Economic Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine invests in the economic growth of the communities it serves, recruits diverse candidates and provides innovative training, education and development initiatives to unlock new employment opportunities for under-resourced communities.

  • We employ people in over 85% of Chicagoland zip codes.
  • More than 10,000 students have participated in our youth development programs over the past 30 years.
  • $3.7+ million spent on supplies and services from companies in under-resourced communities last year.
Woman buying produce

Community Essentials

Northwestern Medicine partners with community organizations that provide access to nutritious food, shelter and other essentials, and support initiatives that reduce violence, address trauma and build safer communities.

  • In summer 2021, our employees spent over 1,300 hours volunteering at 15 local events.
  • 8,500+ coupons have been distributed to help address food insecurity in McHenry County to date.
  • Over the past nine years, CATCH®, an early childhood health and wellness program, has helped nearly 14,000 young people learn more about gardening, nutrition and healthy eating.

Our Approach to the Community Partnership

_________________

Chicagoland is vast and diverse. It covers more than 10,000 square miles of cities, towns and neighborhoods. It's home to nearly 10 million people. Northwestern Medicine is committed to making this vast community as healthy as it can be.

But no one organization can do that by itself. We have to be in this together. That's why Northwestern Medicine seeks out local leaders who know what's needed locally and collaborates with them to provide highly targeted support.

Our participation goes well beyond world class medical care and research by providing resources – funding and people – to support education and strengthen communities.

We are better when we are all in this together.


_________________

Northwestern Medicine's Community Health Model and Organizations we support

Manifesto Health Communities Diagram

Community Health

Community Health Centers & FQHCs

Hospitals and Health Systems

Local Businesses, Pharmacies

Social Service Organizations

Mental Health Services

Faith Based Organizations

Community-Based Organizations

Housing

Public Health Organizations

Schools

Government and Related Agencies