Partners in Progress

Providing Greater Access to Healthcare

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As we step into 2025, this year holds great promise for PCC Community Wellness Center and the communities we serve. But our progress is only possible because of you—our dedicated donors, partners, and friends. Together, we are continuing to make a lasting impact on healthcare in Chicago’s West Side.

At the heart of our mission is the belief that everyone deserves access to quality, compassionate care. We are proud to share that our new Austin Family Health Center, located at 5461 W Lake Street, opened its doors in October, bringing greater access to family medicine in the Austin community and transforming how residents engage with healthcare. In addition, our innovative diabetes prevention and management programs, a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen, and our wellness wing are reshaping the landscape of health and wellness in one of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods.

But the story does not stop there. The recently reopened Birth Center at PCC is empowering families across Chicago with the option for natural childbirth in a setting that values choice and support. We are also launching a new, more accessible website to make it easier for residents to find healthcare providers at their convenience and location.

This year brings new opportunities for growth. Thanks to several new grants, we are expanding our mental health and recovery services, while also making significant strides in improving access to dental care for children. Our partnerships with local hospitals are enhancing options for labor and delivery care, ensuring that West Side residents have a comprehensive support system during their most important moments.

However, the road ahead is not without its challenges. The impending closure of a local Family Medicine residency program means that fewer physicians will be available to care for residents of the West Side. The uncertainty surrounding future federal healthcare support for income-eligible communities weighs heavily on all of us. These challenges will directly affect the lives of families who already face systemic barriers to care.

Although we are doing incredible work and forging new paths forward, unstable funding makes it increasingly difficult to plan for the future and maintain the level of care our communities deserve. That is why your support is more crucial than ever. We need your help to ensure we have the resources in place to continue delivering high-quality, accessible, and equitable care for all.

PCC’s mission to provide affordable, high-quality care is not just a noble goal—it is a lifeline for our community. With your continued generosity, we can continue to rise above these challenges, ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to the services they need to thrive.

This is why we are reaching out to you today—to invite you to become a Partner in Progress. Together, we can continue to provide vital services to those who need it most and help ensure that access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege. We are counting on you to help us build a healthier, more equitable future for Chicago’s West Side.

Thank you for standing with us. Together, we will continue to make progress, and together, we will make a lasting impact.

Warmly,

Alyssa Sianghio

President and CEO

PCC Community Wellness Center

Spring 2025 Updates at PCC

PCC 2024 Annual Report: Now Available

It is with deep gratitude that we share our 2024 annual report with you—a story of resilience, progress, and the incredible impact we’ve achieved as an organization. At PCC Community Wellness Center, our mission to build a Culture of Health on the West Side of Chicago and the Near West Suburbs drives everything we do. With your unwavering support, our incredible staff and providers continue to make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.

PCC Expands Access to Quality Birth Care Through New Labor & Delivery Services at Saint Mary Chicago

We are excited to share a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to provide comprehensive, quality healthcare to Chicago’s West Side. PCC’s partnership with Prime Healthcare’s Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital is now bringing 24/7 labor and delivery services to our community. This collaboration enhances access to safe, compassionate care for families during one of life’s most important moments.

This partnership also plays a vital role in supporting our Fellowship program, which trains Family Medicine Physicians in advanced obstetrical procedures, such as C-sections. By offering this advanced training, we are not only expanding our provider base but also addressing the critical shortage of skilled obstetricians in underserved communities. The Fellowship program helps ensure that more residents on the West Side have access to high-quality care during labor and delivery, where it’s needed most.

Looking ahead, we are also thrilled to announce plans to extend our services to Loyola Medicine’s MacNeal Hospital. There, our Certified Nurse Midwives will offer an additional destination for patients seeking the supportive and safe environment of the PCC Birth Center. This expansion is a direct response to feedback from parents and birthing people who want more options for their care, and we are grateful to our donors for making this progress possible.

With your continued support, we will keep building a future where every family has access to the care and support they deserve. Thank you for partnering with us to expand healthcare options and improve maternal health for our community.

PCC Expands Diabetes Programming with Virtual Options

PCC patients enrolled in our diabetes programs have experienced life-changing success over the past quarter. Under the guidance of our Diabetes Team, patients receive regular health screenings, participate in workshops promoting healthy choices, and enjoy weekly fresh produce deliveries.

We are excited to announce that PCC has received funding from the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) and the Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust. This support will help enhance our Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services and implement the National Diabetes Prevention Program’s (NDPP) lifestyle change program.

Thanks to these generous contributions, we are expanding our offerings with two virtual support groups. Participants will receive a monthly fresh produce delivery and have access to virtual cooking demonstrations. As we continue to fulfill our mission of providing high-quality healthcare access to all, we are grateful for the support from both IPHI and the Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust in helping us reach our homebound patients.

PCC Strengthens Mental Health and Recovery Services in Austin

PCC is proud to expand our services and create new opportunities for healing and recovery in the Austin neighborhood. Our new Austin Family Health Center offers a welcoming space dedicated to enhancing behavioral health and recovery services, with a focus on supporting individuals on their journey toward wellness.

Through our Assisted Recovery Connection (ARC), PCC is collaborating with Rush University Fellows specializing in emergency medicine to provide comprehensive, compassionate care. The ARC program would not be possible without the generous support of our donors. Funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Chicago Department of Public Health enables us to make a real difference in people’s lives.

This support allows PCC to focus on supporting pregnant and parenting patients while also investing in a Mental Health Equity Initiative. This initiative helps mobilize a diverse group of mental health providers to expand accessible, trauma-informed, and integrative outpatient services for all Chicagoans, regardless of ability to pay, immigration status, or health insurance.

Although we are doing great work, the reality is that funding remains unstable—and to continue offering high-quality and accessible care, we need donor support now more than ever. These partnerships and the continued generosity of our donors are instrumental in creating a lasting, positive impact on the Austin community. By making mental health and recovery services more accessible, we are empowering individuals to heal, grow, and thrive.

We are deeply grateful to our donors for partnering with us in this mission to bring hope, support, and care to those who need it most.

PCC Expands Children’s Access to Dental Services

PCC is excited to expand children’s access to dental services with the help of the Dr. Scholl Foundation and the Washington Square Foundation. Their generous support has enabled us to purchase a new panoramic radiograph machine, making it quicker and easier to take dental X-rays for young children and those with special needs, improving the care we provide to our community’s most vulnerable.

Westlake Health Foundation Supports PCC Melrose Park

We are deeply grateful to the Westlake Health Foundation for its continued support of PCC Melrose Park Family Health Center. Since 2013, the foundation has been an essential partner, providing vital funding that enables us to enhance care and expand access to high-quality healthcare for residents of the west Proviso area. Their generosity makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve, and we thank them for their ongoing commitment to improving community health and well-being.

https://www.pccwellness.org/