Our Roots Are in the Fields |
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Each summer morning in Illinois, thousands of men, women, and children rise before the sun and set off for the fields. Many of them travel great distances to Illinois to put food on our tables. And in turn, we ensure that these workers have access to the health care and services they need.
Nearly forty years ago, our teams of community health workers and nurses, some of who remain with CHP to this day, began reaching out to farm workers from the endless rows of asparagus in Ogle County to the gladiolus fields near Kankakee, planting the seeds of what would become Community Health Partnership of Illinois. CHP has grown a lot since then, and so has our impact. Each day, our clinic Care Teams work tirelessly to provide quality primary health care for these men, women, and children. Our network of health and dental clinics across northern and central Illinois serve over 8,000 agricultural workers and family members each year, with dignity and kindness. But our impact doesn't stop there. Beginning in 2008, CHP opened our doors to rural communities that lacked access to quality primary care, welcoming people from all walks of life to our Mendota and Harvard community health clinics. Our sliding fee scale makes quality health care possible for those who need our care most, and we never turn away anyone who seeks out our services, regardless of their ability to pay. |
"The men, women, and children who toil in the fields ensure that our families do not go hungry. Through their devotion to family, pride in their work, resilience in the face of adversity, and hope for a brighter future, agricultural workers inspire all of us who have known the privilege of working with them." - Susan Bauer, Executive Director 
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