Rogers Park Community Health Assessment

Transcription

Rogers Park Community Health
Assessment
“Quality, Affordable Health Care for All”
2006 / 2007
Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park
Loyola University of Chicago
Cook County Commissioner, Larry
Suffredin
Howard Area Community Center
Table of Contents
I.
Introduction/Purpose
II.
Phase I – Quantitative Data
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
Physical Environment
A Brief History of Rogers Park
Education
Safety
Politics and Government
Communication
Health and Social Services
Economics
Recreation in Rogers Park
Health Status
III. Phase II – Qualitative Data
a.
b.
c.
Community Perspectives
Focus Groups
Summary
IV. Conclusion
V.
References
VI. Appendix
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Introduction/Purpose
In January, 2006 a group of Rogers Park residents testified at the Cook County Budget
Hearing held in Skokie, Illinois about the lack of affordable health care for the uninsured
and underinsured of the Rogers Park community. The Cook County Commissioners and
Cook County Board President John H. Stroger Jr. listened to the testimony, and said there
was no money in the current budget to place a Cook County Clinic in Rogers Park. They
went on to say that the residents of Rogers Park should keep working to “get the word
out” about the lack of affordable health care. Cook County Commissioner Larry
Suffredin, wrote an amendment to the 2006 budget to include $2 million for a Cook
County Clinic for his 13th District, which includes Rogers Park. The amendment was
voted down in committee and was never brought up for a board vote. Meanwhile, the
13th District Health Care Task Force recommended pursing the placement of a Federally
Qualified Health Center (FQHC) because the need for quality, affordable health care in
Rogers Park was so great.
In February, 2006 the “Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park” (NHRP), many of whom
testified at the Cook County Budget Hearing the month before, Commissioner Larry
Suffredin, and members of the 13th District Health Care Task Force began to meet with
Heartland Health Outreach (HHO) to discuss and plan for the placement of a FQHC in
Rogers Park. The primary reason NHRP reached out to HHO was because of their
mission to treat all regardless of ability to pay, and their experience working with diverse
cultures, new immigrants, and persons with chronic illnesses who require a medical
home.
This community health assessment is being done as a requirement for the FQHC federal
grant application process and also for community members and community groups to use
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to improve the overall health care safety net of the Rogers Park Community. We plan to
post this community assessment on the NHRP website, which can be found at
www.HealthyRP.org.
NHRP wanted to gather as much community support as possible to complete the
assessment. NHRP approached Loyola University, Center for Urban Learning (CURL)
and the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, as Rogers Park community partners for their
professional expertise and advice. We are grateful for the help we received in compiling
and writing this community health assessment. CURL provided a generous grant to
implement and analyze the focus group section of the assessment. Members from the
community participated with completing the windshield survey, the community
leadership interviews, participating in focus groups, and with writing the community
history and other subsections.
Phase I of the assessment is a general description of the community. Its purpose is to
help understand the community of Rogers Park through all aspects of community life.
The information is objective data meant to describe and understand the community’s
social capital and capacities. In order to understand the systems at work in Rogers Park,
the “Community Assessment Wheel” by Anderson and McFarlane was adopted
(Anderson and McFarlane, 2000). The wheel divides the community into eight
subsystems: Economic, Physical Environment, Education, Safety, Recreation and the
Arts, Politics and Government, Health and Social Services and Communication. It is
important to understand that the subsystems relate to each other and to the population of
Rogers Park. The population of the community is captured through its history,
demographics, racial/ethnic composition, building occupancy status and health status.
The information was gathered through written data and observation from the following
sources:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Rogers Park Historical Society
Loyola University of Chicago, Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL)
2000 Census Data
Windshield surveys conducted during day and night time. A windshield survey
is a visual survey of the physical environment of the community. The
community is described objectively through the surveyor’s senses (vision,
hearing, touch, smell and taste).
A literature review and review of data, including Internet sources, local
newspapers, on-line articles, Websites and information written by community
agencies.
City of Chicago, Department of Public Health regional and community reports.
Other health reports related to specific disease processes prevalent in Rogers
Park.
Phase II of the assessment addresses the specific issue of the lack of quality affordable
health care in the Rogers Park Community. Phase II is the qualitative measurement of
the assessment. Community Leadership Interviews were done to document community
health need information from professionals and others who work with organizations,
groups, churches and other coalitions within the community. Focus groups throughout
the community were also done in an attempt to capture the impact the lack of affordable
health care has on both the family and the individual. This section helps to plan for
future needs and address specific gaps in health care.
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Ongoing Discourse
This Community Needs Assessment is both a broad analysis of trends and careful
examination of certain specific influences on neighborhood health in Rogers Park. Its
usefulness to the community in procuring services and revealing connections makes it an
integral part of today’s community health environment. However, its lasting relevance
will depend upon cooperation between the various agencies, elected officials and
neighborhood groups responsible for its creation.
Today’s health care environment abruptly shifts as various interests struggle for survival
and profit, often at the expense of consumers. Unlike government agencies and corporate
players, the people of Rogers Park have no “health identity” with which to express their
needs and priorities. A regularly updated Needs Assessment provides that.
This document is the basis upon which a truly effective community health delivery
system can be built. Updates are critical because the needs of Rogers Park’s economically
and racially diverse population will not remain the same. Communities and health risks
are fluid, and only an analysis mechanism dexterous enough to document motility in a
complex urban environment can successfully track those changes.
We are confident that this Assessment will benefit from periodic factual additions by
both the original authors and other concerned parties. We welcome such participation,
and encourage the use of this document to effect positive change in our community.
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Phase I – Quantitative Data: General
Description
Rogers Park is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse communities in
Chicago. There are over 53 different languages spoken in the community. Rogers Park
has always been considered a port of entry for immigrants coming to the United States.
According to the 2000 Census, about 30% of the population is foreign born; 43% speak a
language other than English at home. Of the 63,484 residents, 30% are African
American, 32% are white, 28% are Hispanic, 6% are Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 4% are
Native American or other. “In a city made famous for an accepted and often enforced
cultural and socio-economic homogeneity within neighborhoods,” said the Chicago
Tribune, “Rogers Park stands almost alone as an exception.”
Racial & Ethnic Diversity in Rogers Park
Census 2000
White/Caucasian
African American
Hispanic
Asian/Pacific Islander
Native American
Other or more than one race
Chicago
31.32%
36.39%
26.02%
4.33%
0.15%
1.79%
Rogers Park
31.77%
29.56%
27.78%
6.47%
0.31%
4.10%
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Physical Environment
_____________________________________________________________________
The Rogers Park community is located in the northeast corner of the city of Chicago, is
home to 63,400 residents, and has an area of about 1.85 square miles.
Driving through the Rogers Park community reveals a neighborhood rich in cultural
diversity and architectural variance. Other communities in Chicago can be described in
simpler and more homogenous terms, but Rogers Park is a community of contrast and
complexity. While there are no sharp borders delineating one neighborhood in Rogers
Park from another, there exist communities within the community.
The southern border is Devon Avenue, home to a number of Middle Eastern cultures.
Devon Avenue is lined with Middle Eastern businesses which attracts visitors from all
over the region. The eastern border is Lake Michigan and has a college community flavor
at the southeast end of the community. The northern border is Evanston Township, just a
few blocks north of Howard Street. The northern section is home to many African
Americans and West Africans. The western border is Ridge Boulevard. In the western
section, a large Hispanic population lives along the Clark Street corridor.
Rogers Park housing stock can vary house to house and block to block. Multiunit
apartment rental buildings, single family brick bungalows, condo conversions and an
occasional architectural wonder often sit on the same block
Photo courtesy of the Rogers Park Historical Society
At the south eastern border of the community is Loyola University of Chicago, Lake
Shore Campus, a private university founded in 1906 by the Jesuits. Approximately 40%
of the undergraduate students are from outside Illinois. The campus has 40 building
including the “Mundelein Center”, a national historic landmark which is currently under
renovation. Soon the Mundelein Center will be home to a multipurpose community fine
arts and theatre programming center. The University is a major local employer and the
Loyola community contributes to the economic stability of the area.
Lake Michigan is the entire eastern border of Rogers Park. There are public and private
beaches along the lakefront. Many lakefront Chicago Parks with bike/pedestrian paths
can be seen crowded with bicyclists, roller bladders, walkers and runners. Large
multiunit buildings undergoing condominium conversion renovation work are evident
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throughout Rogers Park especially near the Lake front. Other large multiunit rental
buildings appear to be in advanced states of disrepair in some place. About 75% of the
housing stock in Rogers Park was built before 1975. Over 75% of the housing stock is
rental units; most rental unit buildings were built in the 20’s and 30’s. (www.rpcc.org)
Photo courtesy of Tom Mannis
The northern section of Rogers Park, upon visual inspection, has many boarded up
storefront properties. Groups of young men can be seen standing on street corners.
Businesses along Morse and Howard Streets include launder mats, liquor stores, currency
exchanges and dollar stores. A Belizean Bakery, a Jamaican restaurant and a number of
ethnic African businesses dot Howard Street too. The Gateway Mall, at the corner of
Howard and Clark has about 50% occupancy and contains the only grocery store owned
by a large supermarket chain in the community.
Although Rogers Park’s art community is present throughout the neighborhood, a number
of studios have clustered on a small side street, Glenwood Avenue. Glenwood is divided
north and south by elevated train tracks, and much of the concrete embankment is painted
with murals. One section still retains its original cobblestones, and combined with
foliage growing on the embankment provides an atmosphere of pensive separation from
the surrounding neighborhood.
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The Clark Street corridor is home to a vibrant Hispanic community. Many small
Hispanic businesses line Clark Street including Ayutta Bakery, Western Wear and the
Clark Street Mega Mall. Rental units exist above stores along Clark Street. This area
seems to be a densely populated neighborhood. Community residents who live on or
along Clark Street can be seen walking with children and pushing strollers.
The west end of Rogers Park has single family homes and multiunit buildings. Many
Reform, Conservative and Hasidic synagogues are present in West Rogers Park. On
Saturdays, entire families can be seen walking to temple together along arterial and main
streets. Also located in West Rogers Park is the only factory in the community. S&C
Electric, a major local employer, has been located at Ridge and Pratt for almost 100
years. Misericordia, a residential home for children and adults living with developmental
disabilities has a two acre complex with dozens of buildings located at the corner of
Devon and Ridge in West Rogers Park. Misericordia is a privately funded residential
complex owned and operated by the Misericordia Sisters. Their mission to serve the
medically complex residents is largely funded by private donations and fund raising.
Quite noticeable throughout Rogers Park is the elevated train system. The “L” connects
Rogers Park to Downtown Chicago in about 40 minutes. The “L” can bring residents to
surrounding suburbs and O’Hare Airport. Bus lines run up and down most major streets
with a few exceptions. Ridge Avenue, the western border of the community currently has
no bus service in Chicago. The two hospitals which serve most of Rogers Park are
situated out of the community on Ridge Avenue in Evanston. Rogers Park has no
hospital within the community.
Gentrification is evident throughout Rogers Park, but the North of Howard Area is where
home ownership has nearly doubled in the last ten years (from 6.84% to 11.3% of the
total housing stock). According to the Rogers Park Builders Group, 1018 rental units
have been converted to condominiums. This represents about 5% of the Rental housing
stock. So, rental units remain the predominant form of housing stock in Rogers Park with
75% of all housing being rental units. According to Loyola University, Center for Urban
Research, about 9% of all Rogers Park housing is subsidized and 12% of the rental
housing units are subsidized. (www.rpcc.org)
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Owner
Occupied
Renter
Occupied
Units
Vacant
Units
TOTAL
1990
# units
2000
# units
# Change
%
Change
20.14%
1990
% of
Units
14.05%
2000
% of
Units
17.14%
3,902
4,688
786
21,363
20,849
-514
-2.41%
76.93%
76.21%
2,505
1,821
-684
-27.31%
9.02%
6.66%
27,770
27,358
-412
-1.48
100%
100%
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A Brief History of Rogers Park
_____________________________________________________________________
Rogers Park is a community of exceptional racial and economic diversity located on
Chicago’s Northeast side along the lake. The most racially diverse zip code in the United
States, the 53 languages spoken in Rogers Park demonstrate the steady addition of new
arrivals to the country and the many cultures now part of the fabric of the neighborhood.
Rogers Park was located north of several cemeteries at the edge of the City of Chicago. A
small town with its own government, it was named after one of its founding residents,
Mr. Philip Rogers. Rogers Park was annexed by Chicago in 1893.
An early and lasting member of the community, Loyola University got its start in 1906
when land purchased for $161.00 was given to the school. Classes at the Lakeshore
campus began in 1912. In 1935 the School of Nursing was added, followed by the
landmark art deco Madonna Della Strada Chapel in 1938.
Modern Rogers Park came into being after World War Two, when a severe housing
shortage resulted in an aggressive homebuilding program. Rogers Park and neighboring
West Ridge added so many units without any overall plan that new infrastructure had to
be designed to accommodate the new requirements. Rogers Park has remained a dense
urban environment ever since.
Though the neighborhood was always attractive to new residents, in the last thirty years
Rogers Park has attracted just about every immigrant culture in Chicago. Reasons for this
include good access to public transportation and the affordability of rental housing.
In the late 1960s, additional demand was met by removing old mansions and replacing
them with “4+1” style apartment complexes. Innovative though not especially attractive,
these buildings feature garage space on the ground level and four floors of apartments
above. Their appearance radically changed the character many streets, including Sheridan
Road.
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One area that has evolved without losing its essential social function is the Lakefront
Park System. Always a hub for recreation, in the days prior to air conditioning hundreds
if not thousands of people spent hot summer nights on the cool waterfront. A man named
Sam Leone started a lifeguard program that endured long after his death and trained
several generations of neighborhood lifeguards.
A seminal event occurred in 1952, when the drive for housing collided with local desire
to preserve beach access. In what became a template for a culture of aggressive activism
in Rogers Park, neighbors discovered that land they had always believed was park space
along the lake was in fact available for purchase by developers. A long struggle with the
City of Chicago ensued, including hundreds of residents mailing bags of sand to the
Mayor’s office and culminating in the permanent designation of thirteen beaches as
parkland.
The success gave rise to the Rogers Park Community Council, a group that remains
active on issues such as housing and domestic violence today. Other activist groups also
thrive, and in recent years new generations of activists have been using blogs to get their
message out. Rogers Park has a reputation of being more liberal than much of the rest of
the city, something enhanced by the media labeling Rogers Park “lakefront liberals”
during the hotly contested mayoral elections of the 1980’s.
Many feel that the wide variety of cultures and economic status has made Rogers Park
the most tolerant community in Chicago.
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Education
_____________________________________________________________________
There are 20 early childhood/preschool programs, 4 public grammar schools, 3 private
grade schools, 1 public high school, 1 private high school and one alternative high
school. A private university, Loyola University of Chicago, is located in the Rogers Park
community.
Public Grammar Schools include Jordan, Kilmer, Gale and Armstrong. Private Grammar
Schools are Chicago Waldorf, Sacred Heart and St. Margaret Mary School. The students
who attend the local public grade schools generally have poor academic achievement.
The standardized test scores for the students at Gale and Jordan are very low. The 2005
Illinois School Report Card indicates that only 35.1% of Gale students tested met or
exceeded the state’s learning goals as measured by The Illinois Standards Achievement
Test. The state average is 65%. Gale remains on the state’s “Academic Watch List”.
Jordan did slightly better in 2005 with 45% of the students tested meeting or exceeding
the state’s learning goals. Jordan is on the state’s “Academic Early Warning List”. 85%
of the Gale School population comes from low income families, 95% of the Jordan
school community live within low income family structures.
Sullivan High School is the only public high school in the community. Currently there
are 1100 hundred students enrolled. Last year Sullivan graduated 50% of the students
who started out as freshmen and earned a diploma within five years. About 42% of the
graduating seniors last year went on to College or Post Secondary education. 22% of the
students met or exceeded PSAE State Standards. Students were absent an average of 28
school days per year, ranking Sullivan High School 67 out of 81 CPS High Schools in
regards to attendance. 88% of the faculty is “highly qualified” teachers ranking the
teaching staff 8 out of 76 Chicago High Schools. 94% of the Sullivan High School
student body is from low income families.
Sullivan is currently on the “Academic Watch List” after failing to meet state and federal
academic expected outcomes and could be subjected to additional state sanctions. We
made multiple attempts to speak with a member of the administration and members of the
Local School Council to seek more information for the needs assessment and to
specifically ask about adolescent health issues. We were able to interview the Nurse
Practioner from Sullivan School Based Health Center.
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Sullivan High School has had a School-Based Health Clinic for two years. Students can
receive acute and preventative primary health care from 9am to 5pm daily, twelve
months/year.
Loyola University of Chicago boasts an enrollment of 14,764 students. Almost 40% of
the undergraduate students are from outside Illinois. Loyola University offers 68
undergraduate majors. There are 77 Master’s programs, 36 Doctoral Programs and 3
professional degree programs. Undergraduate tuition is $26, 000/year. Loyola
University of Chicago has 120,000 alumni, 80,000 reside in Chicago. Lakeshore campus,
in Rogers Park, has 3000 students living on or around the campus.
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Safety
_____________________________________________________________________
Personal and public safety overlaps with community health in many ways. Injury
prevention is one example of how community health education from health care
providers working in the community can directly impact safety. Health education about
car seat safety and window fall prevention provided to parents at well child visits helps
children living in the community be at less risk for preventable injuries (see specific data
related to pediatric injuries in Rogers Park in the Health Status section). Health
education related to fire safety, gun safety, poison prevention, bike safety and water
safety are also important health/safety topics in terms of community health education
efforts.
The most widespread form of violence against women is carried out by a husband or
boyfriend. Domestic violence has been linked to many long term physical, emotional and
psychological problems. Women are at a greater risk of abuse during pregnancy.
Family and domestic violence is often first assessed by health care providers trained to
recognize the physical and psychological signs of abuse. In fact, a recent study
demonstrated that 37% of battered women admitted abuse to their health care provider,
(National Coalition against Domestic Violence).
In addition, “there is an ever increasing body of research showing that young children
who are exposed to violence in their homes and/or communities often experience
significant psychological and behavioral challenges as a result of their exposure to
violence” (Chicago Safe Start).
One of the goals for a new clinic in the community could be to implement a formalized
and coordinated response for initial intervention and referral for children and women
exposed to violence or who may be victims of family violence.
Another important goal for a community health clinic would be to implement an early
violence prevention community health education project. Violence is a learned behavior
which can be prevented with early violence prevention education within the community
to parents and other adults who surround children. Problem solving skills, dealing with
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frustration in a constructive manner and anger management are skills that can be taught at
the community level to very young children. For children to feel safe, they need to be
protected from violence in their environments, whether on TV or in the neighborhood
(Adults and Children Together against Violence).
Community Crime Data
The 24th police district encompasses a few communities including Rogers Park. There
are nine police beats in the 24th District, five of which include Rogers Park. Rogers Park
Beats include 2422, 2423, 2424, 2431, and 2432. Below is a chart of the most frequently
occurring crimes by Beat:
Crime
Domestic battery, simple
Simple battery
Criminal damage to vehicle
Theft $300 and under
Narcotics possession:
Cannabis less than 30 grams
Theft from building
Criminal damage to property
Simple assault
2422
138
108
69
67
94
2423
80
71
93
72
55
2424
79
79
69
56
74
2431
61
54
32
51
30
2432
98
131
82
90
62
Total
456
443
345
336
315
71
66
61
58
69
44
50
54
36
41
35
38
82
73
67
302
297
246
Year to Date figures as of Oct. 2, 2006 from www.chicagocrime.org
Of note, the Chicago Police Department’s 2004 Report on Hate Crimes identified Rogers
Park as having the greatest number of reported hate crimes (11) in Chicago. See Exhibit
13, Reported Hate Crimes by Police District and Classification, 2004 in the Appendix.
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CAPS
Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) is a partnership between police and the
community, and is considered the foundation of Chicago’s own philosophy of community
policing.
CAPS brings together the police, the community and other City Agencies to identify and
solve neighborhood crime problems. It is a proactive approach to policing rather than a
reactive approach to after the fact crime.
Specific strategies include:
• Neighborhood based beat officers
• Regular Beat meetings involving the police and residents
• Extensive training for both police and the community
• More efficient use of City Services that impact crime
• New Technology to help police and residents target crime hot spots.
CAPS was initiated in 1993 using five of the city’s 25 police districts as prototypes.
Rogers Park was one of the five designated prototype districts. CAPS partnerships have
tackled not only serious crime problems, but also those neighborhood conditions which
breed crime such as abandoned buildings and vehicles, vacant lots, drug houses and
graffiti (Chicago Police Department, “How CAPS works”,
http://www.egov.cityofchicago/webportal).
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Politics and Government
_____________________________________________________________________
On the municipal level, Rogers Park is served by three different members of the Chicago
City Council. The majority of the neighborhood falls within the 49th ward, which is
represented by Alderman Joseph Moore. The western parts of the neighborhood are
included in the 50th ward, represented by Alderman Bernie Stone. The southwestern edge
of Rogers Park is served by 40th ward Alderman Patrick O’Connor. The City Council is
the legislative body of the city of Chicago. It has 19 standing committees, including one
on Health. The City Council approves the annual city-wide budget proposed by Mayor
Richard M. Daley. This includes funding for the City’s Department of Public Health.
Commissioner Larry Suffredin
Rogers Park is included in the 13th District of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
The Cook County government sets policy that controls the funding for public health
services as administered by the Cook County Department of Public Health, including the
hospital system. 13th District Commissioner Larry Suffredin has been a leader in the
effort to bring affordable health care to Rogers Park.
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Rogers Park is represented in the Illinois General Assembly by 7th District Senator Carol
Ronen, 9th District Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg, 14th District Representative Harry
Osterman, and the 18th District Representative Julie Hamos. All have been active in
sponsoring health-related legislation. In the 2006 session, the Assembly approved
Governor Rod Blagojevich’s All Kids program that makes all children eligible for health
care coverage in the state of Illinois.
In the United States Congress, Rogers Park is served by 9th Congressional District
Representative Jan Schakowsky and Senators Richard Durbin and Barack Obama. These
representatives vote on legislation that affects the funding of the federal health programs
such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Veteran’s Administration hospital system.
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Communication
_____________________________________________________________________
With approximately 53 different languages spoken in the Rogers Park community, and
43% of the community stating they speak a language other than English at home (2000
Census); communication or the exchange of thoughts and information by speech, writing
or signs can be difficult. If you ask ten people living in Rogers Park how best to
communicate, you may well receive ten different answers. About a year ago, the
Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) held a series of focus
groups in Rogers Park to examine how best to communicate and share information. The
results from the focus group study indicated informal communication methods are what
work in Rogers Park. “Word of mouth”, organization newsletters, church bulletins, blog
sites, web sites, school “communication” folders, community bulletin boards, flyers on
storefront windows are a few examples. There seems to be no one central way to
communicate information in Rogers Park and information needs to be translated into
many different languages.
Health Literacy and its Barriers to Health
Health literacy has been defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to
obtain process and understand basic health information and services in order to make
appropriate health decisions (Healthy People 2010). Health literacy has long been a
concern among health care providers in Rogers Park. Barriers to care naturally exist
when a health care provider cannot speak a common language with a patient or when a
patient is unable to read.
According to the Institute of Medicine, nearly half of all Americans have difficulty
understanding and using health information, and there is a higher rate of hospitalization
and Emergency Room use among patients with limited health literacy. Limited health
literacy leads to billions of dollars in avoidable health care costs.
One research study done in a public hospital found that one-third of the English speaking
patients could not read basic health information. More than a quarter of the participants
could not read an appointment card and 42% could not understand labels on prescription
bottles. The US Surgeon General has highlighted health literacy needs and has stated “
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the ability to access, understand and use health related information and services is critical
to the success of 1) improving emergency preparedness 2) eliminating health disparities
and 3)preventing disease” (Office of the Surgeon General www.surgeongeneral.gov).
Health literacy barriers can be addressed at the community level. Health literacy
curriculums need to be incorporated into kindergarten through 12th grade classes in all
grade schools, in adult education classes, and other community programming.
Community health outreach programs train people who are community members to work
in the community to promote health awareness. Such efforts must be sensitive to cultural
and language preferences. Howard Area Community Center has had a community health
outreach program in place for about ten years.
Local Media
Besides the two Chicago daily newspapers, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago
Suntimes, Rogers Park residents also read the News Star, the Chicago Reader and the
Chicago Defender newspapers.
The Chicago Reader, founded in 1971, is “widely recognized as one of the leading
alternative weeklies in the United States. It specializes in features rather than news, with
an emphasis on urban issues and politics, arts and culture, and the literary journalism that
seeks to capture the spirit of contemporary city life”.
The Chicago Defender, founded in 1905, “has been the voice of the African-American
community in Chicago and across the United States”.
Newspapers published in Spanish, read locally, are Hoy and La Raza.
The ChiTown Daily News is an online news publication.
The Gay Chicago Magazine has a following in Rogers Park.
Rogers Park 2000 is a free community newspaper published quarterly designed to
increase awareness about community issues and resources. The newspaper is distributed
to over 10,000 households and is available in 50 local businesses and organizations.
Regular columns highlight Rogers Park restaurants, give updates on governmental issues,
Loyola University and publish stories about local businesses. Stories are written by
volunteer journalists.
The Loyola Phoenix is Loyola University of Chicago’s student newspaper. It is
published weekly during Fall and Spring semesters.
WLUW is an independent community radio station serving Chicago and the northern
suburbs. It is a “listener supported” station located on 88.7 FM band. WLUW
programming has an alternative radio format with community, genre, news and specialty
shows. The station broadcasts on Loyola University’s campus, but is financially
independent from the university.
There are many blog sites in cyberspace originating from Rogers Park. Two of the most
popular blogs are the “Morse Hellhole” and “24/7 North of Howard”.
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Health and Social Services
_____________________________________________________________________
Health Services
There are currently two primary care clinics, Evanston-Rogers Park Access Family
Health Center (ERP) and St. Francis Community Clinic, a not for profit clinic owned by
the Resurrection Health Care System, in Rogers Park. A School Based Health Center
(SBHC) is operating out of Sullivan High School by the Access Community Health
Network also.
Evanston-Rogers Park Access Family Health Center (ERP) is the only FQHC in
Rogers Park. ERP is one of 46 health centers run by the Access Community Health
Network, the largest private community health center organization in Chicago. Over
200,000 patients are served by the network annually.
ERP has a mission to provide “high quality, cost effective, safe, comprehensive primary
and preventative health care in underserved Chicago land communities”. HIV services,
pain management services, prenatal care and primary care are services offered. Fees are
based on a sliding scale determined by income. Discounted pharmaceutical programs are
available (Access Community Health Network).
Sullivan High School Health Center is a school based health center run by the Access
Community Health Network. The Sullivan SBHC is located in Sullivan High school and
is a full-service health center for students of Sullivan High School.
Saint Francis Community Health Center located at 7464 N. Clark Street opened in
1986 to serve the pediatric population in the Rogers Park area. The clinic’s services have
now been expanded to offer prenatal care, pediatric and adult medicine. Women with
pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes can receive care at the clinic too. Health
promotion activities are provided by the clinic to the community. Examples of these
activities include nutrition, baby care, car safety and parenting classes. Disease
management programs for adults with diabetes, asthma and hypertension are offered.
22
Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance are accepted. St. Francis Clinic has a charity
care program in place for patients and families without health insurance coverage or any
other means of payment. St. Francis Clinic has no discounted pharmaceutical programs
(Resurrection Health Care, Community Clinics)
St. Francis Clinic provided 13,003 visits last year (2005). This number is down slightly
from previous years due to the retirement of three primary care staff physicians
(Conversation with the Clinic Manager).
Pediatric visits … 4415
Internal Medicine visits … 4095
Postpartum visits … 271
Prenatal visits … 2292
Labs … 1930
There are about ten private practice physicians in the community who accept Medicaid,
Medicare and other forms of private insurance.
23
Medically Underserved Population (MUP), Medically Underserved Area (MUA),
and Health Professionals Shortage Area (HPSA) Designations.
Rogers Park has been designated a Medically Underserved Population, a Medically
Underserved Area and a Health Professional Shortage Area. The definitions of these
terms are as follows:
MUA/P Legend
Label
Outline Color
Fill Color
Fill Style
Governor
Backward diagonal
lines
Medically Underserved Area
Forward diagonal
lines
Medically Underserved
Population
Horizontal lines
MUA/P Labels are Underlined
24
HPSA Legend
Label
Outline Color
Fill Color
Fill Style
Geographical Area
Horizontal lines
Population Group
Horizontal lines
Single County
Crossing lines
HPSA Labels are in ITALICS
Social Services
Howard Area Community Center (HACC) is a multi-service, community based agency
serving low-income residents of Rogers Park. HACC provides comprehensive social
services, operates an Alternative High School, a Family Center Campus which includes a
child care center for 124 children 6 weeks through 5 years old, an Intensive Home
Visiting Program for families with children Zero – 3 years old, a Education and
Employment Program and Youth Programs.
Rogers Park Community Council (RPCC) is an organization created in 1952 to
“improve the quality of life in the neighborhood through civic and educational purposes
that foster health and welfare, urban renewal, law enforcement and community
organization”. Community – based services include a Housing Action Program, Victim
Advocacy and Support Program, a Senior Intervention Program, the Rogers Park Youth
Network, a Community Awareness and Pride Program and a community newspaper, the
“Rogers Park 2000.”
Family Matters is a “family-centered organization in the North of Howard Area that
seeks to be a catalyst for change- building and strengthening the community through
programs that support personal growth and change”. After school programs, teen
programs, parent programs, community organizing, and a community tutoring program
are some of the services offered through Family Matters.
25
Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS) is located in West Rogers Park but serves
many East Rogers Park residents. They offer Family Counseling, Individual Therapy and
Child Therapy.
JCFS operates a therapeutic day school for children K-12, Preschool aged Speech,
Occupational and Developmental Therapy, Special Education, Respite Care and
Adoption services.
JCFS operates the Virginia Frank Child Developmental Center offering services to
families with children Zero-6 years old including a therapeutic nursery, drop-in groups, a
Family Life Parenting Series and other human services.
Misericordia is a home to 550 children and adults with mild to profound developmental
disabilities from all racial, religious and socio-economic backgrounds, Misericordia’s
services include residential placement and day to day support, job training and
employment opportunities, physical, occupational and speech therapy, fitness and healthy
living guidance, social and recreational outings and opportunities for spiritual growth.
Misericordia is operated by the Sisters of Mercy under the auspices of the Catholic
Bishop of Chicago.
26
Economics
_____________________________________________________________________
The median income for Rogers Park is $35,622. Although, the City of Chicago
experienced a decline in the numbers of people living in poverty, the Rogers Park
community has experienced a steady increase in the numbers of person’s living in
poverty since the 1970’s (see poverty table under “health report”). The 2000 Census
states that 21.3% of the residents in Rogers Park were living in poverty and nearly 34%
of the residents living in the North of Howard Area neighborhood of Rogers Park were
living below poverty level. 20% of all households in Rogers Park had annual incomes
below $15,000.
Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics
Rogers Park – Estimates and Projections
Change
Subject
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Employed, Total (Pop
16+)
Employed, Males (Pop
16+)
Employed, Females (Pop
16+)
Change
2005 Est.
(2000 - 05)
2010 Proj.
(2005 - 10)
Number
Percentage
Number
Percentage
31,940
3.4
32,919
3.1
17,313
3.4
17,727
2.4
14,627
3.3
15,192
3.9
Unemployed, Male
1,250
-16.4
1,157
-7.4
Unemployed, Female
Not in the Labor Force
Male (Pop 16+)
Not in the Labor Force
Female (Pop 16+)
1,227
-5.4
1,236
0.7
7,636
9.5
8,268
8.3
9,380
2.6
9,530
1.6
Employment (Pop
16+)
27
Agriculture, Forestry,
Fishing and Hunting, and
Mining
30
-11.8
23
Construction
1,305
12.1
1,371
5.1
Manufacturing
2,702
-13
2,370
-12.3
609
-8.3
555
-8.9
Retail Trade
Transportation and
Warehousing, and
Utilities (Pop 16+)
2,534
-14.6
2,091
-17.5
1,608
6
1,693
5.3
Information
Finance, insurance, real
estate, and rental and
leasing
Professional, Scientific,
Management,
Administrative, etc.
Educational, Health and
Social Services
Arts,
entertainment,recreation,
accommodation and food
services
1,096
-0.2
1,174
7.1
2,350
0.4
2,324
-1.1
4,293
10.7
4,715
9.8
7,716
9.7
8,379
8.6
4,759
9.8
5,124
7.7
Other Services (Pop 16+)
2,129
9.3
2,307
8.4
809
-1
793
-2
57
3.6
57
0
Management, Business,
and Financial Operations
3,681
6.7
3,920
6.5
Professional and Related
7,553
6.8
8,106
7.3
Service
7,105
3.9
7,444
4.8
Sales and Office
Farming, Fishing, and
Forestry
Construction, Extraction,
and Maintenance
Production,
Transportation, and
Material Moving
7,672
0.5
7,571
-1.3
5
-28.6
3
-40
1,669
1.9
1,611
-3.5
4,255
-0.1
4,264
0.2
4,239
5.8
4,536
7
1,787
0.3
1,812
1.4
629
0.6
636
1.1
581
-6
546
-6
1,341
1.1
1,348
0.5
Less than $15,000
5,882
1.2
4,959
-15.7
$15,000 to $24,999
4,002
0.6
3,358
-16.1
$25,000 to $34,999
4,330
-1.9
3,427
-20.9
$35,000 to $49,999
4,726
3.9
5,103
8
$50,000 to $74,999
3,982
7.1
4,962
24.6
Wholesale Trade
Public administration
Unpaid Family Workers
-23.3
Occupation (Pop 16+)
CLASS OF WORKER
Private Not-for-Profit
Wage and Salary
Workers
Local Government
Workers
State Government
Workers
Federal Government
Workers
Self-Employed Workers
in Own Not Incorporated
Business
Household INCOME
28
$75,000 to $99,999
1,673
20.5
2,821
68.6
$100,000 to $124,999
893
13.2
1,351
51.3
$125,000 to $149,999
434
29.6
804
85.3
$150,000 to $199,999
324
11.3
351
8.3
$200,000 or more
Median Household
Income
323
23.8
514
59.1
33,026
3.7
41,008
24.2
Less than $15,000
2,111
-4.9
1,766
-16.3
$15,000 to $24,999
1,645
-6.4
1,300
-21
$25,000 to $34,999
1,884
-7.6
1,409
-25.2
$35,000 to $49,999
2,264
4.9
2,365
4.5
$50,000 to $74,999
2,292
8.4
2,551
11.3
$75,000 to $99,999
Family INCOME
1,158
29.4
1,736
49.9
$100,000 to $124,999
668
16.6
940
40.7
$125,000 to $149,999
339
41.3
600
77
$150,000 to $199,999
242
19.2
234
-3.3
$200,000 or more
261
29.9
392
50.2
53,001
9.7
65,430
23.5
Median Family Income
Data Source: Aggregated From EASI Data Set (MCIC)
29
Recreation in Rogers Park
_____________________________________________________________________
Recreation in Rogers Park centers on playgrounds, parks and a lakefront park system as
well as an arts community that primarily works out of small studios. Also, there are many
small bars and taverns that cater to the tastes of the diverse population.
Rogers Park has an exceptionally vibrant arts community, and is known as a hub for
writers. Individual craftspeople in small studios create everything from paintings and
sculpture to performance art and music. Some studios become galleries several times a
year as artists show and sell their work, much of it at prices affordable to the community.
Several organized annual events link studios together for arts fests and studio walks, and
many artists also teach classes in various media or work at local parks.
Nightlife
Entertainment venues in Rogers Park include several theaters, a small movie theater, bars
and some restaurants. Concerns about street crime are often cited as challenges to
attracting more such business, and many people in Rogers Park either have been victims
of some sort of crime or know someone that has. This has a chilling effect on physical
activity for some who see themselves as vulnerable, and safety concerns are often
expressed by local teens.
People who choose to walk home after drinking at bars are especially vulnerable to
assaults, many of which go unreported. Also, the severe shortage of parking forces people
returning from work late at night to walk significant distances, usually alone.
30
Lakefront Park System
The lakefront park system is secured by a “Lakefront Protection Ordinance”, which was
enacted to prevent high rise development and other uses that might deprive the
neighborhood’s residents of access to the lake.
Roger’s Park’s lakefront park system differs significantly from much of the rest of
Chicago’s lakefront. Planner Daniel Burnham foresaw an accessible lake frontage kept
for use by all of the city’s residents, but his work did not directly address Rogers Park.
Included in Rogers Park’s annexation by Chicago was the transfer of land along the
lakefront that had not been designated as park space. The majority of that space later
became parkland.
Lake Shore Drive, a well known stretch of urban expressway turns away from the
lakefront just south of Rogers Park, becoming Sheridan Road. Sheridan moves through
Rogers Park approximately one block west of Lake Michigan, with homes, apartment
buildings, and beaches to the east. One of the major priorities of neighborhood activists
has been preserving beachfront from development of marinas, and as well as from
rumored ambitious and cost prohibitive Lake Shore Drive extensions. Such proposals
remain a political lightning rod during election year debates.
Washrooms and Sanitation
Washroom facilities at the lakefront are limited to the Loyola Park field house and a 1000
square foot free standing brick structure located about one block to the south. The lack of
other facilities is a sanitation concern during summer. Swimmers report relieving
themselves in the water, and trees and bushes are frequently used as well. Some people
cite lack of adequate sanitary facilities as a discouraging factor in planning to use park
facilities.
Other nearby public restroom facilities are scarce and limited to businesses who allow
use by non-customers. Many of these businesses are closed in the evenings and it is not
uncommon to see homeless or intoxicated individuals using alleys for these purposes.
Homelessness in Rogers Park
Rogers Park has a noticeable Homeless population, many of whom spend days and often
nights in the parks. Lakefront parks, because of their spaciousness and lack of foot traffic
at night are especially popular destinations. Community response, especially among
homeowners who live close to the parks has moved from quiet tolerance to indignation
and calls by some for ending the nighttime Homeless presence.
Several people report incidents of nuisance behavior, such as public urination and
intoxication, as well as threats that are usually connected to some discourse regarding
behavior. Police response to complaints has been to periodically attempt to empty the
parks at night. However, Police have said repeatedly that their options are severely
limited in terms of effective sanctions to permanently deter homelessness.
Police and others have suggested a focused outreach effort in the summer months (when
shelters are closed) to connect Homeless with resources and mental health assistance.
Repeated arrests and citations for trespassing and nuisance crimes have almost no effect
on behavior and use significant police resources, especially if Homeless are detained.
31
Interviews with several homeless individuals make clear that a significant mental health
component is needed to achieve significant results in terms of placement. Even more
critical is the development of a comprehensive plan to deal with the multifaceted
challenges that define persistent homelessness in Rogers Park.
Boating
In summer the horizon is typically filled with sailboats, powerboats and jet skis with a
smattering of windsailers and kayakers. The nearest boat launch facility is at Diversey
Harbor, approximately four miles to the south. Although several proposals for expanded
harbor facilities have been made by various entities, vigorous opposition from the
community has effectively prevented their completion.
Fishing
A small but dedicated culture of anglers makes regular use of piers and shores,
particularly Pratt Pier. The 6th largest lake in the world, Lake Michigan is a freshwater
lake. Around 21 million pounds of fish are harvested from the lake annually, with only a
small portion caught by anglers fishing from the shore.
Species of fish include Rainbow and Lake Trout, Large and Smallmouth Bass, Carp,
Lake Whitefish, Coho Salmon, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, and Pike. One imported
fish that has thrived since its introduction is the smelt. Others that are active threats to
existing ecology are the Asian Carp, Snakefish, and Zebra Mussel.
Fish caught from Lake Michigan are considered by the EPA to be safe to eat in limited
amounts. The chief concern is methyl mercury and PCB contaminants in larger fish and
particularly among frequent consumers. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children
are advised to avoid eating large predator fish, though how well publicized these hazards
are isn’t clear, especially among non-English speaking communities.
Bicycling
Bicycling along the lakefront in Rogers Park is difficult because the trail system is not
clearly defined, nor is it continuous. Instead a series of paved segments along the larger
32
beaches terminate frequently and force riders to detour as far west as Sheridan Road.
Sheridan has no bike lanes, and is considered hazardous by many riders. Frequently
bicycles travel on sidewalks. This is not legal and sometimes draws criticism for safety
reasons at local Community Policing meetings. The usual result is a few tickets being
written to adults (juveniles can’t be ticketed by Chicago Police).
A significant hazard are riders on side walks bordered by buildings on one side and small
parkway fences meant to protect grass on the other. Riders often have difficulty avoiding
pedestrians emerging from buildings, who fail to see them coming.
Beaches
There are about ten named beaches, varying in size and joined by other water access
points that are either not technically beaches or are privately held. About 16 percent of
the waterfront is not public property. Access to those points is at the discretion of the
owners and varies. For example, one condominium building restricts access almost
completely while Loyola University grants access very liberally.
Swimming
The Park District allows swimming from late May until early September. The beaches are
served by a lifeguard corps based at Pratt Beach. Guarded beaches are staffed between
the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 9:30 P.M., and during those hours swimmers are required to
remain within areas determined by the guards as manageable. Lifeguards use a fleet of
rowboats to observe swimmers, limiting their activity to within about thirty- five feet of
the shoreline. This is an extremely unpopular arrangement among accomplished
swimmers, who desire a deep water swimming option similar to one maintained
downtown.
Emergency Services
Incidents of distress or potential drowning trigger a highly organized response by the
Chicago Fire Department, the Chicago Police, and most of the Pratt Beach Life Guard
team. Neighbors often assist when needed. Resources include Dive Teams, Fire and
Police Boats, and Fire Department helicopters.
33
In several observed incidents in 2006 the response was well coordinated and significant
assets deployed very quickly, allowing First Responders to resolve emergencies rapidly.
There is also HH65A Helicopter stationed over the summer at a Waukegan helipad that
can be dispatched when needed.
Water Quality
Water quality on the beaches is an ongoing and serious concern. When beaches are open
the Park District conducts water tests daily. However, because of the testing requirements
results are not known until the following day. Beach closings for contamination are a
regular occurrence, but are done one day following the test that determines the safety of
the water. Conditions can change substantially in the interval. Swimmers report
mysterious rashes sometimes appear after being in the lake, but no comprehensive record
of such incidents in Rogers Park is known to exist.
Causes of contamination are often debated, with Chicago city officials blaming places
like Milwaukee, WI for pollution. Though no permanent streams discharge into Lake
Michigan from Illinois’ 63 miles of coastline, one potential local source of pollutants is
the overflow of storm water following major storms. The Chicago Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District has invested heavily in an alternative drainage system, the “Deep
Tunnel” project. This network of tunnels some three hundred feet below ground was
designed to absorb the overflow from such storms. In recent years the Metropolitan
Water Reclamation District has also significantly upgraded its notification process when
it diverts overflow into local waterways.
Another potential contaminant source is damage to antiquated sewage pipes that collapse
underground and divert waste undetected into the lake, as recently happened in another
area of the city. It is highly unlikely that local industry is directly dumping pollutants, as
no company in Rogers Park capable of producing such waste has facilities on the lake.
Loyola Park
The largest park in the lakefront park system is Loyola Park, a “Large Urban Park” which
occupies about six square blocks beginning three blocks north of Loyola University.
Loyola Park has a large field house which houses a gymnasium and other facilities. These
include a woodshop, a weaving room complete with looms, and a 400 square foot room
that features a stage. There is also a 700 square foot “Sky Room” which is used for larger
gatherings and yoga classes. (Current enrollment in the free yoga program tops one
hundred.)
Activities at the field house are maximized and a variety of programming is underway
throughout most of the day and evening. The basketball program was recently extended
to an earlier starting date as well as a later end date. A referee program was also added, a
program with the secondary benefit of giving youth the tools to resolve disputes in
unsupervised games away from the park. There are also baseball, day camp, and
numerous after- school programs. These programs include weightlifting, boxing,
wrestling, aerobics, self defense, girl’s fitness, dance, gymnastics, textiles, and arts and
crafts. Also offered are early childhood recreation and gymnastics, as well as Special
Olympic and special needs recreation. There is also a woodshop used by community
members.
There are some partnerships in place with outside entities. A theater group is expanding a
program of theater performing and creative writing to include kids between 8 and 12
years of age.
34
Outdoor Areas:
The entire outdoor area of Loyola Park is managed by the park supervisor, although she
is often at the mercy of various Park District Departments for things like garbage pick
ups and facility repairs. In the park area garbage collection was observed to be very swift,
even on especially high volume days such as the fifth of July when refuse far exceeded
the capacity of collection points. Outdoor facilities include basketball and tennis courts.
There are also baseball diamonds and a playground. There are large sidewalks that
accommodate both bicycles and pedestrians and allow access for emergency vehicles in
much of the park.
Less reliable are the repair services, as several damaged park benches and damaged
exercise equipment have lingered for months unattended. The beaches are cleaned and
raked by a tractor every morning, and although broken glass in the sand remains an
unseen hazard the beaches look pristine each day at sunrise, which are dramatic enough
to bring people out at early hours.
The fields are primarily grasses, mowed on a regular basis. Trees sporadically dot the
landscape and are most dense close to the apartment and condominium buildings that line
the west side of the park. Significant bare spots occur where use is especially heavy, as in
the open spaces where soccer is often played by informal large teams. There are also
significant ruts from tires of police and park service vehicles.
35
Dog Walking:
Off-leash dog walking is not permitted, but is generally accepted during off hours and
colder months. It is common to see upwards of twenty dogs playing together in the early
morning hours on some beaches. Although sanitary reasons (related to concerns about
cryptosporidium, and others) are often cited for not allowing dogs on beaches during the
day, the great majority of owners pick up after their animals and the City of Chicago has
recently begun using small dogs to chase birds from other beaches. During the day, dogs
are not allowed on any part of the sand, making travel along the shoreline impossible for
dog owners, who are forced to detour to Sheridan Road to complete their journey.
Lifeguards are used to enforce this rule.
Parking:
Most of the parking close to the Field House is metered. Also, some side streets near the
beaches reserve parking “for residents only” at certain hours of the day. Parking
availability is inadequate on busy weekends in summer, and frequent traffic jams occur at
the ends of some small streets that dead end at the lakefront. Inadequate parking is an
issue in many other areas of Rogers Park as well. Issuance of Parking Citations appears to
be the primary means of controlling the situation, something many residents find
annoying and financially burdensome.
Grasslands:
A conservation area exists at the shoreline devoted to preservation of pre-settlement
grassland and other plant life. Access is voluntarily restricted, with a four foot wire fence
surrounding the preserve and an opening with a sign explaining its use and the activities
allowed within the area. The preserve is maintained by volunteers in three scheduled
visits per year.
Heartland-on-the-Lake Stand:
Food for sale at the lake is limited to a small food stand operated by a local restaurant. Its
fare is consistent with the health conscious offerings of the main restaurant, which is
located two blocks away. The close proximity allows a pretty consistent stocking
arrangement and some flexibility of staffing. It operates only in summer. There are also
ice cream and elotes push carts operated by private citizens.
36
Artists of the wall:
A concrete retaining wall poured into a bench configuration extends about 200 feet along
one of the beaches. It is sandblasted clean each spring and a contest is held among local
artists who each pay a small fee to paint a four foot section of the wall. There are no
limits on design outside of profanity and gang symbols. The result is a variegated edifice
with images that range from small children’s handprints to discussions of political topics.
The event is an annual tradition and extends for two days.
Other Parks
Pottawattamie Park:
Pottawattomie Park, located in the Rogers Park neighborhood, offers baseball, basketball,
bridge club, dance, floor hockey, soccer, step aerobics, track & field, tumbling, a teen
club, volleyball, Black History Month celebrations, holiday parties and special events for
Chicago Public School non-attendance days.
Pottawatomie Park also sponsors Park Kids, Park Voyagers, and Camp 3-D programs.
The Park Kids after-school program gives kids with working parents a supervised place
to learn new sports and music, do arts & crafts, have a quiet area for homework, and gain
socialization skills. The Park Voyagers program, a collaboration with Museums in the
Parks, introduces families to museums. Camp 3-D is a sports and arts camp available at
the end of summer, after standard day camps conclude.
About nine acres, the park is comprised of three baseball fields, a combination footballsoccer field, four basketball standards, two tennis courts, two playgrounds including a
spray pool. The air-conditioned field house contains a fitness center, racquetball court,
gymnasium, kitchen, and four club rooms.
Touhy Park:
Touhy Park covers about six acres, with two softball fields, a football field, two tennis
courts, and two playgrounds. A small field house allows children to participate in a
number of activities.
Weekly programming focuses on early childhood recreation (18 months-5 years) during
the morning hours. After school programming for ages 7-12 offers a variety of sports,
such as flag football, floor hockey and wrestling, and fun dancing and crafts activities.
Planning for new programming is currently underway.
37
The park’s playground has a sandbox and there are four outdoor basketball courts and a
volleyball court.
Paschen Park:
During the school year, Paschen Park offers an after-school program for ages 6-12 that
combines drama, arts & crafts, gymnastics, sports, game room and homework hour.
Computers are available to participants.
Cultural programs at Paschen Park include arts and crafts, play production and dance
such as hip-hop, tap, and jazz. There is also track and field, floor hockey, recreational
tumbling, co-recreational volleyball, and basketball and summer day camp.
Berger Park:
Berger Park is a Lakefront location at the south edge of the neighborhood, somewhat
isolated by Loyola University’s campus and a curve of Sheridan Road. A new playground
was erected in 2005, and the facilities include an old home that is rented to the
community for events, though some residents consider rates excessive. Berger is very
well maintained and is a popular reception facility.
Berger offers acting classes, bridge, various exercise classes, music, jewelry, dance,
pottery, computer use, writing, and yoga.
Warren Park:
Warren Park lies at the western edge of Rogers Park, and is spread over more than eighty
nine acres. Its many amenities include batting cages and a nine-hole golf course. A skate
park with features such as quarter pipes and street spines offer a quality alternative to
parking lots and streets. Winter sports include a skating rink and a sled hill.
Warren also offers drum and photography classes, and team sports such as volleyball and
basketball. Warren is less focused on crafts than other parks, and is an unusual
opportunity to play golf in an urban setting. There are also nearly two miles of walking
trails around the golf course.
Other facilities:
In addition to centers for programmed activities, the Chicago Park District maintains nine
play lots, ten named beaches, and two “open space” parks. There is also a Chicago Public
Library, and Loyola University allows some access to its library facilities.
38
Health Status
_____________________________________________________________________
Community Health is more than the absence of illness and disease. A community’s
health can be best measured by its physical, mental and social wellness. There are certain
quality of life indicators that can help us to predict how well the community is (access to
early prenatal care for instance). For Rogers Park to be truly a well community, efforts
need to be made to promote health, prevent illness/disease, reduce risks for injury and
environmental hazards, and most of all, to remove barriers to care so that every
individual may have access to primary, preventative care and medications.
Maternal and Infant Statistics
While Chicago experienced a 43% drop in the rate of women receiving no prenatal care
over the 10 year period from 1993 to 2003, Rogers Park almost doubled its rate, with an
81% increase in the rate of women receiving no prenatal care. Out of 77 Chicago
community areas, Rogers Park had the 10th highest rate of women receiving no prenatal
care. Many women do not receive care until their third trimester, when the benefit of
prenatal care is greatly reduced. Women who do not receive adequate early prenatal care
are more likely to give birth to low birth-weight babies. This trend was accompanied by
a 22% increase in the number of foreign born residents living in Rogers Park, with 43%
of the households speaking a language other than English at home (Census 2000). There
has been a steady increase in the number of births to teenage mothers in Rogers Park.
According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, it has nearly doubled during the
past decade.
39
Mortality
Mortality is defined as the relative frequency of deaths in a specific population.
Rogers Park ranks in the top ten percent of Chicago’s community areas for deaths from
preventable respiratory diseases. The community ranks third in deaths from influenza
and pneumonia and eighth in its rate of deaths from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD).
Chicago’s leading causes of death in 2003 were heart disease, cancer, stroke, accidents,
and diabetes. Rogers Park ranks in the top 25% of Chicago’s community areas for deaths
from cancer, and even higher for lung cancer, ranking 14th out of 77 community areas.
Mortality rates also show Rogers Park to rank in the top third of Chicago’s community
areas for deaths rates from heart disease (22nd out of 77 areas), diabetes (28th out of 77
areas), and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (22nd out of 77 areas). All rankings were
based on age-adjusted rates which are not influenced by the age distribution of individual
community areas.
Morbidity
Morbidity is defined as the proportion of sickness related to a specific disease in a
geographical locality.
Rogers Park’s rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) are high relative to other
areas of Chicago. Rogers Park has the 7th highest rate of syphilis and ranks 13th in its rate
of AIDS cases. The community falls in the top quarter of Chicago areas for deaths from
HIV with a ranking of 19 out of 77 community areas. Rogers Park ranks in the top half
(34th out of 77 areas) for rates of gonorrhea and Chlamydia, the leading bacterial STI’s.
Although the number of newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases in Chicago is at an all-time
low, Rogers Park ranks in the top half (34th out of 77 community areas) for TB cases.
Chicago has one of highest lead poisoning rates in the U.S. Rogers Park ranks in the top
half (36th out of 77 community areas) for children with elevated lead screenings.
Childhood Obesity
Chicago’s kindergarten-aged children have a rate of obesity that is double the national
average. Children living in Chicago’s predominantly minority neighborhoods are
overweight at three to four times the national average. The Consortium to Lower Obesity
in Chicago Children (CLOCC) selected Rogers Park as one of six community areas for
program development and implementation aimed at addressing the problem of childhood
obesity in those communities with a high prevalence of the problem.
Pediatric Asthma
Asthma morbidity has been found to be especially sensitive to poverty. It is estimated
that 21.4% of the Rogers park population live below poverty level (2000 Census). This
number has been creeping upward since 1970. The percentage of the Rogers Park
population living below poverty level in 1970 = 8.1%, 1980 = 15.8%, 1990 = 18.5%,
2000 = 21.3.
40
At Jordan Elementary School in Rogers Park, 95% of the students are from low income
families. Gale Elementary School in Rogers Park has 85% of the student population
coming from low income families. The state average is 39% (Greatschools.net).
Asthma Among Medicaid Recipients in Zip Code 60626
Percentage of Patients with Appropriate Kids
Medication Use
Adults
Kids
Percentage of Recipients with Regular
Physician Visits
Adults
Kids
Hospitalization Rate of Medicaid
Recipients by Zip Code (per 1000)
Adults
46.22
43.22
54.44
61.05
109.24
110.17
Source: The University of Chicago Asthma Center
Among Medicaid recipients in the community with asthma, only an estimated 47% of the
children demonstrated appropriate asthma medication use, 55% of the children regularly
visited a physician for asthma treatment or follow up, and the hospitalization rate for
asthma of these same children was 109.24/1000 (U of C, 2004).
The Illinois asthma morbidity rate was 0.8 per 100,000 children, ranking it higher than
the national average of 0.3 per 100,000 children (CDC, 2002). The asthma
hospitalization rate for all of Chicago is nearly double the national average (Defeating
Asthma in Chicago, 2005). Hospitalization rates due to asthma for Medicaid recipient
children ages 3 to 17 are even higher for the two zip codes in Rogers Park. The 60626
zip code has 74% greater incidence than the national average during 1998-1999. The
60645 zip code was 70% higher than the national average during the same time period
(Chicago Asthma Atlas & CDC).
Child and Adolescent Injuries
According to The Child Health Data Lab at Children’s Memorial Research Center, the
total hospitalization rate for unintentional injuries for Rogers Park children is 281.2
(rate/100,000). The city of Chicago rate is 186.7. For intentional injuries, the city’s rate
is about 45.4, whereas Rogers Park rate is 51.6.
41
Source: Chicago Health Data Lab
This may mean more child safety education is needed both at the well child visit and to
the community in general. Assuring that children under 18 y/o have a medical home
where child safety education can occur as part of the anticipatory guidance outlined by
the American Academy of Pediatrics would be key. Effort to identify children at risk for
child abuse would also be important.
Members of the Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park have worked with Children’s
Memorial Hospital’s Child Window Fall Coalition in an effort to put forth legislation to
mandate window safety devices in rental units. Approximately 75% of all the housing in
Rogers Park is rental units. About 4670 children (7.9% of the total Rogers Park
population) are under 5 y/o in Rogers Park. Children under six years old are at greatest
risk for window falls. Rogers Park has been a community identified by Children’s
Memorial Hospital to be at high risk for window falls (Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers
Park)
Women’s Health
Per the 2000 census, there were 19,352 women (30% of the total population of Rogers
Park) between the ages of 18-65 living in Rogers Park. Access to women’s health is vital
to the health and well being of the women living in the community.
Currently there are no health care providers and/or clinics receiving Title X Federal
funding for women’s reproductive health care including contraceptive services and
education, pregnancy testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections in Rogers
42
Park. Therefore, low-income women must travel out of the community for free women’s
reproductive health care such as contraceptive services, STI screenings and pap smears.
Furthermore, the Title X program has always provided family planning services to
adolescents. In fact, in 1978, Congress amended the Title X program to “place special
emphasis on preventing pregnancies among sexually active adolescents”. Title X funding
also provides free and/or low cost breast and cervical cancer screenings for all women.
Hospitalization
Although the leading causes of hospitalization in Chicago are for delivery of an infant
and heart disease, Rogers Park residents are most likely to be hospitalized for mental
disorders that are not drug or alcohol related. Consistent with aforementioned mortality
and morbidity data, residents of Rogers Park have higher rates of hospitalization for
pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and infectious diseases.
Gaps in Health Care
In Chicago, 2002, it was estimated that 19.9% of the population was deemed uninsured
and “medically needy”. In Rogers Park, 2002, approximately 30% of the population was
uninsured and “medically needy” (CDPH, “Casting Chicago’s Health Care Safety Net”).
These numbers do not include persons who work and are without health insurance and
whose income exceeds 200% over poverty level. According to 2005 Metro Chicago
Information Center (MCIC) estimates, 17,775 persons or 27% of the total population of
Rogers Park are non-citizens. According to a MCIC 2010 projection, the numbers of noncitizens in the Rogers Park community could increase by 8.1%. Non-citizens, who are
not permanent residents, do not qualify for state funded health insurance programs and
are not likely to have health insurance.
The numbers of “medically needy” in Chicago declined less than 1% from 1990 to 2000.
But for Rogers Park, from 1990 to 2000, there was an 8.3% increase in the number of
“medically needy” residents.
Medically needy is defined by calculating the population under 65y/o who have family
incomes under 200% poverty and then subtracting the number of Chicagoans enrolled in
the State’s Medicaid program in 2002. The outcome will be a reasonable estimate of the
low-income uninsured or under-insured. (Serving Chicago’s “Underserved: Regional
Health Systems Profile, October, 2005”).
According to the CDPH, The North Region of Chicago, where Rogers Park exists, there
were six new community centers added between 1990 and 2000. The North Region is
comprised of eight community areas, but more than half of the safety net providers are
located in the Uptown community. Rogers Park currently has only one center, added to
the community in October, 2001.
Also of interest, 63% of the North Region’s safety net patients (patients using community
based safety net sites) were uninsured in 2002. The North Region had the largest
percentage of uninsured patients across the city’s seven regions (Citywide 48% of safety
net patients lacked health insurance). And the North Region’s safety net providers cared
for the highest proportion of the uninsured patients when compared to the other six
regions. Lastly, The CDPH reports that the North Region is home to 18% of the city’s
medically needy, but only 10% of safety net system capacity.
43
Access to Medications
Access to truly affordable medications remains one of the most common barriers to
wellness for the Rogers Park uninsured. St. Francis clinic has no pharmaceutical
program in place for the uninsured. Evanston – Rogers Park has a reduced cost
pharmaceutical program, but “reduced” cost, for many patients is not enough of a price
reduction to make purchasing medications affordable.
For most patients requiring two or more medications, as is the case for many diabetics
who take up to six medications a day to control the disease, Cook County Hospital
pharmacy and clinic remains their only viable option. This means a community resident
must travel 15.2 miles on two buses and a train to see yet another doctor who can
prescribe the very same medications the community clinic doctor prescribed. This results
in a wasteful duplication of service and patients endure eight to twelve hour waits to see
an initial physician. Then the patient often waits another few days for the medications to
be ready to be picked up at the Cook County pharmacy (Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers
Park).
A new pharmaceutical mail order service is now available to chronic illness medication
refills, but if the patient’s dosage has been changed, the patient has to repeat the cycle of
going down to Cook County Hospital all over again. Rogers Park residents also report
concerns related to having medications being delivered to broken mailboxes in large
apartment complexes etc. Medications for acute illnesses require a visit to Cook County
Hospital clinics and a wait for up to eight hours in the out-patient pharmacy line, and
certain pain medication, narcotics, can’t be mailed in the US Mail (Neighbors for a
Healthy Rogers Park).
44
Phase II – Health Focus: “Affordable
Health Care for All”
Qualitative Data: Community Perspectives
________________________________________________________________________
As part of our community health needs assessment 18 community leadership interviews
were done in an attempt to fully understand the strengths, challenges and complex needs
of the community. Leaders were identified by members of the Neighbors for a Healthy
Rogers Park for their commitment, work and unique insights into what makes Rogers
Park work and what limits Rogers Park. Community leaders were chosen from various
organizations representing the eight subsystems identified in the community wheel
subsystems. We made a special effort to reach out to existing health care providers and
leaders who currently serve Rogers Park residents.
Community leadership interviews were done using a semi-formal interviewing style.
Four central questions were asked, and if the opportunity presented itself, more questions
were solicited in an effort to clarify and expand on individuals thoughts. The questions
are purposely open ended. Whenever possible we attempted to ask questions to illustrate
complex concepts. Questions related to health and specific health care needs of the
community were incorporated into each interview at varying depths depending on the
interviewee’s background.
•
•
•
•
What does community health mean to you?
What are Rogers Park assets?
What are Rogers Park challenges/obstacles?
What is your vision for the future of Rogers Park
.
A few central themes came up during the leadership interviews. Almost all of the leaders
interviewed understood community health to include not only physical health, but
psychological, emotional and spiritual wellness as well. Quality of life was identified as
a means to abstractly measure community health. “The community is healthy if at the end
of the day, its members can perform activities of daily life, learn something new, not be
harmed, laugh or be amused by something or someone, interact or communicate with the
world around him/her and fall asleep with a fundamental assurance the next day will
bring forth a continued connection to an individual, family, community and the greater
world”.
Community leaders identified the people of Rogers Park as its strongest asset.
Many community assets were identified by the leadership. The community’s cultural,
ethnic, and economic diversity was a key asset identified by all. Paradoxically,
preserving the community’s diversities was identified as one of the greatest challenges
for the future. One leader commented “in order to preserve our greatest community
treasure, our diversity, we must find ways to stabilize the housing market to ensure
members from every economic group can afford to live here”.
Another key asset identified by the community leadership was transportation. CTA buses
and trains connect Rogers Park residents to employment, educational, cultural and
recreational opportunities all over Chicago and the suburbs. A couple of interviewees
45
mentioned that a CTA bus to run along Ridge would be beneficial for school children and
residents wishing to access St. Francis and Evanston Hospitals (located on Ridge in
Evanston).
The community was described by a few to be “walkable” in that, it is fairly easy to find
what you need within walking distance in most of the neighborhoods. Though some
identified the “walkability” of the community as an asset, many leaders thought more
should be done to make the community “pedestrian friendly” to encourage walking as a
form of physical activity. Designating “walking paths” to schools and business areas was
suggested. Expanding bike paths along the lakefront and within the community itself to
encourage bicycling as a form of physical activity was also mentioned. An idea to close
off certain streets on Sundays to give individuals and families opportunities to walk, bike
and roller blade together was suggested. Interestingly, one leader thought more should be
done to create a method of transportation using the lakefront waterway in the form of a
“water taxi” system downtown.
Gentrification was viewed as both an asset and a challenge depending on who the
interviewee was. But, all leaders interviewed agreed that there should be a development
plan in place to balance more affluent owner occupied housing with affordable rental unit
housing. All agreed that landlords need to be responsible to maintain their properties so
that the community can take on a more aesthetic character.
Employment within the community was a concern for most people interviewed. The
abundance of low paying service jobs without benefits was articulated as a concern.
Almost all interviewed mentioned concerns about workers without health insurance, and
the long term effects the lack of health insurance will have on the community and its
individual members in terms of quality of life. The economic burden on society for
caring for persons with debilitating illness created by long term neglect of personal health
due to lack of access to affordable health care was mentioned by a few leaders. Creating
a more comprehensive community health education outreach program was viewed as
necessary.
Many leaders thought that manufacturing jobs such as those provided by long time
community employer, S&C Electric were essential for the overall economic stability of
the community. S&C Electric was referred to as an employer well invested in both the
community and its residents. Loyola University was mentioned several times by leaders
as being a just and fair employer, offering college tuition reimbursement and a generous
benefit package.
Crime/personal safety was another challenge believed to exist within the community.
Gangs, guns and drugs are viewed as major obstacles for community development. The
war on drugs and its social implications resonated throughout many interviews. The lack
of in-patient and out-patient drug and alcohol programs were sited repeatedly as an
urgent community need. Currently, the closest affordable treatment programs exist on
the west side of the city. CAPS, the community policing program, have been somewhat
successful in bringing together community members and local police officers to work as
one to make the community safer. Efforts such as youth outreach attempts by the police
to create a youth run beat meeting were viewed as a community asset as well as Cease
Fire, a community based anti-gun violence outreach program.
Education, especially at the high school level was verbalized as a serious challenge by
most people interviewed. Issues such as underperformance on standardized tests, being
on the state’s Academic Warning List, overcrowding, gang presence, safety, the lack of
46
closed campus policy, mandatory uniforms and parental involvement were concerns
identified.
The health care providers interviewed said the greatest barriers to care were lack of
affordable medications, diagnostics and specialists. Health care providers said their
greatest frustrations are trying to diagnose a health problem without diagnostic testing
support services (like x-rays, MRI’s etc.) and knowing that the prescriptions they give to
patients to treat health problems will most likely never be filled in many cases. Other
concerns were the lack of ability to educate patients about preventative care due to time
constraints. The ability to communicate with patients due to language barriers was also
mention.
The lack of youth programming was frequently seen as a challenge for Rogers Park by
persons interviewed. Children ages 11 -14 are often not eligible for after school
programming. A Boys/Girls Club with a variety of cultural, artistic, academic and
athletic opportunities could be a possible solution verbalized by some community leaders.
It is hoped that the planned Gale Park community center, will accommodate some of the
youth programming needs identified.
47
Community Leadership Interview
________________________________________________________________________
Title: Medical Director (also served as Medical Director at Evanston-Rogers Park
Access Family Health Center from 2000 -2004).
Organization: Misericordia
Type of Interview: Written
Key Findings:
A healthy community has people whose basic needs are cared for and met. Those needs
include jobs, housing, safety, nutrition, education and health care (medical, dental and
mental health) among others. Mutual respect, delight in other peoples talents and
cultures, and empathy for their difficulties are also evident in a healthy community.
What are Rogers Park’s assets?
Many people choose to live in Rogers Park because they want to be part of an ethically
and racially diverse, culturally and artistically vibrant community. So the people are the
main asset. The Howard Area Community Center, the Rogers Park Community Council,
DevCorp and the two SSAs, Access Community Health Network’s health center, St.
Francis Hospital’s health center, Trilogy and the Alderman and his office are some of the
community’s resources.
What are some of Rogers Park’s challenges?
Poverty, drugs, and violence and the discouragement caused by those problems.
What is your vision for the future of Rogers Park?
That it continue to grow toward being a community where people come together to assure
the well-being of each other by supporting initiatives for jobs, housing, safety, nutrition,
education, and health care.
What are the health care needs in Rogers Park?
We have routine health care needs such as immunizations, lead screening, and
developmental screenings for children, and cancer and cholesterol screenings in adults,
the care of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, depression and other mental
illnesses, HIV/AIDS, and obesity.
To attend to these needs we need significantly more access to primary care. We also
need some access to specialty care and diagnostic testing. Besides the access to primary
care, we need access to basic medications used to treat acute and especially chronic
illnesses. The diagnosis without the medication is nearly useless in many situations.
Access to affordable exercise facilities and healthy food, as well as culturally aware
nutrition and exercise counseling would also go a long way toward meeting the health
care needs of the community.
48
________________________________________________________________________
Title: Former Private High School Principal
Organization: St. Scholastica High School
Type of Interview: Phone
Date: August 13, 2006
Key Findings:
What does “community health” mean to you?
Community health is having accessible health services, reasonably attained for the
uninsured that may need “system assistance”. Community Health Clinics need to be
multilingual in a location with easy access to transportation. Two of the most prevalent
health problems I saw as principal of St. Scholastica High School were obesity and
asthma. It seems as though students need help making healthier eating choices and they
need more physical activity.
What are Rogers Park’s Assets?
•
Diversity. Rogers Park has an international quality. People in Rogers Park are
more welcoming than in other communities. There are populations of highly
educated people who choose to live in Rogers Park; they are an asset.
•
There are many active organizations in Rogers Park which do good works. RPCC
and DevCorp are two of them. The Bernard Horowitz Center sponsored by the
Jewish community has contributed much to the community.
•
Top educational institutions like Loyola University, Northwestern University and
St. Scholastica High School are assets to Rogers Park.
•
We have financial institutions which assist the community by supporting local
businesses. Devon Bank is one of the finest neighborhood financial institutions.
•
Rogers Park has a variety of artistic ventures. We have the Center for cultural
dance studio. The art community represents artists from many different forms of
art from graphic art to music and dance. Rogers Park does capitalize on its
international qualities especially in the artistic arena.
What are Rogers Park’s challenges?
•
Communication can be an obstacle at times. At St. Scholastica High School, 45
different languages are spoken by the students and their parents. 53% of the
student’s primary languages are other than English.
•
Trying to hold multilingual meetings can be challenging at times. I wonder if
communication problems r/t a multilingual community prevents coordination
between groups and projects.
49
•
Rogers Park websites are an effective way to communicate for persons with
computers. The local churches help facilitate communication too through their
weekly bulletins and announcements.
•
Rogers Park has a limited amount of manufacturing jobs and/or jobs which
provide a decent wage and benefits. S&C Electric in West Rogers Park has been
up and running for almost as long as our monastery (close to 100yrs). But they
are the only large business in Rogers Park that I can think of.
•
Affordable housing in light of the current revitalization of Rogers Park is an
obstacle. As where we all want new housing opportunities, we need to make sure
there is also affordable housing for low income families.
•
Crime and personal safety remains an obstacle for Rogers Park. We have been
fortunate at the Monastery and the school in that we have had to deal with only a
few episodes of minor crime.
•
Lack of transportation on Ridge Avenue is a barrier for students trying to access
schools located on or near Ridge. It can be a barrier for persons trying to access
physicians and hospitals (St. Francis and ENH) located on Ridge too.
What are your hopes and dreams for Rogers Park?
•
An improved quality of life manifested by improvements in housing, though not
at the expense of affordable housing.
•
I would like to see strong education systems in place, especially at the public high
school level. Rogers Park needs a model high school representative of the rich
group of multicultural people who live here.
•
Good opportunities for meaningful employment are another quality of life dream I
want for Rogers Park.
•
And, lastly, I wish Rogers Park residents’ good health. We can do this by
improving access to affordable health care for all.
50
________________________________________________________________________
Title: Activist
Organization: Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park
Type of Interview: In Person
Date: September 29th 2006
Key Findings:
•
A healthy community understands it own population. It uses that awareness to
anticipate needs and confront them with an effective plan.
•
Neighborhood health should include Medical Homes within the community for
the majority of residents.
•
The people of Rogers Park.
•
Rogers Park has a strong community activist tradition, which helps deal with
certain kinds of problems.
•
Its economic and racial diversity make Rogers Park ideal for genuine co-mingling
of cultures. This promotes the shared experiences that lead to tolerance and
understanding.
•
Affordable housing has attracted many good and creative people.
•
Working people forced out by gentrification.
•
A public education system that is failing its students.
•
Limited health resources and over 30% of the community currently without health
insurance
•
“Medically Underserved” status.
•
One thing we need to do is begin proper training for residents in our community
policing program. The CAPS program in Rogers Park is supposed to be on a
Problem Solving format but needs to use this training to work. Right now
consistent problems don't receive the tracking and accountability that really stops
persistent crime.
51
“The time to build a community that works for the majority of people living here is now.
The lack of health resources, for example is a chance to find new ways to meet the needs
of our diverse population. The same is true of crime and education. This community can
and should do much more for itself.”
52
________________________________________________________________________
Title: Community Activist
Organizations: Illinois Healthcare Now; Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park
Type of Interview: In person
Key Findings:
•
Community Health is having adequate facilities and services to meet the needs of
the uninsured, underinsured and the self-employed. Rogers Park is home to many
artists who work in the service industry and do not receive health care benefits.
Many of them are forced to utilize Cook County Health Care services, and have
not received the best of care. An acquaintance of mine recently injured her hand
on the job, and required wound care. She went to Cook County for treatment.
After the doctor treated her injury, someone came into the room and told her she
needs to bandage her own hand and apply her own splint. Institutionally there
currently isn’t a way to deal with persons of different cultures who have complex
medical problems. Local support for persons with serious illness isn’t present.
Unless someone has an intact social network, they have to deal with their illness
in isolation.
•
There is a waitress who works at a local café who is dealing with serious cancer
and who goes to Cook County for treatments. She is here from the Ukraine, by
herself, and her family is unable to come here to care for her now. The local
community is hosting a benefit to raise money for her living expenses while she is
undergoing treatment. Without the local community working together to help her,
where would she be? And how many other people are out there, in the same
situation, dealing with a major illness in isolation, without support?
What are Rogers Park’s Challenges?
•
Crime/Personal Safety - I have neighbors who have been victims of gooning. A
gooning occurs when someone is assaulted by 4 or more teens without the
intent to rob. There have been shootings recently. Ceasefire works in the
community by organizing public safety walks, and I go to those. Psychologically,
living in a community where crime and personal safety are constant issues leaves
me and the greater community nervous, on edge and anxious. Quality of life is
impaired. I can see crime and fear of being a crime victim as a barrier to medical
care. Morse Avenue would be an ideal site for a new clinic, but many
neighborhood people are afraid to walk down Morse because of the drug dealers
and the goonings.
•
Youth - Rogers Park is an unhealthy community in that there is a lack of attention
paid to youth. School aged kids and teens are idle, just hanging out without the
structure of after school programs. “They lack the positive expression of self
through sports, the arts and culture”.
53
What are Rogers Park’s Obstacles?
•
Diversity of Population is Rogers Park’s greatest asset.
•
Living in such a diverse community helps to break down barriers of all kinds.
The Rogers Park community appreciates different cultures.
•
Rogers Park is a welcoming community. There is an openness, acceptance and
respect for people from every avenue of life.
•
Rogers Park is home to many artist and persons with artistic endeavors. Artist
bring with them a creative energy which work well in Rogers Park. Artists have
unique ways of looking at the world, the community and others.
How do organizations in Rogers Park work together?
•
Unfortunately groups often work in isolation, replicating efforts of other groups.
Sometimes organizations act in territorial ways; this impedes progress. Working
in isolation brings about small changes. By working together and networking
with each other groups, could potentially facilitate changes with much greater
impact. Greater change could be an outcome of an effort to collaborate with each
other.
•
An example of a group who has worked well with other groups, and has
accomplished much in the process is the “Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park”.
The NHRP have worked successfully with community residents, politicians, local
health care providers and others to improve access to health care for the
uninsured.
•
The Universal Health Care/Single Payer Referendum group I belong to has had
success looking for a larger legislative answer to the lack of access to affordable
health care epidemic. It is a longer term project specifically aimed at looking for
solutions to rising health care costs for all.
•
I would like to see at least one new clinic placed in Rogers Park to bring
affordable health care to the 20,000 uninsured residents of Rogers Park.
•
I would like to see an effective CAPS Program implemented in Rogers Park
which would include the community in strategizing.
•
I would like to see the implementation of many more youth programs to foster
positive expression of youth through sports, the arts and culture.
“Rogers Park has tremendous potential for good, but has steep blocks to climb to provide
access to care and services”.
54
________________________________________________________________________
Title: Nurse Practioner
Organization: Sullivan High School Health Center
Key Findings:
Community Health is health care which is delivered in the community/neighborhood. It
is accessible and affordable. Community health should be delivered in languages the
community understands. Community health should be sensitive to all the cultures
represented in the community. It should also be mindful of specific needs related to age
and gender.
•
Its diversity is its greatest asset.
•
There are a core of community leaders that truly care for the community and its
people.
•
Regarding health care, there are gaps in care which impact people’s health. We
have limited primary care, so we can initiate care. But we have no access to
specialty care and diagnostics. So if someone needs an x-ray or an MRI, there is
nothing we can do for them at the community level. We are forced to send them
to Cook County Hospital where they wait all day, are seen by a physician who
does exactly what we just did in the community, and then the patient gets his xray. So there is duplication of physician services which is a waste. Same thing
goes for when someone needs to see an eye doctor. We have to send them 16
miles away to Cook County Hospital, they wait all day, are seen by a primary care
doctor or nurse practioner, like me and then they get a referral to see an eye
doctor in 4 or 5 months.
•
There is a huge gap in access to medicines.
•
We see patients who have chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension, tell
them their disease is out of control, hand them a wad of prescriptions which sit in
a drawer at home because the patient can’t afford to buy them. They eventually
become seriously ill, end up in the emergency room and/or admitted to a local
hospital and receive a bill they cannot pay in a lifetime.
•
We can send them to Cook County for their medicines, but then they have to wait
all day to see yet another doctor to evaluate them and prescribe the medicines.
And afterwards they must continue to receive care at Cook County rather than in
the community.
55
How does your organization contribute to community health?
Sullivan High School Based Clinic delivers primary care services mostly to adolescents
who attend Sullivan High School.
What works in Rogers Park?
Informal “word of mouth communication” especially amongst the Latina women in the
community, works well. Latina women are tight knit and close. They tend to take care
of each other.
I would like to see a Youth Center built in Rogers Park which would have a large
activities program, social services and a teen health clinic all built into one building.
Teens need a “wrap around” approach to their care.
56
________________________________________________________________________
Title: Community Activist/Volunteer Tutor/Howard Area Community Center Senior
Club Moderator
Organization: Howard Area Community Center
What does “Community Health” mean to you?
A healthy community is more than “not sick”. Wellness occurs when information is
healthy and available for all. A holist approach to creating a well community is what
works best. Wellness has more than one aspect - spiritual, physical, emotional, and
psychological aspects to name a few.
•
Good transportation is an asset. Having access to both the bus and “el” is
convenient.
•
Communication is an asset too. There are many organizations that help get the
word out through various venues… computer, word of mouth, at churches and
through groups. Unfortunately many organizations have separate missions and
the missions overlap at times. Some organizations compete for funding too.
•
Rogers Park has many coalitions all over the community. An example of a
coalition which worked well was the CAPS pilot project in Rogers Park. Because
of the collaborations of many different groups we were able to start CAPS in
Rogers Park. CAPS met monthly to discuss crime and ways to prevent crime.
There were citizen leadership training opportunities through CAPS trainings.
Public relations improved between the police and the residents.
•
Another example of various groups coming together to collaborate in a positive
way can be seen with the Gale Park Field House Project. The community has
been working for the park community center for over five years. Just recently
ground has been broken. The Field House project would include structured
programs for youth, adults, seniors and teens. These are sorely needed programs.
•
Another asset is the variety of community businesses, restraints, and grocery
stores. In my opinion Rogers Park needs to expand on or highlight the
internationality of the cultural based businesses. They are a major asset to the
community. For example, I was traveling through the state of Washington not
long ago, and ran across a small town were the major factory closed and moved
out of the county. The leadership of the town monopolized on the specific
German cultural influences of the citizens of the town and developed a “Germantown” atmosphere with German bars, restaurants, stores, artists and other
culturally owned businesses.
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•
One of the greatest obstacles we have in Rogers Park is the lack of structured
programs for youth ages 11-14 y/o. After school programs pick up the need for
the school aged kids up to age 11. From 5pm to 9pm there are no programs for
kids. Many of their parents are not home from work at these hours, so the
children are unsupervised.
•
Another obstacle we have is the lack of a second High School to lessen the
crowdedness at Sullivan High School. There are way too many kids at Sullivan
and too much of a gang influence. The Sullivan High School needs a closed
campus to protect the students there. The grammar school children do not receive
the individualization many of them desperately need...
•
We need more businesses willing to hire Rogers Park residents for manufacturing
jobs. We have service jobs available, but they are low paying and without
benefits.
•
We need to develop the international and cultural flavor of the community
through businesses.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future of Rogers Park?
I would like to see a community equal in culture and accessibility for all cultures to
business, health, and education. I would like our image to continue to be a welcoming
one for anyone who would like to live here. That means we need to work together. We
need to steer the housing market forces in Rogers Park to curb gentrification and provide
affordable housing to residents who have lived here all of their lives. The displacement
of long time Rogers Park residents needs to stop. We need a mixed housing community
where everyone feels welcomed.
Rogers Park religious groups need to come together and work on common goals. We
have such a diverse group of religious institutions in Rogers Park. We should do more to
work with each other in the future.
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Community Activist
Type of Interview: Phone Interview
Date: October 2, 2006
Key Findings:
What comes to mind when you think of “community health”?
•
Cook County Hospital: place where community can go and get services
Where she’s been receiving health care, don’t have to pay
They have ambulatory care clinic where anyone can walk in
ER: long waits b/c anyone from county can come
•
On Community Level:
Evanston Rogers Park on Howard Street (caring staff and she appreciates that
They call people to remind them of appointments.
•
Board of Health Clinics throughout city
•
Cook County Hospital Assets?
- Don’t have to pay
- Good doctors committed to providing quality services
•
Obstacles?
- Has waited to be seen for 23 hours, it has gotten a bit better if you have an
appointment
- Wait hours to find out if medicines are ready
- Wait two weeks for medicines
- Don’t care enough about customer services and people’s time
What are some of Rogers Park’s assets?
•
Caring community, focused on doing health care, legitimately concerned with
infant mortality and stuff like that, agencies are genuinely concerned
What are some obstacles, or challenges that Rogers Park faces?
•
•
Rogers Park could use another free, or low cost (sliding scale) clinic is needed
because grants run out
Would like to see the following in a clinic…
- Clinic should be easily acceptable by public transportation (bus/train line)
- Accessible to people with disabilities (not on a second floor without an
elevator)
- Make hours flexible so people working can come (have a night or two a week
where staff works late, and definitely be open on Saturdays)
- Dental and eye care component would be great
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-
Affordable drug options
Space set aside in clinic for children to play with toys and books
Attach a fitness component (yoga/exercise)
Nutrition (especially with diabetics)
Mental health worker
Specialists at clinics, or at least rotating specialists who can come in from time
to time
Social worker connected to a clinic to meet needs outside of medical needs
(need clothes, domestic violence)
•
Would like to see the clinic collaborate with other organizations within the
community so access to specialists could be shared, etc. The networking is good
in Rogers Park, but this clinic must also network with other health care facilities
and social organizations to keep people informed of what can benefit them.
•
Would also like to see a community advisory board so the clinic can get feedback
from the clients they serve (ex. The staff is not congenial)
What is your dream for health care in Rogers Park?
That every person would be able to have health care. No one would have a problem.
Those who need eyeglasses would have eyeglasses. Open health care. No one would go
untreated who needed health care in Rogers Park. People don’t think about their teeth
and feet as much as other things. They also need to be able to afford drugs.
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Pastor
Organization: St. Ignatius Church
Key Findings:
What are Rogers Park’s Assets?
•
Diversity – Rogers Park is a community rich in diversity, cultural diversity as well
as religious diversity. There have always been good relationships between the
Christians, the Muslims and the Jewish faithful in Rogers Park. Many of the
poorer Jewish immigrants from Russia and Bosnia have found Rogers Park to be
a welcoming community.
•
Loyola University – The University has helped to stabilize the community in a
number of ways. Loyola has recently expanded their police patrols to include the
surrounding neighborhood. Community residents are grateful for this added
service. Loyola has always been a fair employer in the community; the students
occupy rental units around the university and provide a much needed economic
fabric to the area. Faculty members live in the community and contribute to the
social capital.
•
There exists a core of long time, multigenerational families who have welcomed
newcomers as part of their faith. This strong core group of community
residents/parishioners has worked to help the poor. We have a food pantry at St.
Ignatius, supported by parishioners who have a mission to help those in need.
Sadly, we have had a steady increase in the number of individuals and families
who need assistance from the food pantry. We adhere to geographic boundaries
as to who we can serve, so we know there are increasing numbers of people
struggling, financially, in the area.
•
Community groups and organizations work well together. CAPS is an example of
a community policing program that has successfully worked with organizations to
promote positive change in the area.
What are some of the challenges Rogers Park faces?
•
Youth Programs are needed in Rogers Park. At times, I wonder whether our
youth are falling through the cracks. There are Catholic Schools nearby, but not
everyone can afford them, and not every student can gain admission to a CPS
magnet school. The local high school seems to be struggling with overcrowding
and gang issues.
•
Access to mental health resources is another area that remains a challenge for
Rogers Park. Long term case management and a clinic where mental health
providers can treat the chronically mentally ill are needed.
Access to affordable health care for the uninsured is another area of need.
•
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•
Health care prevention programs are especially needed since many people are
uninsured. Early detection of behavioral/mental health issues can prevent many
sad outcomes.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
We need to maintain the ethnic and religious diversity of the community.
We need to work together to deal with crime in the area.
There is a commonality of interest and cohesion which occurs when we all work
for improved health care. Individuals, families and the community all gain.
In regards to housing, we need to work together to maintain the proper balance of
housing stock. Affordable rental housing as well as owner occupied housing
needs to exist here for the community to retain its character and expand upon its
history of being welcoming and a port of entry to anyone who wishes to live here.
We need to expand service for our youth.
We need local affordable health care for the uninsured.
We need mental health services and case management, substance abuse programs
and peer counseling programs
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Commissioner, 13th Cook County District
Organization: Cook County
Key Findings:
When I think of community health, I think of two things:
•
Traditional Public Health which studies the broader community trends such as
rising HIV infection rates, childhood lead poisoning, and poor early prenatal care
rates.
•
Community health also means the monitoring of access to adequate numbers of
medical personnel. Are individuals medical needs being addressed? Is the care
quality care? And is it affordable care?
•
Rogers Park’s greatest asset is a core group of citizens who challenge gangs,
government, landlords and other threats to the peacefulness of the community.
•
For instance, the citizens acquired the police camera pod to deter crime on this
very street.
•
Loyola University is a stable employer who employs community persons, pays
them fairly and provides benefits.
•
Lack of a stable business base. Rogers Park attracts small businesses like dollar
stores, but not the larger businesses which could potentially employ residents and
add economic vitality to the community.
•
Too many of the properties are run down and not properly cared for. Properties
are either in a state of extreme neglect, or are newly condo converted. These
types of properties do not really attract long term, rooted residents with a feeling
of ownership. Much of the properties are “transitional types of properties”.
•
A problem related to access to health is Rogers Park’s connection to Level one
trauma care. Currently Illinois Masonic dictates where trauma patients injured in
Rogers Park go. Illinois Masonic is approximately a 20+ minute ride from
Rogers Park - vs. - St. Francis Hospital which is a closer distance and could be a 5
to 10 minute ride.
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What is your vision for Rogers Park?
“I would like to see better health care coverage for the residents of Rogers Park in terms
of access to affordable primary health care services. I especially am interested in seeing
residents without insurance have access to care in their own community. The traditional
form of employer provided health insurance will disappear; it is a dinosaur. Only the
CEOs and the very wealthy will be able to afford it. We need to look for alternatives to
providing health insurance coverage for people”.
We spoke briefly about the new health care policy report published by the Institute for
Health Care Studies at Northwestern released yesterday. It urges the Cook County Board
to restructure how health care is delivered.
For instance, primary health care should be delivered in communities by Federally
Qualified Health Centers (exactly like the clinic we are trying to place in Rogers Park).
The Cook County Hospital and clinic systems should be used for specialty care. The
Commissioner strongly supports this recommendation.
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Executive Director
Organization: Rogers Park Community Council (RPCC)
Type of Interview: Telephone
Key Findings:
Health services and knowledge about health. Knowledge about health comes through
education.
People are Rogers Park’s greatest assets; they are smart, have a variety of backgrounds
and educational levels and have a unique energy. The location is an asset; Rogers Park is
in Chicago and a lakefront community. The diversity of the community gives it a unique
energy.
•
Housing is an ongoing challenge; specifically the cost of housing is the challenge.
Though I think it may be safe to predict a leveling off of condo construction.
There are unique problems associated with housing in Rogers Park. Developing
new housing while keeping some affordable housing available so lower income
families are not displaced is the challenge.
•
Crime continues to be a problem in RP. People want and need to feel safe.
Struggling small businesses are a challenge in RP. I think we have many of the
cute mom and pop stores, and we love to look at them. But are we shopping at
them?
•
We need more restaurants and places of entertainment. We need stores which sell
healthy foods at affordable prices. To be honest, I shop for fresh fruits and
vegetables in the suburbs.
•
Public education is in a state of chaos in RP. We have lots of kids; the schools are
overcrowded and under funded.
•
The lack of support services for persons with mental illness is a challenge.
Specifically persons with paranoid symptoms not taking their medications have
problems trying to live independently in community. They have problems
maintaining housing, employment and can fall through the cracks easily.
•
The mental health system needs to be revamped from head to toe. There needs to
be major public policy changes made related to long term mental health care for
persons with chronic mental health issues.
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I hope Rogers Park stays the neighborhood where people want to live. I hope the
community can maintain its unique diversity and that affordable housing will be available
to everyone who wishes to call Rogers Park home.
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Restaurant Owner/Community Activist
“Community Health is a dream”. Community Health happens when members of the
community care for all of its members, make room for new members and know the
members of the community. Community health is what keeps us all well.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Its variety of people.
Its proximity to the lake.
Its progressive populist history.
Its shared history amongst its members
Its walkability. It is easy to get around on foot or bike. I wouldn’t call it
pedestrian friendly; there is no place in the city really welcoming to pedestrians.
But you can live easily in Rogers Park without a car and still get around.
6. Core people who work together well are an asset.
7. Events work well in RP… some examples would be “Artist on the Wall”, The
Clark Street Festival, and any form of celebration works well.
8. Art, Theater and culture are RP gifts
1. Cynicism – cynicism forms a shield around how much we care. Cynicism is how
our selves protect self.
2. Politics is an obstacle – politics unfortunately disconnects and divides people. It
can sometimes divide good people who should be working together. Why can’t
liberals work with conservatives and democrats work with republicans? Our
political system is set up to cause divisiveness.
3. City bureaucracy often times does not support community efforts.
Preserving existing green space and adding additional green space in the community is
one of my hopes. Developing rooftop gardening is another. Adding walking paths and
bike paths would be good for the environment and everyone’s health.
Rogers Park needs more businesses. We could use small storefront businesses which
would offer some special uniqueness to Rogers Park. Art stores and book stores would
do well here. We need a local hardware store. We need multi-cultural stores,
independently owned. Creative businesses would thrive here. Look at the “Biz-Arts”
group here in Rogers Park; they just celebrated their 5th anniversary. BizArts is a group
of business owners who are in the Arts field, like gallery owners, restaurant owners, own
theater groups and the like. We also need more quality and affordable childcare in Rogers
Park.
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We could use more coffee shops and computer cafes. We need more businesses aimed at
young people. A well run video arcade would be ok if the owners had the intention of
serving youth in a positive manner.
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Alderman, 49th Ward of Chicago
1) What do you think of when you hear “community health”?
Ensuring that community residents have access to a wide range of services to meet both
their physical and mental needs.
The Alderman believes the county should expand health services, but there is not the
money to do so. He asked where the money for this federally funded clinic is coming
from. The interviewer explained that money would come from the Bureau of Primary
Care, Department of Health and Human Services, and that the funds would be
administered by Heartland Health Alliance. In 1999, Rogers Park was designated as a
medically underserved community by the federal government.
2) What are the assets of Rogers Park?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Diversity
Energy in grassroots organizations/community based organizations
Location: access to great public transportation, proximity to lake
Urban setting with a neighborhood feel
Little animosity/competition between large organizations
Collaboration between organizations is improving, especially among staff
3a) What are the obstacles in Rogers Park?
The Alderman prefers the word “challenge” instead of obstacle because all of these issues
can be overcome.
•
There have been changes within the community that can be very positive.
However, these changes must be channeled to maintain the unique flavor of
Rogers Park. Diversity must be embraced because it is what sets Rogers Park
apart from other communities in the nation. Yet, some changes are definitely
improvements, such as a reduction in crime. The challenge is to welcome the
improvements without losing the racial, economic, and cultural diversity of
Rogers Park.
•
Community activism is often a good thing. Free thinkers are attracted to Rogers
Park and bring a lot of energy, but sometimes this energy is negative. Such
negative energy leads to mistrust and cynicism that impede progress.
•
Converting property to condos has pluses and minuses. A plus is that these
conversions bring stability and ownership to the community. A negative is that
these conversions are replacing the people who used to live in the community
with higher-income people. The Alderman would like to maintain a diversity of
housing options for a variety of people to be able to own and rent, but the
dwindling resources make it difficult to do so.
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•
Marketing the diversity of Rogers Park has been suggested by some community
leaders. However, the Alderman fears that this would turn Rogers Park into some
sort of theme park where the diversity is a false tourist attraction, such as what
happened in Greek Town. In Greek Town, there are many Greek restaurants, but
the actual Greek population has moved out of the community. Similar things
have happened in the Puerto Rican community and in the gay and lesbian
communities. The Alderman wants to maintain authentic diversity by keeping the
current population in Rogers Park. The Alderman also stated the need for citywide direction by the mayor, and state and national help.
3b) What are some of the obstacles to health in Rogers Park?
•
There is more demand for health care than available health care. There are some
good health clinics in the area, but also a lot of unmet need.
•
There are health issues associated with low-income communities, such as a lack
of proper nutrition, treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, and affordable mental
health services. There are lots of mental health agencies, but there is still a need
for more. The isolation and unstable living conditions in Rogers Park breed
mental health problems.
3c) What are some of the obstacles to education in Rogers Park?
•
The Chicago Math and Science Academy has helped the education system
because it offers an option other than Sullivan.
•
Sullivan is overcrowded and although it has some good teachers, it has some
problems as well. When the Alderman was asked to comment on the value of
Sullivan having a closed campus and uniforms, he suggested those involved with
the school could better answer those questions.
•
The Alderman referred to some principals in the past at a variety of schools who
were probably not the most qualified for their positions.
4a) What is your vision for Rogers Park?
•
Maintain the economic, cultural, and racial diversity
•
Be a thriving example of how people of various backgrounds can live and work
together in peace
Rogers Park is on the cutting edge of the future of this country (a country of
minorities living with one another). Can we survive as a diverse nation? Are we
going to live in gated communities, or live together? In Rogers Park, every block
is different and such diversity is both rare and special.
•
4b) What does Rogers Park need more, or less of?
•
The Alderman does not think we need many more dollar stores, but the fact that
so many are in Rogers Park and doing well shows that there is a demand for such
stores (bars are another example). We need a diversity of retail opportunities,
such as a variety of restaurants. Because the cultural backgrounds in Rogers Park
are so different, there is a wide range of desires for the community. Everyone
seems to want something different, so the challenge is finding a BALANCE that
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will maintain the diversity of not only retail, but the population at large. (example
of the Top Cat Lounge debate and now the desire for an upscale nightclub)
•
In conclusion, the Alderman said he has been liberated by the realization that he
cannot please everyone in such a diverse community.
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Physician
Organization: Self Employed
Date: June 27, 2006
Key Findings:
The physician sat down and spoke with me on June 27, 2006. I reminded him that I was
doing a community needs assessment in partnership with Heartland Alliance in regards to
building a new health center on or South of Morse Avenue. I also mentioned to him that
Commissioner Larry Suffredin recommended that we ask his input, being that he has
helped serve this community for years and knows the needs of the community. The
physician then said, “I have spoken with the Commissioner several years ago and
recently and we were thinking my center could be utilized because of the space. There is
5,500 square feet upstairs for full service and 4,000 square feet downstairs available.”
Rogers Park
“Rogers Park is a nice area. It’s becoming more diverse which is why I located my
facility here to take care of the Evanston and Rogers Park community.”
Role of Agency
“My vision is to render health care services to the working poor, the needy, and the
surrounding community in Evanston and Rogers Park area. I wanted to make myself and
the people I work with available to the people who need services. Now those people are
becoming the old and young.”
Rogers Park’s assets
“Rogers Park is a very racially diverse population; its harmonious and a nice place to
live. It seems to be growing and getting better day to day, month to month. It’s a very
interesting area to be in.”
Rogers Park obstacles
“I’m not sure if there are any. I have not heard of much gang violence. There are some
crime episodes. Health care services could be increased.”
Accomplishments of Rogers Park
“There is a building boom.”
Important concerns for community members
“With expanding population I am focusing on health care and do we have enough
available services to meet the needs of growing population and to keep crime rate as low
as possible and to attract the best citizens to the community.”
Hopes and dreams
“I would like to work together to utilize this building. The commissioner wants to work
with me. I want to bring full service at reduced cost.”
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Health care, quality of health care
“Everywhere in the country there is expanding population, more people who are using
health care services are using it with less revenue. Everywhere you go demands for
practitioners or health care deliverers. It is so important to localize and centralize so
people can come and receive maximum service such as dental, medical, chiropractic, and
obstetrics in a specific location. We need to get services for medication. Cost of drugs are
going up because Americans are living longer which requires more medicine. We should
overcome by coming together to reduce cost and at the same time reduce the need for
medication. Sometimes just good information or education can be helpful for the future.
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Vice President
Organization: St. Francis Hospital, Resurrection Health Care System
Tell me what “community health” means to you:
•
Community health is dependent on cooperation amongst health care providers.
Only if all health care providers cooperate together do we raise the level of health
care in the community. We can address the full spectrum of community health
needs that starts with education/prevention and ends with treatment if we
strategize and work together. If we bring community resources together, we do
more than just fix the “broken arm”; we prevent the injury from ever occurring
through educating about safety, for example.
•
Community health is holistic health, rather than disease management. It requires
the total effort of the community to raise the level of health and wellness in the
community.
•
This can vary in different sections of the community depending on socioeconomic and ethnocentric variants. For instance, in a completely gentrified
subsection of the community, access to health care will not be an issue. But in
other sections of the community, safety concerns for instance, can prevent a lowincome senior citizen from accessing health care.
•
For a community to be truly healthy, all service providers must be active
participants in delivering health care to every subsection of the community.
What are Rogers Park’s Strengths?
•
Rogers Park is a proactive community. Community residents care about the
community and each other. Residents are directly invested in the community.
•
Safety concerns and crime limits what Rogers Park could potentially be.
•
There are neglected segments of the Rogers Park Community. Senior Citizens are
often neglected. There are not enough programs in place to assist seniors to
maintain their independence in the community. Supportive services for senior
citizens are a real need.
•
Residents who are low income and suffering from culturally prevalent diseases
like diabetes and hypertension do not have access to the supportive services they
need to properly manage their disease process. There is simply not a strong
enough response to chronic illness in the community.
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•
The largest unmet health need in the community is access to pharmaceuticals.
Most low income residents have to make difficult choices about buying
medications.
How does your organization contribute to the community?
•
St. Francis Hospital is the hospital closest to Rogers Park. We operate the largest
not for profit clinic in the community on Clark Street. Last year we provided
13,000 patient visits, mostly to uninsured or underinsured Rogers Park residents
at discounted or no cost.
•
St. Francis Hospital is the community’s trauma treatment center for motor vehicle
crashes, violence, injury and all other types of trauma.
•
St. Francis Hospital and clinic provides health education to the community:
prenatal classes, nutrition education, car safety programs and health fairs. We
also do prevention health screenings for hypertension, diabetes and melanoma.
•
We all need to do more about educating the community about health care systems
and the importance of seeking early treatment to avoid costly ER visits and
hospitalizations.
•
A cooperative approach to community health care is every providers and residents
responsibility.
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Director, Family Center Program
Organization: Howard Area Community Center
Date: June 6, 2006
How would you describe Rogers Park?
•
“Diverse in income and ages, unique housing stock, mixed cultures, tense at
times. West Rogers Park vastly different than East Rogers Park”
Describe the role of your agency in Rogers Park and its goals:
•
“The goals of the Family Center Campus at HACC are to support parents of Zero
to 6 year olds. Assess and make sure all the children in the programs are healthy
and developing appropriately. We support parents by assisting them to cope with
social struggles like unemployment, domestic violence, drug addictions, parenting
issues etc... The children in our programs are excited about learning, and when
they leave us to transition to kindergarten, they are ready. Essentially we
augment and assist with the developing child and family”.
•
Close to public transportation, lake, bike trails, fun things to do. Rogers Park
residents are committed to RP and take pride in the community.
•
Good partnerships amongst agencies in the community
•
Poorly performing Chicago Public Schools, need for affordable childcare (HACC
has a waiting list of 600 children).
•
Crime and feeling unsafe are obstacles for this community.
•
Lack of quality health care; this has repeatedly been identified by community
stakeholders.
•
Lack of early prenatal care is especially a concern. We need universal health care
coverage for the working class, especially.
•
Employment/Job opportunities can be an obstacle. RP has jobs, but mainly
service oriented jobs which are not high paying.
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What are some of the accomplishments made by Rogers Park residents?
•
The Family Center Campus was built after a needs assessment revealed local
parents had almost no access to affordable childcare. The FCC can accommodate
128 children, but we could use about five more Centers just like this one.
•
•
•
•
Good paying, meaningful jobs in RP.
Education Reform
Affordable quality health care
Increase in quality care services for Infants and Toddlers/Affordable childcare
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________________________________________________________________________
Title: Police officer for 25 years, the last five years with CAPS
Organization: Chicago Police Department, 24th District which includes Rogers Park
Community health is affordable health care located in the community.
•
Recently, it is the revitalization of the area. We have property owners, condo
owners and apartment dwellers. All the new housing construction occurring has
helped to stabilize the community. The downside is the reduction of affordable
housing. Many low income families cannot afford to buy a condo-conversion and
risk being displaced from the community.
•
There has been a revitalization of businesses too. The businesses on Clark and
Devon Streets are thriving and expanding. We need more coffee houses and
internet cafes. We need less dollar stores and liquor stores.
•
We are fortunate to have the youth programs we have in Rogers Park. HACC
youth programs and YES (Youth employment services) have done a good job.
But we need more structured programs for youth.
•
S&C Electric Company brings much needed industry/manufacturing jobs to the
community. We need more industry jobs from large manufacturing businesses
like S&C. But we have small thriving ethnic business which are thriving and
doing well.
•
Loyola University is a very stabilizing influence in the community. They are a
large employer, and many of their students live in Rogers Park surrounding the
campus. Their instructors and professors live in Rogers Park bring many
professionals to the area. Loyola has done much development to the campus and
the surrounding area. This year they have the largest freshman class ever.
•
Rogers Park has many strong ethnic communities that get along well with each
other. We strong and well developed Spanish, Pakistani, Indian and Jewish
communities who work well with each other.
•
In some ways we communicate well. We have good email networks, and the
various community groups are experienced at getting the word out about various
issues.
•
Here at CAPS we continuously work on communicating with all different ethnic
groups and age groups. We have nine beat meetings held monthly. We have
started a new Spanish speaking beat meeting and a new Youth Beat meeting here
at the district. We are hoping to meet with 12 to 15 neighborhood youths to
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determine specific youth issues and take it from there. We will hold this initial
youth forum soon.
•
We have great Senior Citizen Programs and Services in Rogers Park. We have
the Council for Jewish elderly who provide social services and programming for
seniors. We have four senior only housing buildings through CHO. We have
plenty of long-term nursing homes in Rogers Park. I am not sure of their quality,
just that they exist. We have special officers assigned to senior programs here at
the station. We participate in the large three day senior fair being held next
month. We estimate in the 24th District to have approximately eight to ten
thousand senior citizens, but our borders are not exclusively Rogers Park. We
support a senior citizen ID bracelet Program
•
We need meaningful employment opportunities, especially for youth. And we
need to look at sustainable, affordable housing for low-income families.
•
Sullivan High School is overcrowded and it needs an enforceable dress code to be
rid of gang colors and culture within the school. Sullivan High School is the only
High School for thirty public and private grammar schools to feed into. So of
course it is overcrowded. Sullivan High School needs to be a closed campus in
order to keep the students and the community safe.
•
We need to bolster youth programs. We need more for kids to do after school.
•
We do not have enough mental health resources to deal with persons with chronic
mental illness and addictions. It used to be the police could pick up and bring in
someone intoxicated or high… for their own safety. We are unable to do that
anymore. We need many more mental health resources, and perhaps this could be
incorporated into a community health clinic.
•
•
•
•
Affordable housing for low and fix income individuals and families.
An increase in meaningful employment opportunities.
An improved quality of life and the continuing revitalization of the community
effort.
Improved CPS educational opportunities especially at the high school level.
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Qualitative Data: Focus Groups
________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
(Note: The following two paragraphs are excerpted from, with minor changes,
“Exercising Our Right to Health in Uptown,” a Community Health Assessment compiled
by Christine Cannon, Shannon Kenney, and Nada Mlinarevich.)
Focus groups are a way of gathering data through listening to people and learning
from them (Morgan, 1998). The Rogers Park Community Health Assessment is based on
the understanding that community members are experts on their own
existence/experience. The use of focus groups allows for community members to
converse with one another regarding health issues in Rogers Park as well as for us to
learn more through listening to their conversation. The use of focus groups further
allows for community members to participate in the research process by acting as cofacilitators, observers, and note takers. This process, often called participatory action
research, endeavors to produce knowledge that is linked simultaneously and intimately to
social action as well as helping the downtrodden to be self-reliant, self-assertive, and selfsufficient (Park, 1993). As is demonstrated below, each Rogers Park focus group took on
its own character, as participants of each group took advantage of the opportunity in
different ways.
As a qualitative method, focus groups have certain strengths and limitations.
Major strengths of focus groups are the ability to investigate complex behavior and
motivations as well as diversity in the community (Morgan, 1998). Focus groups also
provide an opportunity to focus on whole individuals and their relation to the community.
Dietz (2001) utilized focus groups to gather preliminary data in planning an intervention
to prevent obesity in African-Americans. Here, focus groups were seen as a way to
engage the community in the research process and the issue at hand. Focus groups also
have some limitations. Because focus groups rely on volunteers they have an
unrepresentative sample, thus making the results hard to generalize to a larger population.
Also, focus groups rely on individuals to accurately report their own experiences.
Because these experiences are subjective and are subject to human error and perspective,
it is often necessary to validate information gained in focus groups with other methods of
research (Morgan, 1998). Had we unlimited time and resources, we would have
conducted a comprehensive Rogers Park Community Health Assessment survey.
Rogers Park Focus Groups on Community Health
However, focus groups are very useful for gathering preliminary data. We were able to
speak with several community groups: a youth organization, residents of a low income
senior apartment building, members of a senior club (who reside in independent houses
or apartments), a Latin American women’s support group. Other groups were
considered, and in some cases initially contacted, but scheduling conflicts and other time
constraints limited this process. Regardless, the results below demonstrate a clear
repetition of themes and results between the various groups. What follows are profiles
and session overviews of each group.
Rogers Park Youth Network and Youth Intervention Program
The Rogers Park Community Council convenes two youth programs, one a longstanding
Youth Intervention Program, which focuses on reducing juvenile delinquency, youth
crime and gang affiliation. The other, the Rogers Park Youth Network, also called
80
“Mayor Daley’s Region 1 Youth Net,” stems from a 1995 City of Chicago report calling
for the coordination between community agencies for the benefit of teens aged 13-19
years old (www.rogerspark.org). The Youth Network and the Youth Intervention
Program (YIP) work in tandem, and we met at one of their regular Wednesday afternoon
meetings at the Rogers Park Community Council for an hour and a half to discuss
community health.
26 youth were present, 15 women and 11 men, 21 African American and five Hispanic.
Five YIP and Youth Net advisors served as conveners to the session as well as note takers
and observers throughout the session. Advisors selected five peer leaders, or group
discussants, from within the group of youth to lead each of five break-out sessions. Peer
leaders, following a ten minute training session where they received a common set of
questions about community health, took responsibility for leading the small discussion
groups. We then convened as a large group, in order to review and clarify the discussed
topics as a collective.
In the breakout sessions, peer leaders asked, “What does community health mean to
you?” Several youth immediately mentioned physical health, stating phrases as
“Community Health is healthy kids,” “People are able to afford their medications in a
healthy community,” “healthy kids and a better community,” “healthy, no disease,” and
“free testing, clinics.”
Youth comments were not restricted to bodily health, however. Most notably, youth
were very concerned about “the street,” a term they repeated often. For example, when
asked about what Rogers Park needed the most, several youth responded that we needed
to “get bums off the street” and “drugs off the street.” Other phrases used were “clean up
[drugs, bums] off the street,” and a few people mentioned we need more “street
cleaning,” and that “Streets are clean in a healthy community.” “Bums,” “Drugs,” and
“Clean Streets” – used both literally and euphemistically – were language that dominated
the youth discussion.
When asked “What works in Rogers Park?” many of the youth rapidly counted the local
organizations that serve various social purposes, including their own. Most often
mentioned was CeaseFire, a violence prevention initiative – particularly of shootings and
killings (ceasefirechicago.org). Also repeated between groups was the local D.A.R.E.
program (drug prevention), the Rogers Park “Clean and Green” initiative (cleaning litter
out of public parks), and the Good News Community Soup Kitchen (see focus group
discussion, below). Notably, these success stories that the youth either participate or
witness in Rogers Park work toward the end of making “clean streets” the marker of a
healthy community.
In an information sheet passed around to group participants, we discovered that nearly
every youth, in 17 out of 19 responses, reported having either Medicaid or Medicare. 11
out of 22 responses reported visiting an emergency room in the last 12 months at least
one time, often two or three times. When asked “What concerns you most about your
health?” youth responded most frequently “weight” and “cancer,” but also mentioned
“my teeth,” “sex,” “diabetes,” and “getting the right medications.” When asked if they
have any chronic health conditions, the only condition documented – by a quarter of the
participants – was “asthma.”
Howard Area Senior Club
The Howard Area Senior Club is a support group of older women (in their 70s and 80s),
who live in Rogers Park. The ten members present were interviewed in a full group. Our
81
opening question, “What does community health mean to you,” immediately elicited
stories of transport to and from doctor’s offices. The first person stated it means that
“there are doctors in the community who can see community people regardless of their
ability to pay” (my emphasis). I emphasize “in the community,” because the following
seven comments from participant indicated difficulties of physically getting themselves
to a doctor.
How do seniors of the club transport themselves to a doctor? Two participants reported
using the public bus system; one stated that she must walk six blocks from the bus stop to
her doctor in Evanston, and she “is finding it harder to walk that distance these days.”
The second person takes a bus and “hopes that the weather cooperates” on doctor
appointment days. Two seniors reported using “paratransit” and a “medicar” that takes
them to doctors’ offices eight and 15 miles away, respectively. One participant noted that
this system only worked for advance appointments – urgent care visits required calling a
taxicab, costing considerably more money. Finally, two seniors reported that they have
“mobile docs” or visiting nurses or doctors visit them in their homes, and one in
particular noted that she “very fortunate” for the personal attention.
In a follow up question, we asked members if they can afford their medications. All ten
participants indicated that they could not. Three members told stories of skipping on
medications in one form or another: one person fills only her heart medication
prescriptions, another is on a fixed income and does not buy medicine (at a $7 copay) if
she does not have the money, a third “maximizes” a bottle of blood pressure medicine by
taking her pill every other day instead of every day. Regarding access to medicine, one
senior receives her prescriptions by means of the county hospital’s mail order system.
But for every medicine adjustment, she stated having to “go down to the county and wait
for up to six to eight hours.” This reduces the wait to only an hour or two, but adds time
and money to the ends of public transportation, repeating an earlier theme.
When asked, “What are Rogers Park’s assets,” many of the responses had to do with
transportation, either being thankful that a public transit system exists, or by mentioning
that the post office, local library, and launder mat were in close proximity to their homes.
Not only were the services important to the participants, but the accessibility or closeness
of those services were important. In addition, one member stated that Howard Area
Community Center helped to “maintain [her] independence,” specifically citing the work
of a volunteer social worker. Finally, one senior noted that Northwestern and Loyola
Universities played a role in “educating young children,” many of whom then worked
with service agencies in the community.
In response to the question, “What are Rogers Park’s obstacles,” three seniors
immediately mentioned problems with grocery shopping. One person stated there was a
“lack of affordable grocery stores,” another complained that the ALDI she frequented
was too far away to travel to, and she was unable to bag her own groceries. Several
seniors agreed with one member who wanted “less liquor and dollar stores and more
large grocery stores with low cost delivery service.”
Besides access to food, seniors discussed problems of affordable housing. One person
stated that both apartment buildings on either side of her apartment building “went
condo,” and she stated that she would not be able afford to live in her building if this
happened. Three seniors stated that they live in section eight housing, but one stated that
“the apartments are overcrowded with extended family, adult children, and grandchildren
who come to live with grandma when they have no where else to go.” This contributed
to “noise and chaos” in the building, and the group member suggested that “there needs
to be enforcement of the rules which state that only the person on the lease can live
82
there.” Another woman stated that his rule was unfair, adding that she is the sole
guardian of her nine year old granddaughter in her section eight apartment building.
Seniors also mentioned issues of “more crime” and “more dangerous” neighborhoods
now as opposed to twenty years ago. They cited “overcrowding,” “gang activity on the
street,” and one stated that she “doesn’t socialize or go outside unless I have to.” Further,
seniors agreed they felt that they knew people in the neighborhood years ago, so they felt
safer. By linking “knowing people” to crime and safety, seniors demonstrate a loss of
social capital – or the collective value of social networks – in their neighborhood (Putnam
2000).
In response to the question, “What are you hopes and dreams for Rogers Park,” seniors
overwhelmingly agreed they wanted “a large senior apartment building” or “senior
center” with “activities and social services” built in Rogers Park. They collectively
described a full service building with an attached community senior center, laundry, pool,
nurse and social worker offices. The seniors would like to see some alternative types of
housing situations available for them. One senior suggested “intergenerational low
income housing.” Another mentioned that seniors have much to contribute in terms of
“role modeling,” “good parenting skills,” and “living around younger people in a
controlled environment.”
Finally, seniors said they would hope a new clinic would hire a social worker to “just
work with seniors” and could help them access resources and medications. They
specifically mentioned they thought a social worker who could visit them at home, assess
their capabilities and limits, could best address ways in which they could remain as
independent as possible and therefore would be able to remain in the community.
Centro Romero Women’s Leadership Group
“I need to learn to live in pain,” stated one member of the Centro Romero Women’s
Leadership Group, a support group for Hispanic women in the Rogers Park community.
Mediated by an interpreter, 16 women (aged 17–62) took part in our focus group at the
Centro Romero community center. The predominating theme for the women was
affordability of medication, the first issue mentioned following our general opening
question, “What does community health mean to you?” One woman stated:
As it is now, most people in our community cannot afford to see a doctor in this
community. There are no free clinics and the low cost clinics are not so low cost
once you have to pay for medicines and procedures like procedures and x-rays to
diagnose the problem.
Two participants spoke specifically about the dollars they spend: One participant said
she was sent to a hospital on the west side associated with the Access clinic on Howard.
She had to pay the reduced rate for a diagnostic test which cost $282.00. She also had to
spend $103.00 for medications. She said this was not “low cost” to her because she
brings home about $1100.00 per month. Another participant was diagnosed with
osteoporosis and the medicine was $130.00 per month, an amount she stated that she
cannot afford.
Here are the words of another group member, who seeks quality and affordable dental
care:
I think that community health means preventing health problems. I was
diagnosed by a local dentist with extensive periodontal disease and I needed
83
specific oral health treatment. There are no low cost dental services anywhere in
the city including this neighborhood. My dentist quoted me a price I could not
afford. I am looking for low cost dental care that will treat my problem, and not
simply advise me to have my teeth pulled.
Another woman stated seeing a local physician for regular “excruciating menstrual pain”
which left her unable to work or function a few days per month. The doctor ordered birth
control pills for her to prevent the pain. She said she was able to afford them for a few
months, and she received much relief from pain, but she has not been able to afford them
for a few months. This woman stated, “I need to learn to live in pain.” Following this
story, Monica Dillon, Community Nurse at Howard Area Community Center, referred
this woman to the Evanston Board of Health who has access to “Title Ten federal funding
for birth control at no cost.”
On this theme of support through medicine referrals, another woman broke from the
formal Q&A format of the focus group, and asked the other women, “How do you
receive your medications?” Twelve of the women in the group said they have their
medicines (specifically citing meds for diabetes, depression, and hypothyroidism) mailed
to them from their home countries in Central and Latin America. They reported that
these very same medicines are sold “over the counter” in their native countries. Often the
women guess at the dosage of medicine they need to take and hope the medicine types
are compatible to what their American doctors have ordered.
Not only do these stories demonstrate a lack of affordability for medications, but they
also indicate the value of such support groups, as convened by Centro Romero, in
assisting women to share resources and get ideas about how to deal with their situations.
In another instance, a woman said she “is very stressed with life here and cannot afford to
see a therapist.” Her doctor prescribed antidepressants she cannot afford to buy. She
stated “the whole situation is hopeless and there is no one to help. My family and friends
are in Mexico.” Following this story, other women in the group suggested “walking,”
“working out,” journaling her feelings, and “start going to church.” Finally, one group
member told her she “felt the same way until I found this group which has helped me
tremendously.”
In response to the question, “What does not work [or are obstacles] in Rogers Park,”
women immediately identified crime as a major problem in the community. One woman
said she had witnessed a gang shooting and that she will “never be the same.” Some of
the ladies requested information for a self-defense class, in which case Monica Dillon
referred them to “Chicago Image,” a not-for-profit agency which teaches women selfdefense skills. Again, this is an example of the women of Centro Romero citing a
problem, and immediately asking about resources in order to address that problem.
A few women nodded in agreement when one group member cited concern for
pedestrians, especially children, who run across Broadway (crossing against the light at
Granville) without looking at traffic. She mentioned that “police should be present on
school days to issue warnings to people who run across the busy street with small kids.”
Another woman said she is concerned about childhood obesity because her children were
overweight. She stated, “I don’t know what to cook, and I can’t take the children outside
because it is unsafe and there are no places to bring kids to play.” She added that once
the children turn five years old, there is no access to a WIC dietician. Notably, these
concerns share a common theme of health and safety of young children.
Women spent less time on the question, “What are Rogers Parks assets,” but pointedly
mentioned that the public transportation system “helps to find work,” libraries “help with
84
learning about the U.S. and English,” Centro Romero assists in “support and education,”
and public parks “are pretty and a place to bring children.”
In conclusion, the women responded to the question “What are your hopes and dreams
for Rogers Park” by responding that they want “happy and healthy people,” “advanced
English classes” (Centro Romero provides only introductory courses), “a dentist to fix
my teeth,” “less bars and less crime,” and “to be able to feel safe here.” Five of the
women agreed and repeated the words of one group member who stated, “I need a low
cost doctor and medicine.”
Morse Avenue HUD Subsidized Senior Center.
Nine residents gathered for an hour at a HUD subsidized Senior Center on Morse
Avenue, including three black men, one white woman, one Hispanic man, and three black
women. One of the residents, a black woman, was in a wheelchair. In response to the
question, “What does community health mean to you,” members immediately mentioned
problems of emergency services in the neighborhood. One person stated “a place in the
neighborhood to be treated on an emergency basis,” and three other people mentioned
delayed service when calling 911.
When a fifth person added that “waiting for the CTA is an issue,” we asked where people
went to the doctor, and if these places were hard to get to. A black woman sat back in her
chair and replied slowly, “Let me tell you a story.” She described her trip to the doctor
the day before our session, which involved taking public transportation, since her private
transportation service was unavailable. She was fifteen minutes late to the office, and
stated that “The doctor turned around and sent me home.” Later she stated that “the
doctor was bitter to have to take my Medicaid.” She goes to Swedish Covenant Hospital.
Eight out the nine residents agreed that they had problems with transportation to and from
the doctor. In addition to this, residents thought that services should be located in a
centralized location in the neighborhood. One man stated, “You don’t go to one grocery
store to get biscuits and one to get corn meal. Why would medical assistance be so
spread out?” One woman stated that her services at Swedish Covenant Hospital are
centralized, but the central location is too far away. Clearly, this issue of centralized
medical services is closely tied to the problem of transportation. Of interest, none of the
residents cited problems of affording their medications, once prescribed. One woman
even muttered, “That’s not the problem [her emphasis]” and returned to her stated
problem of getting to a doctor in the first place.
When asked “What benefits do you have in Rogers Park?” one resident said “the El,” or
the Elevated public train. Indeed, as residents agreed and explained, there was an
Elevated train stop only one block away from their apartment building. However, one
woman in a wheelchair stated, “I wish they would build elevators at this stop.” This
disabled resident reported that she could not wheel herself all the way to the next El
station, as the sidewalks in her neighborhood were in disrepair, making for difficult
wheelchair access. We asked if there were other “benefits” in the area besides the El;
residents paused, and then said, “The 155 Bus,” which travels close to their building.
We asked residents to comment on additional benefits. On the topic of food, which
several people agreed that they liked the Morse Market because it was close and they
delivered. We asked about entertainment, and residents listed organized places for
activities (game room, exercise room, community center), community meetings they
attend (tenants association, CAPS [local policing initiative] meeting) and “fishing.” Of
interest, the residents’ stated reason for liking the Morse Market did not have to do with
85
price or selection, but rather the closeness in proximity and the delivery service. Further,
the listed organized places for activities took place either in their building or at the
community center next door. This, combined with the initial discussion of public
transportation, suggests a strong interest in issues of proximity of activities and services.
Finally, we asked the question of whether or not residents “feel safe.” To this, residents
quickly and unanimously responded “No.” When asked “in what ways,” the woman in a
wheelchair stated, “We need a generator for the elevator in case the power goes out.”
After some discussion about the elevator, we discovered that there were no stairs in the
building (in that any resident was aware), so the issue of an emergency generator was an
important one to all. This problem was exacerbated by the comment of a new resident to
the building, who stated “We need a good security guard.” He and the other residents
then collectively told a story about a man who “got into the building” and was “knocking
on doors” throughout the residence. Notably, both issues of safety took place inside the
seniors’ apartment building.
As the meeting broke up and we were leaving, the woman in the wheelchair concluded by
a question to us, the organizers. She asked, “Is one of you going to say something about
the generator?” Most likely, members of the community do not visit this senior
residence, especially for the purpose of asking the residents about issues they have in
their building and community. Monica suggested the name of an “advocate” located at
the neighboring community center. Pointedly, similar to the Centro Romero women’s
leadership group, the senior center group session ended in a time for exchanging
community resources.
Summary and Analysis
The four interviewed groups highlighted different community health needs that clearly
intersect at very important places. The youth, most concerned with the community health
of “the street,” most commonly noted their gratitude for anti-violence, drug prevention,
and educational community programs. Centro Romero women’s leadership group and
the Howard Area Senior Club expressed great concern over availability of affordable
medicine, and the low-income senior center residents focused on the accessibility to
doctors in the first place, citing transportation as the most common problem facing them
today.
Most notably, the Howard Area Senior Club demonstrated an increasing lack of social
capital, by means of not feeling safe, as well as by not having affordable services in close
proximity to them in Rogers Park. They are aware of solutions to transportation
problems, but they also are aware of the limitations of such solutions when traveling a
distance does not assist in times of emergency. Similarly, group members are aware of
solutions to affordability of medications, but these solutions involve inconveniences as
traveling to the “county” and waiting in line, or depending on mail order programs for
prescription medicine.
The issue of social capital was present also in the Centro Romero session, as women cited
ordering medications through relatives in their home countries, and then guessing as to
the exact prescription and proper dosage. Further, a break down in services is present as
the women took advantage of the presence of a community nurse to ask several questions
about affordability and access to medicinal care. Not only are medicines not affordable
or accessible, but they are not always aware of where to find them.
In addition, the connecting theme of social networks arose in both the youth group and
the low-income senior center group, in both positive and negative ways. Positive, as the
86
youth shared community and cited family resources, most often citing their “momma” or
“grandmother” as the person who assists them in medical decisions. Negative, as
residents of the senior center lacked a security guard or emergency exits in the case of
power failure to their building – and further did not know who to ask about this problem.
In sum, all four groups depended on other group members for resources and temporary
solutions to their community health issues. Focus group members also collectively
appreciated the presence of a community nurse for even a one hour session. Given the
impact on these groups from even a one hour session, there is demonstrably a community
need for greater communication of local medical experts and the various residents of
Rogers Park. Expanding the resources and availability of local health professionals for
low-income groups as these, and fostering increased communication of those resources
with neighborhood groups and individuals, will increase the social network ties in the
community and in turn improve the social capital of Rogers Park.
Improving social capital by means of expanding community health resources will further
realize the need for safer streets, be that literally and euphemistically. It will improve the
access to activities and services, be that by means of quality transportation or by means of
increasing local and centrally located services. Most importantly, as the women’s group
of Centro Romero and the Howard Area Senior Club repeatedly stated, it will improve
the affordability of care in the community, by means of both doctors’ visits and
prescription medication. In all, these links will connect health professionals to lowincome members of the community in such a way that will improve the overall
community health status of Rogers Park.
Qualitative Data: Summary
________________________________________________________________________
Phase II of Rogers Park Community Health Assessment “Quality, Affordable Health
Care for All” focused on collecting qualitative data from community leaders and focus
groups of community residents. This phase aims to lay the foundation for planning,
implementing and evaluating current and future access to health care systems and
education.
87
Conclusion
________________________________________________________________________
This community health assessment was initiated in order to improve health care access
for all Rogers Park residents. The Rogers Park community is a diverse community of
people who are its strongest asset. While the existing health care providers are working to
provide quality health care, they can no longer accommodate the increasing numbers of
uninsured and underinsured community members and their health care needs.
Community health limitations include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reaching out to pregnant women to connect them with early prenatal care
services.
Working to prevent childhood obesity with a special emphasis on promoting
physical activity.
Establishing a medical home model for all community members in Rogers Park.
Initiating a disease case management approach to chronic illness, especially for
community members suffering from chronic asthma, diabetes, and hypertension.
Special attention needs to be made to address the lack of adolescent health
providers
The need for expansion of primary pediatric and adult health care services with an
emphasis on prevention.
Diagnostic Services.
Access to specialists and specialty care.
Access to truly affordable medications.
Women’s Health/Reproductive Health services and Title X Funding.
Health education to prevent injury and window falls.
Health literacy awareness.
Specific disease processes that need special attention are respiratory illnesses (influenza,
pneumonia, COPD, and lower respiratory diseases), HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted
infections, lung and colon cancer prevention, liver diseases.
Behavioral health interventions such as early violence prevention, including anger
management, conflict resolution and dealing with frustration should be incorporated into
health curriculums starting in preschool. Providing seamless, compassionate and
comprehensive care to victims of domestic violence by partnering with existing domestic
violence prevention programs is also important.
88
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Chicago Area Housing. (2006). CCA Rogers Park, Demographics, Property. Retrieved
from
Http://www.chicagoareahousing.org/Query_DisplayData.asp?nodisplay=f&pf=t&sort=&
Anderson, E.T.& McFarlane, J. (2000) Community Assessment, Chapter 9. Community
as a Partner: Theory and Practice in Nursing, 3rd ed. Lippincott.
Misericordia (2006), Retrieved on October 1, 2006, from, www.misericordia.org.
Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park (2006), Retrieved on September 12, 2006, from,
www.healthyrp.org
90
Office of the Surgeon General (2006), Health Priorities, Retrieved on September 12,
2006, from, www.surgeongeneral.gov.
Access Community Health Network (2006), Retrieved on September 12, 2006, from,
www.accesscommunityhealth.net.
Resurrection Health Care, Community Clinics (2006), Retrieved on September 12, 2006,
from, www.Reshealth.org/locations/community_clinics.cfm
Loyola University of Chicago, Key Facts, (2006), Retrieved on September 14, 2006,
from, www.luc.edu/keyfacts/
Interactive Illinois Report Card (2006), Retrieved on September 14, 2006, from,
http://iirc.niu.edu/scripts/schools.asp?
Chicago ICAM (2006), Retrieved on September 30, 2006, from,
http://12.17.79.6/ctznicam/ctznicam.asp
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (2006), Retrieved on September 4, 2006,
from, http://www.nipc.org/test/y2k_sfi_cca.htm
Child Health Data Lab, The Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research
Program, Children’s Memorial Research Center (2005), Child and Adolescent Injury in
Chicago, 1999-2001.
History of Rogers Park Sources:
Loyola University
Rogers Park Community Council
"Chicago's Far North Side - An Illustrated History of Rogers Park and West Ridge"
by Neal Samors, Mary Jo Doyle, Martin Lewin and Michael Williams.
Oral interviews, various residents
Recreation Sources:
Artists of the Wall Festival
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Chicago Park District
Chicago Police Department
Chicago Public Library
"Chicago's Far North Side - An Illustrated History of Rogers Park and West Ridge"
Book by Neal Samors, Mary Jo Doyle, Martin Lewin and Michael Williams, 2006
91
Eidolon Art Studio
Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival
Great Lakes Information Network
Heartland Cafe
Illinois Department Natural Resources
Lake Michigan Forum
Loyola University
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
“Morsehellhole” blog
“Nature’s Metropolis”, Book: by William Cronin, 1991
Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park
Observations and Measurements, by Jim Ginderske, 2006
Oral Interviews with Neighborhood Residents, June-Sep., 2006
Rogers Park Community Council
Rogerspark.org
US Coast Guard
US Environmental Protection Agency
Wisdom Bridge Arts Project
Health Status Sources:
City of Chicago Department of Public Health Office of Epidemiology (2006).
Community Area Health Inventory.
Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) 2005 Annual Report.
USEPA. Childhood Lead Poisoning in Chicago: Mapping a Strategy to Improve
Screening.
Chicago Department of Public Health (October, 2005)
“Serving Chicago’s Underserved; Regional Health Systems Profiles”
Chicago Department of Public Health (2006). “Casting Chicago’s Health Care Safety
Net: A 12-Year Review of Chicago’s Community-Based Primary Care System”.
92
Center for Reproductive Rights, www.crlp.org/pub_fac_titlex2.html
Focus Groups Sources:
Dietz, W. (2001). “Focus group data pertinent to the prevention of obesity in AfricanAmericans.” American Journal of Medical Sciences, 322(5), 275-278.
Morgan, D.L. (1998). The Focus Group Guidebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications.
Park, P. (1993). “The essence of Uptown: Can the latest hot neighborhood move up
without leaving itself behind?” Chicago Tribune online edition.
Putnam, Robert. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American
Community. New York: Simon and Schuster.
93
Appendix
________________________________________________________________________
Community Leadership Interview and Focus Group Questions
The following interview is to be conducted in a semi-structured format. Use the
following questions as a guideline to solicit information from the interviewee. Please
write down the community leaders answers in a summary format, but also using quotes
when needed for effect. Feel free to use your own interviewing style and interject
clarifying questions as needed.
1. Describe Rogers Park:
2. Describe the role of your agency, institution or business in Rogers Park including
the goals of your organization:
3. What are Rogers Park’s assets?
4. What are Rogers Park’s obstacles?
5. What accomplishments have been made by resident’s of Rogers Park?
6. What are the most important concerns for the community members of Rogers
Park?
7.
Comment on the resources and organizations at work in the community?
8. What are the hopes and dreams for the future of Rogers Park?
9. Access to affordable health care: Do community stake holders identify this as an
area of concern?
10. Is there anything you would like to say about health care, quality of health care,
access to health care, and/or access to affordable medications in Rogers Park?
94
U.S. Census Bureau: 2004 Industry Code Summary
Zip Code 60626
Chicago, IL
Total for ZIP Code 60626
Number of establishments: 553
First quarter payroll in $1,000: 63,517
Number of employees: 9,159
Annual payroll in $1,000: 268,168
Number of Establishments by Employment-size class
Industry
Code
Industry Code
Description
Total
Estabs
1-4
1019
5-9
20-49
5099
1000
or
more
100- 250- 500249 499 999
------
Total
553
376
84
28
37
18
6
2
0
2
23----
Construction
12
9
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
31----
Manufacturing
15
7
2
1
4
0
0
0
0
1
42---- Wholesale trade
20
17
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
44----
Retail trade
102
75
16
2
7
2
0
0
0
0
48----
Transportation
& warehousing
7
3
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
51----
Information
12
10
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
52----
Finance &
insurance
26
17
7
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
53----
Real estate &
rental & leasing
48
33
11
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
54----
Professional,
scientific &
technical servi
52
46
2
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
55----
Management of
companies &
enterprises
3
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
56----
Admin, support,
waste mgt,
remediation ser
18
14
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
61----
Educational
services
13
6
1
2
2
1
0
0
0
1
62----
Health care and
social assistance
84
36
21
6
6
8
5
2
0
0
Arts,
71---- entertainment &
recreation
16
13
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
Accommodatio
n & food
services
63
34
9
8
9
3
0
0
0
0
60
52
6
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
72---81----
Other services
(except public
administration
95
(except public
administration
99----
Unclassified
establishments
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
HEALTH STATISTICS
U.S.
4.9
U.S.
15
U.S.
4.8
U.S.
9.5
Deaths from AIDS/HIV – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
3.9
12
Rogers Park
21
Number of New AIDS Cases – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
Rogers Park
13.2
37
66
TB Cases –Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
8.5
13
Rogers Park
14
Chronic Liver Disease/ Cirrhosis –Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
Rogers Park
8.2
11
15
Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease – Rate per 100,000
U.S.
Illinois
Chicago
Rogers Park
43.5
38.4
33
52
U.S.
192
Cancer – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
193
212
Rogers Park
252
U.S.
2.2
New Cases of Syphilis – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
5.7
12
Rogers Park
22
U.S.
116
New Cases of Gonorrhea – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
Rogers Park
166
477
339
96
U.S.
304
New Cases of Chlamydia – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
Rogers Park
379
852
592
U.S.
3.6%
Percentage of Mothers Receiving No Prenatal Care
Illinois
Chicago
Rogers Park
4%
1.8%
4.1%
U.S.
222.7
Heart Disease – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
236
287
Rogers Park
320
U.S.
25.5
Diabetes – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
24
30
Rogers Park
35
U.S.
22.4
Influenza and Pneumonia – Rate per 100,000
Illinois
Chicago
Rogers Park
22.7
26
42
Children Age Six and Younger with Elevated Blood Lead Levels – Rate per
1,000
U.S.
Illinois
Chicago
Rogers Park
15
16
31
47
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106

Rogers Park Community Health Assessment

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