Community Health Center Expands Services
True to IMAN’s mission of fostering health, wellness and healing, the Community Health Center enjoyed significant growth in both facilities and personnel in 2017. Through a partnership with Islamic Relief USA, the Youth & Family Health Center opened in the fall to offer direct services to some of the community’s most vulnerable individuals. As our reach expanded, IMAN hired several additional health providers and administrative staff to better serve patients. The staff now features seven full-time equivalents and seven volunteer medical providers.
The Community Health Center successfully applied as a Federally Qualified Health Center “lookalike”, and was given a passing grade upon initial review. This represents a major step forward in the Health Center’s evolution from a free clinic into a full-fledged, federally qualified operation offering a wide range of healthcare options to underserved communities. With over 3,700 patient visits this year, the possibilities for deeper, more prevention-centered levels of care are sky high.
In addition to primary care, IMAN’s Behavioral Health saw 1,200 patients in 2017. The dynamic team of licensed counselors, social workers and bright young interns integrated their healing techniques into programs ranging from Green ReEntry to the Beloved Community Ceramic Arts Studio. The recently formed partnership between IMAN and the Chicago Muslim Dental Society (CMDS) yielded significant, mutual benefits. After the formal launch of a biweekly “working group” last month, IMAN’s Oral Health work has received crucial advice on best practices, generous donations of industry-standard equipment, and a growing pool of volunteer dentists.
We ask you to keep the efforts of all of IMAN’s holistic healthcare staff in your prayers as they continue to serve the Chicagoland community. Interested volunteers and interns should contact info@imancentral.org for more information. We ask The Most High to make us worthy of your continued support.