Community-Based Research in Action: Health Specialist's RX For the Community
Norma Sanders
Published: December 12, 2014
University of Chicago's CommunityRX, community-based research projects worth over $7M have been working collaboratively to put a prescription in place to help transform South Side communities by 2015, with the assistance and addition of Community Health Information Specialists (CHIS), a newly created job added to community organization workforces, at the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) and Centers for New Horizon (CNH). GADC is proud to welcome a local service provider, to our site to learn more about the HealtheRX program and how to incorporate it into their business process.
Kimesha Huggins
Photo: University of Chicago
The Community Health Information Specialists (CHIS), at the GADC is Kimesha Huggins. Kimesha is no stranger to Chicago's South Side, she was born and raised here. She started her work with GADC as a health coordinator during a year of service as an AmeriCorps member. She has a vested interest in the health of the community. She helped organize health fairs, diabetes screenings, and food drives as part of her work at the GADC.
"My view is that mental health and physical health go hand in hand. In my role as a Community Health Information Specialist (CHIS), I am trained to help educate, promote and support local residents to sustain and grow our communities. I am currently recently received my master’s degree in community counseling from St. Xavier University, where I also received my baccalaureate degree in psychology. I also attended the University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies receiving a Certificate in Community Health Advocacy."
Kimesha Huggins Serves ZIP codes: 60619, 60620, 60621, 60628, 60629, 60633, and 60636
Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation
1159 W. 79th Street, Chicago, IL 60620
Email: khuggins@gagdc.org
Phone: (773) 396-6484
Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday – Friday)
What is a Community Health Information Specialist (CHIS)? It’s simple. They are your personal guides, trained to help you learn more about the places in your community and surrounding zip codes that offer "healthy" services to improve and better your health. All of these places and services are listed on your HealtheRx. They can be reached by telephone, text, email, or in person. The HealtheRx is custom made for each individual. Let them give you more information about these important resources and tell you about other ways that you can improve your and your family’s health!
What is HealtheRx?
It’s your connection to resources that you need to improve your health, manage disease, and live independently. HealtheRx is a list of places and services near you that are matched to your health and wellness needs. You can get HealtheRx at one of our clinics or from our Community Health Information Specialists.
We want to hear your ideas and feedback about the HealtheRx. We want to learn what we can do to make it easier for you to take care of your health. As part of this closed loop process, we also extend our research by making visits to organizations and businesses that provide healthy services, products, programs and guidance to the community.
How does HealtheRx help you?
Need to find a place nearby to exercise? Get tutoring for your children? Connect to the internet? Get help finding a job? HealtheRx is your connection for finding places to do these things and more. Plus, you can talk with a Community Health Information Specialist, a personal guide to your HealtheRx and other health and wellness resources in your area.
Please see below to identify the Community Health Information Specialist who serves ZIP codes: 60608, 60609, 60615, 60617, 60623, 60632, 60637, 60649, and 60653
PAMELA SANGS, Community Health Information SpecialistV(CHIS), Centers for New Horizon
Serves ZIP codes: 60608, 60609, 60615, 60617, 60623, 60632, 60637, 60649, and 60653
Centers for New Horizons
4305A S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60653
Email: pamelas@cnh.org
Phone: (773) 886-7361
Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday – Friday)