McCormick Family Foundation Health Series

Starting in January 2009, the Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation provided funding for a health series focused on the health needs and disparities of women of color. Choose a program below to read a synopsis and see photos:

• Obtaining Peace of Mind: Dealing with the Stressors of Everyday Life (Jan. 31, 2009)
• Thriving with Asthma: A Session for Women and Their Families (May 27, 2009)
• Total Woman: Mind, Body and Spirit (Nov. 3, 2009)
• Latina Portrait: Chicago Latinas' Health Today (May 10, 2010)

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Obtaining Peace of Mind

Dealing With the Stressors of Everyday Life

Part of our Health Series sponsored by the Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation

Sat., Jan. 31, 2009
Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S. Ingleside Ave., Chicago

This program was the launch of Chicago Foundation for Women's health series, sponsored by the Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation. Community members, advocates and health professionals gathered at the Gary

Left to right: Kuliva Wilburn, moderator; Shelley A. Davis, Chicago Foundation for Women; Rebecca Holbrook, Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition; Kischa Hampton, Access Community Health Network; Dawnavan Davis, University of Chicago Dept. of Medicine.

Comer Youth Center on Chicago's South Side to share information on everyday stressors particular to women and communities of color that, left unaddressed, can lead to more serious and debilitating health problems. Speakers discussed early pre-natal care, maternal health and family planning; the challenges of substance abuse; and food, fitness and diabetes.
 
Rebecca Holbrook of Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition started off the discussion with insight into why the choices women make before pregnancy are often more important than after conception. She asked many key questions of participants, urging them to think critically about their lifestyles and family situations before getting pregnant. Holbrook urged women to ask themselves, "Are your current children happy and healthy? What is your current housing and space situation? Are you using WIC or TANF services? Have you had a discussion with your partner around birth control and STDs?" Holbrook also stressed the importance of controlling pregnancy through communication, health education and safer sex.

Kischa Hampton of Access Community Health Network continued the discussion by addressing the challenges of substance abuse. She engaged the audience in questions about how poverty and stress relate to substance abuse. She provided resources for community members to get support. Hampton explained the direct link between substance abuse and an increased risk for STDs. This led to an important discussion on the sexuality of women of all ages: STDs are often unaddressed in women middle aged and over 50. Hampton urged participants to ask their health care providers about sexual health and substance abuse, and at the same time urged doctors to ask these responsible questions of all women.

Dawnavan Davis of The University of Chicago Department of Medicine finished up the discussion by providing information on prevention, management and treatment of diabetes. Davis stressed that African American women are twice as likely to get diabetes, which makes it even more important to try to prevent the disease by eating healthy and getting regular exercise. She suggested ways women can work these tasks into their daily lives such as changing food preparation, using stairs instead of elevators and walking to a farther bus stop.

Learn more: Additional health series programs were Thriving with Asthma (in Albany Park), Total Woman: Mind, Body and Spirit (on the West Side) and Latina Portrait: Chicago Latinas' Health Today (in Pilsen).

Panelists' Bios

• Dawnavan Davis, MS, PhD, The University of Chicago Department of Medicine. Davis is a behavioral scientist and childhood obesity researcher, whose research focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of community-based childhood obesity and diabetes prevention interventions, and the employment of a community-based participatory research. Currently, Davis’ work specifically entails working with faith organizations and YMCAs to promote healthy eating and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity and its associated diabetes risk among African American youth and families. Presently, Dr. Davis serves as the lead investigator on studies that aim to develop research collaborations with South Side African American faith organizations to assist health ministries with conducting and evaluating faith-based diabetes-related health programs and interventions, and that examine the after-school food environment of YMCAs located on Chicago's South Side. Davis has been an invited attendee and presenter at numerous professional and community conferences, given her innovative research approaches to address obesity and diabetes-related disparities. Davis received her BA from Loyola College of Maryland in Psychology, her MS in Community Health Education from Towson University and her doctoral degree in Medical Psychology from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 2005.
  
  
• Kischa Hampton, MSW, Access Community Health Network. Hampton is the manager of risk & prevention programs at Access Community Health Network. She provides services and strong evidence-based interventions to high-risk populations (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Addictions, Re-Entry, Prevention and Homeless) in surrounding communities who are accessing medical services at Access Community Health Network. Since 1998, Hampton has provided services in child welfare, mental health and medical organizations for many diverse communities and populations. Throughout her career she has provided services in many different capacities including direct-service provision, as well as management. Hampton received her B.A. from Northern Illinois University in 1993 and her Masters in Social Work from Indiana University in 2002.
  
  
• Rebecca E. Holbrook, Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition. As the project director for the Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition, Holbrook directs start-up activities for the Campaign to Save Our Babies, including serving as a liaison with a steering committee; identifying community partners and programs; and maintaining reporting and establishing criteria for evaluation. She previously served as the director of education for Planned Parenthood of Illinois where she helped to write and copyright curricula among other activities. She has also worked in the hospital setting on a community health initiative and as coordinator of community outreach. Holbrook received her BA in Business Management from DePaul University and her RN from Dayton School of Nursing.
  
  
• Moderator: Kuliva Wilburn, MPH, Access Community Health Network. Wilburn is a public health administrator whose career has focused on engaging high-risk populations in programs and services that eliminate health disparities. She has focused her work on primary health care delivery and federally qualified health centers, and has worked steadily to improve safety net resources in underserved communities. Wilburn currently works with Access Community Health Network, and she has previously worked with Merck & Co. in pharmaceutical research and development and policy analysis with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters in Washington, D.C. Wilburn holds a Masters in Public Health Policy and Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BS in Biochemistry from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa.

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Maureen Damitz from the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago demonstrates how to use a quick release inhaler for asthma management.

This program was the second event in Chicago Foundation for Women's health series that focuses on the health needs and disparities of women and communities of color. The health series is sponsored by the Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation.

Health disparities in Chicago are alarmingly evident when looking at asthma rates. To address this issue, the Healthy Albany Park Coalition, the Respiratory Health Association, University of Illinois Extension and Chicago Public Schools cosponsored this discussion and practical asthma management training at Roosevelt High School on Chicago's Northwest Side.

Albany Park is one of Chicago's most diverse neighborhoods with an especially high proportion of immigrant and refugee families from Latin America, Africa and Asia. This discussion and training addressed the very real needs of lower-income women in Chicago since they and their children suffer from asthma so disproportionately, and since effective asthma management training is rarely offered by health providers.

Our presenters were Sonia Lopez from the University of Illinois Extension and Maureen Damitz, senior director of programs for the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

Damitz presented a Power Point with basic information on asthma symptoms and statistics. She provided answers to common questions and corrected common misconceptions. As a mother with asthma who has children with asthma, she shared her own stories and used examples to illustrate do's and don'ts. For example, Damitz said, if a child has to use her quick relief inhaler very often, then the asthma is not being controlled well enough. Damitz gave examples of when to go to the doctor and what questions to ask. Download her full presentation as a PDF.

Learn more: Additional health series programs were Obtaining Peace of Mind (on Chicago's South Side), Total Woman: Mind, Body and Spirit (on the West Side) and Latina Portrait: Chicago Latinas' Health Today (in Pilsen).


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This program was the third event in Chicago Foundation for Women's health series that focuses on the health needs and disparities of women and communities of color. The health series is sponsored by the Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation.

This event, hosted by the Westside Health Authority and cosponsored by the Foundation's African American Leadership Council, was a multigenerational health program that addressed internal, mental and reproductive health, as well as fitness and nutrition--the "total woman." Adrienne Troy Hamilton, a co-chair of the African American Leadership Council, moderated the discussion.

Left to right: Katherine Gregg, Dr. Carolyn Fitzpatrick, Saran Dunmore, Dr. Brenda Parks-Johnson and Marsha Robinet. Not pictured: Adrienne Troy Hamilton, moderator and co-chair of the Foundation's African American Leadership Council.

Dr. Carolyn Fitzpatrick, a family medicine physician, started off our panel discussion with a thorough list of health concerns that women should be aware of at different stages of the life cycle. She emphasized the importance of women having pap smears once they become sexually active or turn 21, in order to screen for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and cervical cancer. She encouraged women to do breast self-exams and receive a mammogram screening by age 40. She also discussed the importance of screening for colon cancer, eating healthy foods, exercising, avoiding cigarette smoking and receiving immunizations.

Dr. Brenda Parks-Johnson, also a family medicine physician, provided invaluable advice on how to facilitate quality conversations with doctors to ensure that patients feel validated and understood. She recommended that patients write down their questions before arriving at the doctor's office. "You know you have a perfect match when you doctor lets you get through your whole list," Dr. Parks-Johnson said. "It's important for you to have a good match with your doctor."

Dr. Fitzpatrick reiterated the importance of HIV protection by always using a condom if a woman is unsure about her partner's HIV status. "There are a lot of different stigmas about the people who get HIV and how they get it," Dr. Fitzpatrick said, "but there are a lot of women who get it in what they consider stable relationships." It is essential that we are honest and open with our partners in order to protect ourselves against HIV and other STIs, she said.

Katherine Gregg, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) at PCC Community Wellness Center, discussed mental health issues among women of color and the social stigmas that can prevent them from seeking care. "We have concepts that everyone who gets counseling is 'crazy,' " Gregg said, when in reality counseling is "preventative and promotional."

Marsha Robinet, also a LCSW at PCC, added that "counseling today is working with present issues and stressors… It is important to get help."

Saran Dunmore, a certified personal trainer and wellness coach, shared information about how to get in shape and stay fit. She emphasized that we must, first and foremost, make time for exercise and change our negative attitudes about it. "Tell yourself something different, like, 'I need to exercise!' or 'I love exercise,' " Dunmore said. "When you tell yourself something, you start to believe it." She discussed the importance of a healthy diet: "Be more aware of the things you're putting into your body." Dunmore also encouraged the audience members to use their home as their personal gym. "We all have hallways and kitchens. You can do so much with marching in place, jumping jacks, push-ups, balancing on one leg… Be creative. Use your home to your advantage."

We were thrilled to have such an engaging and informative group of panel speakers, and audience members who were eager to learn and get involved in the dialogue. Women in the audience had an opportunity to ask their own questions to health professionals and truly feel empowered in a group of women coming together to talk about health issues pertinent to women of color. West Suburban Medical Center was incredibly accommodating, and provided a wonderful space for us. We would like to thank Westside Health Authority for collaborating with us to produce such a successful event.

Learn more: Additional health series programs were Obtaining Peace of Mind (on Chicago's South Side), Thriving with Asthma (in Albany Park) and Latina Portrait: Chicago Latinas' Health Today (in Pilsen).


About Westside Health Authority
The most important component of the Westside Health Authority's work is relationship-building among neighbors. Relationships build the capacity of neighbors to be more effective as civic leaders, parents, students or providers of other services. WHA seeks to dispel the myth that scientific data defines a community. The organization believes that the community's strength lies in using the capacity of people who are often labeled as victims, and empowering those who need help. By identifying neighborhood assets and developing trusting relationships, WHA is able to mobilize residents to carry out a community vision in the areas of youth development, health promotions, community development, prisoner re-entry, employment, technology, violence prevention and economic development. The foundation of the organization is community people: 90 percent of staff members come from the community, and several neighborhood volunteers can be found working in some capacity each week.


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