By: Ashmar Mandou
Elected officials, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, and Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, and members of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) celebrated the grand re-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Pilsen South Ashland Health Hub, 1713 S. Ashland Ave., formerly known as the Lower West Clinic, on Wednesday morning.
“The establishment of this Health Hub is the next step in our ongoing commitment to creating a more robust infrastructure to offer no barrier, high-quality mental health services to all residents,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “For too long, the residents of our city have suffered from stress and trauma without access to the care and resources they need to heal. We are changing course by strengthening our mental health infrastructure to provide these services in community settings.”
The Health Hub, which officially opened to Pilsen residents on Monday, October 28, offers no-cost mental health services for adults and youth, alongside with an expanded range of health care services tailored to better meet the needs of the Pilsen community. In addition to mental health services, the Health Hub will provide no-cost vaccinations for uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid, or CHIP-insured children aged 0-18. The Hub will also refer Pilsen residents who need Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services and sexually transmitted infections (STI) services to community health partners who provide those services.
“The Pilsen South Ashland Health Hub represents a vital resource for the community, reinforcing the importance of health equity and accessibility in Chicago,” said CDPH Commissioner Olusimbo ‘Simbo’ Ige, MD, MPH. “Like care for physical health, mental health care is a fundamental right, and in expanding these services, we want all Chicagoans to know that there are myriad options for them to access these free and essential services.” For more information on the Pilsen South Ashland Health Hub, visit the CDPH website.
