VNA Health Care, the largest Community Health Center in the Chicago suburbs, is officially operating as an Illinois Welcoming Center (IWC), becoming part of a statewide network aimed at supporting immigrant and refugee communities. As a Welcoming Center, VNA Health Care will offer comprehensive, culturally competent services, including holistic case management and resource coordination. This designation enhances VNA’s capacity to address the unique needs of immigrants and refugees and helps eliminate systemic barriers the community may face in approaching state services. IWCs are one-stop state-funded service centers that connect immigrants and refugees to care and resources from state and local non-profit service providers. VNA’s Aurora, Elgin and Romeoville area locations are designated as Illinois Welcoming Centers, and like all VNA clinics, will offer care regardless of background, insurance status or ability to pay. As an IWC partner, VNA will be able to refer people to resources such as specialty medical care, educational services, legal assistance, food assistance and more.  VNA helps expand access to care by offering bilingual services at clinics so that language is not a barrier to getting treatment. Through the help of the Illinois Welcoming Center grant provided by IDHS, VNA has been able to add a dedicated, bilingual case manager to help operate the Illinois Welcoming Center program at VNA.