Chicago School Health Access Collaborative: Navigating an Uncertain Political Landscape
February 06, 2025 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign
Photo by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages
At its January 2025 meeting, the Chicago School Health Access Collaborative (SHAC), an initiative co-convened by Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) and the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC), brought together over 75 organizations for a timely panel discussion on Navigating Change: Protecting Students and Families in an Uncertain Political Landscape.
SHAC is dedicated to ensuring access to quality school health services for Chicago’s most vulnerable students. SHAC brings together critical stakeholders, representing school health service providers, hospital networks and advocates, working alongside Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Department of Public Health, to create systemic change across the health and education sectors in Chicago.
At the January meeting, SHAC members heard from panelists who spoke on topics related to protecting immigrant, migrant and refugee students and families; supporting LGBTQ+ students; preserving comprehensive health services, including reproductive and gender-affirming care; and protecting social safety net programs including Medicaid funding overall as well as Medicaid-funded school health services. The meeting affirmed SHAC’s commitment to supporting all Chicago students, and defending access to care. Panelists highlighted the intersectionality of their work and spoke of the need to collaborate to support students, schools and families.
Meghana Menon, PHIMC’s Director of Adolescent and School Health, emphasized that the meeting topic came directly from conversations with SHAC members, “We have heard from our participants about their priorities and concerns at this moment – this panel discussion was a direct reflection of those priorities.”
The panel included the following leaders in this work:
- Luvia Quiñones, Senior Director of Health Policy, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
- Mike Ziri, Director of Public Policy, Equality Illinois
- Katie Stanczykiewicz, Director of Government Relations, Planned Parenthood of Illinois
- Stephanie Altman, Director of Healthcare Justice and Senior Director of Policy, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
During the meeting, panelists and SHAC members shared a comprehensive list of resources, which are shared below.
Claire Marcy, HSC’s Senior Vice President, emphasized the importance of this convening, “This was an incredible opportunity for SHAC members to hear about the work of advocates in the field, create connections across issues, and share valuable resources for organizations that are providing health services in schools and working with students and families.”
If you are interested in learning more about SHAC, please contact Liz Wilson.
RESOURCES
Immigrant Rights
- Illinois Alliance for Welcoming Healthcare: Creating a Welcoming Healthcare Environment for All
- National Immigration Law Center: Protected Areas Factsheet
- Steps providers can do now to protect patients/children: shared by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR):
- Develop a written response policy and preparedness plans in advance
- Designate an authorized person to review warrants and subpoenas
- Understand the distinctions between public and private areas
- Train non-authorized staff and volunteers on how to respond to ICE requests
- Document all interactions with immigration enforcement
LGBTQIA+ Supports
- Learn more about the proposed federal ban barring transgender students from participating in girls’ and women’s sports at school, and educate your elected officials about the great harm this would cause.
- Equality Illinois: Equality Illinois Statewide Network; Equality Illinois Stay Informed; LGBTQ Resource Guide
- Advocates for Trans Equality: Introducing the Trans Legal Survival Guide
- Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago : The Alliance Program
Protecting Medicaid
- Healthy Schools Campaign: Resources to Protect School Medicaid and Student Health
Reproductive Health
- Planned Parenthood: CHAT Program; PPIL Education, Training, and Outreach; Planned Parenthood Illinois Action
Additional Supports
- Chicago Public Schools: Guidance and Resources Regarding New Presidential Administration
- Healthy Schools Campaign: Schools Must be Safe Places for Students and Families
- Shriver Center on Poverty Law: HelpHub Healthcare Options – provider technical assistance center for any front-line staff working with families. The HelpHub includes resources, trainings, and individual assistance and referrals. Get Care Illinois – consumer facing website in several languages for families to understand healthcare coverage and access including immigrant eligibility.
- Illinois Department of Human Rights: File a Complaint of Discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights
- ACLU: Privacy & Technology
- Chicago Public Schools: Galaxy Summit Event Registration
