Our History

Data Matters
These data visualizations provided accurate, trusted Illinois-specific data on healthcare delivery, Medicaid, the ACA and the uninsured in Illinois as the state approached launch of the marketplace and in the early years of implementation. Making data available in accessible and meaningful formats is essential to understanding existing and proposed public policy.

Healthy Chicago Hospital Collaborative
In response to an ACA requirement that public hospitals assess the health needs of their communities, this initiative helped Chicago area facilities pool resources and strategies. In 2016, it merged with the Health Impact Collaborative of Cook County and is being operated by the Illinois Public Health Institute.

HelpHub
This online community where enrollment and outreach specialists in Illinois can share their experiences is now being operated by the Shriver Center. It was and remains a place where enrollment assisters can share their experiences, ask questions and troubleshoot problems they are having helping consumers enroll into affordable, comprehensive healthcare options

Illinois Connections for Families of the Fallen
This initiative connected families through events, workshops, and peer support after a catastrophic loss to help them begin to find a new normal. Spring and fall connection events, open to all family and friends of fallen Illinois service members, often helping more than 600 families a year.

Illinois Warrior to Warrior
Coming home should be the easiest part of military service, but for many transition is a challenge. Returning service members and their families often do not know what resources exist for them. The Illinois Warrior to Warrior program was created to bridge the gaps for returning veterans.

Make Medicare Work
Since 2004, this collaboration with our longtime partners, Age Options and Progress Center for Independent Living, has worked to promote access to affordable healthcare options in Illinois. The more than 1,200 participants from over 250 organizations included advocates, aging and disability service providers, consumers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Military Sexual Assault Awareness
Our nationally recognized military sexual trauma training provided critical information on this under-reported problem, typically called military sexual trauma, or MST. Our workshops educated care professionals and community members on how to recognize MST, make appropriate referrals, and advocate for the survivors.

National Consortium for Health Systems Development
A technical assistance partnership, NCHSD provided state-tailored aid for projects to develop comprehensive health and employment service systems for people with disabilities. Authorized under the Ticket to Work legislation and approved by the Health Care Finance Administration, NCHSD employed state-to-state information sharing, individualized technical assistance, and the dissemination of best practices to a broad array of involved stakeholders in states around the country.

Our Family Security
These stories from real people with a family member who receives benefits, along with factual information about the program, demonstrated that Social Security is a vital resource in maintaining the economic well-being of ordinary American families.

Patient Empowerment
Here in America, we spend a great deal on medical research that often does not reflect the interests of people who have the condition being studied. This first-of-its-kind stakeholder training project for people with traumatic spinal cord injuries prepared them to play active roles in SCI research.

Think Beyond The Label
This $11 million national media campaign challenging the traditional understanding of professional capability sought to raise awareness that hiring people with disabilities makes good business sense. More than 30 state health and human services agencies participated via partnerships.