| (Worth, IL – June 13, 2024) Arab American Family Service (AAFS) is pleased to announce a new $1 million grant over two years from Cook County Health’s Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County Initiative. AAFS was awarded a grant for the development, maintenance, and expansion of a behavioral health unit offering programs and services to the Arab and Muslim community. AAFS employs a client-centered model of behavioral health care, grounded in trauma-informed frameworks. “We are proud to be part of the Stronger Together Initiative!” Itedal Shalabi, Co-Founder and Executive Director of AAFS said. “AAFS is the first Arab American organization to be awarded this grant, which we will use to continue building a behavioral health unit responsive to the needs of our diverse community. We hope to be the beacon of light in bringing resources, money and services to our communities!” The behavioral health programs funded by the new grant include early intervention, wraparound services, and trauma-informed care, and/or address health-related social needs. These services include programs and services in schools, health centers, and community-based organizations, and initiatives that address upstream drivers of behavioral health and community trauma. “We are so proud to be the recipient of this grant,” Nareman Taha, Co-Founder and Executive Director of AAFS said. “We are finally seeing the inclusion, engagement, and resources coming to linguistically, culturally, and religiously diverse communities in Illinois, which will help us better access resources for mental health for our diverse Arab and Muslim communities.” The Stronger Together Initiative aims to address behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. Fifty-three organizations were selected, with applicants that serve communities that score the highest on the Social-Vulnerability Index receiving priority. This initiative, led by the Office of Behavioral Health at Cook County Health (CCH) is supported by funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury, under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated to CCH by Cook County Government. “This initiative highlights how government and other sectors of our community can work together to benefit the greater good,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said. “This is a historic opportunity to make meaningful change in Cook County for generations.” “I am grateful to President Preckwinkle, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners for entrusting us as stewards of these funds to help address the broad behavioral health needs we see across Cook County,” said Cook County Health Interim CEO Dr. Erik Mikaitis. “The community-focused institutions awarded today will make a significant impact in expanding access to comprehensive, culturally appropriate behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery services. As a leader and convener in this space, Cook County Health knows that we are truly stronger together.” About Cook County Health: One of the largest public health systems in the nation, Cook County Health (CCH) serves as the safety-net for health care in Chicago and suburban Cook County. CCH is comprised of two hospitals, a robust network of more than a dozen community health centers, the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, the Cook County Department of Public Health, Correctional Health Services, which provides health care to individuals at the Cook County Jail and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, and CountyCare, a Medicaid managed care health plan. Through the health system and the health plan, CCH cares for more than 500,000 individuals each year, and its physicians are experts in their fields, committed to providing their patients with comprehensive, compassionate and cutting-edge care. Today, CCH is transforming the provision of health care in Cook County by promoting community-based primary and preventive care, growing an innovative, collaborative health plan, and enhancing the patient experience. About Cook County Government: Cook County is the second largest county in the United States representing 5.2 million residents in Illinois. The President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cook County and oversees the Offices Under the President and presides as president of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. |
