Presenting to a standing room only crowd, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Sinai Health System kicked off their collaborative effort to identify and mitigate diabetes in the Latino neighborhoods around South Lawndale. The project relies on the expertise of Sinai Urban Health Institute, developed during its community health work in North Lawndale over the past two years and earlier epidemiological work that identified a disproportionate prevalence of diabetes among the Puerto Rican –heritage residents of Humboldt Park.

Karen Teitelbaum, EVP and Chief Operating Officer for Sinai Health System and Karen Atwood, President of Blue Cross Blue Shield if Illinois made opening remarks. Project Director Joseph West, ScD explained the goals of the unfolding Lawndale Diabetes Project. Twelfth Ward Alderman George Cardenas and Senator Tony Munoz were present in affirmation of the relevance and need for this focus on diabetes in the Latino Lawndale communities. Said Atwood, “With the help of community leaders and residents, we have an opportunity to make a very real and lasting difference here, to improve the health and wellness of the Lawndale communities.”

The Lawndale Diabetes Project at a Glance

Two-year effort to reach 10,000 adults and 2,500 children

The Lawndale Diabetes Project is committed to working with the community to 1) increase knowledge; 2) offer resources to support change; 3) foster individual and community action.

Community health workers will conduct household screenings for diabetes and childhood obesity, and will help promote diabetes self-management. Residents willing to participate, the Diabetes Project team may provide follow-up home visits and phone calls, offer medical and doctor referrals, free diabetes testing, and invitations to health fairs, instruction in “healthy cooking” and diabetes self-management classes. For information about participating in the project, call 773.257.6024.