FY26 Q3: January 1- March 31, 2026

Reaching People Who Cause Harm: Policies, Funding, and Strategies in Cook County

Building on decades of work to prevent domestic violence and support survivors, Michael Reese Health Trust, in partnership with the VNA Foundation, conducted a landscape scan led by Callie Kaplan, MPH, Senior Research Scientist at Smith Child Health Catalyst, housed within the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The research team included Leonardo Barrera, MPH, Leopoldo Castillo, MA, Linda Martinez, MPH, and Connor Karwowski. 

The resulting report identifies urgent challenges as well as new opportunities for how Cook County can support survivors, interrupt cycles of harm, and keep families safe. 

“When we talk about preventing domestic violence, we have to talk about the full system, including the people who are causing harm and the factors driving that behavior,” said Jennifer Rosenkranz, Senior Program Director, Domestic Violence at Michael Reese Health Trust. “This project helped us understand where the system is working and where families are being left without options. Investing in this type of support is one of the most impactful ways to keep survivors safe and interrupt cycles of violence, and Michael Reese looks forward to bringing partners together to advance this critical work.” 

Learn more and download the report. >

Eliminating Medical Debt

Just 15 months after launching, the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program has now erased more than $1.1 billion in medical debt for over half a million Illinoisans. Illinois is one of more than a dozen states and local governments partnering with the nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt to eliminate residents’ medical debt. 

Eliminating medical debt in the communities we serve advances health equity and aligns with Michael Reese’s vision of ensuring all communities have the resources to be healthy and safe. Addressing medical debt tackles root causes of health inequity, such as economic insecurity, and opens the door for collaboration and policy conversations focused on debt prevention—particularly in low-income and Black communities. 

Learn more. > 

Illinois Joins the World Health Organization 

What does it mean for Illinois residents that the U.S. has left the WHO but the state has joined the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network?  

Michael Reese Health Trust, President & CEO Ameya Pawar joined WBEZ to unpack what this moment means for public health, what comes next for communities, and how organizations like Michael Reese are thinking about the role philanthropy can play in this moment. 

“It’s disconcerting, its scary to think that the federal government is retreating from institutions where collective action is important. These things don’t know borders. And yet, the federal government is retreating. So to see the state of Illinois step up and leaders step up and step into the breach is inspiring.”   

Listen to the segment here. >

Organizational Updates

Day of Service

End Homelessness

We work to end homelessness by advocating for stronger, more coordinated systems that ensure people have access to stable housing.  

Chicago Rehab Network– General Operating Grant to Support Strategic Planning ($100,000; 12 months) 

Funding will support implementation of key priorities from CRN’s recently completed three-year strategic plan, aligning its vision with capacity and elevating the next generation of leadership. This investment will help CRN continue advancing housing equity and strengthening Chicago’s affordable housing ecosystem for decades to come. 

Prevent Domestic Violence

We work to break the cycle of domestic violence by supporting both survivors and those who cause harm. Helping both populations is key to healing, reducing health gaps, preventing future violence, and building safer, healthier communities.

Between Friends– Healthy Relationship Education: REACH and YCARE ($75,000; 12 months) 

Funding will support two elements of a healthy relationship education program for youth. REACH is a school-based program for youth in grades 6-12.  YCARE is a summer leadership development program for teen boys that teaches them to identify, understand and manage their emotions and engage in healthy relationships. 

Cook County State Attorney’s Office– Domestic Violence Advisory Council ($50,000; 12 months) 

Funding will support The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) to establish a Domestic Violence Advisory Council to enhance services for survivors of domestic violence.

Strengthen the Health Workforce

We work to make community health workers (CHW) a permanent and valued part of the health workforce. Using their unique expertise and lived experiences, CHWs help improve the health of people and communities across Chicago.   

Women Employed– General Operating Support ($50,000; 12 months) 

Funding will support Women Employed in strengthening the Illinois Time to Care Coalition; implementing a targeted communications and public will–building campaign to increase support for a comprehensive, universal, and inclusive paid family and medical leave program; and identifying and elevating storytellers to broaden awareness and impact. 

Southwest Organizing Project– Healthy Southwest System of Care ($100,000; 12 months) 

Funding will sustain Healthy Southwest System of Care’s CHW workforce by supporting compensation, training, supervision, and care coordination infrastructure. 

Strategic Initiatives

We support ideas, projects, and approaches that align with our mission and promote health equity. 

Legal Council for Health Justice– Support health policy and advocacy. ($100,000; 12 months) 

Funding will help sustain the health policy work previously supported by the Shriver Center on Poverty Law.  

Bold Ideas

The root causes of health inequities are systemic and deeply entrenched. To disrupt them, we must be willing to push boundaries and take risks. 

Prairie State Access Fund (PSAF) 

Prairie State Access Fund (Prairie Fund) was created to sustain and strengthen the reproductive and sexual health ecosystem in Illinois to ensure access for all. This first round of grantmaking will support organizations working across the full continuum of reproductive and sexual healthcare – from contraception and STI care to gender-affirming healthcare and abortion care – ensuring that providers and community-based organizations have the resources to sustain and deliver services. 

• Chicago Abortion Fund– General Operating Support ($400,000; 24 months) 

• Planned Parenthood of Illinois– General Operating Support ($200,000; 12 months) 

• Red Tent Fund– General Operating Support ($100,000; 24 months) 

• Repro TLC– General Operating Support ($300,000; 24 months) 

Responsive Grants 

These one-time grants will support organizations to stay nimble in a rapidly changing environment by supporting everything from core operations and staff stability to advocacy and rapid response.