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FY25 Q3 : January 1 – March 31
HIGHLIGHTS
Last quarter, the Michael Reese Health Trust supported our grantee partners during a difficult time, as many safety net programs and policies faced threats and cuts. Their dedication to protecting communities is inspiring, but things shouldn’t be this way. Policymakers should be strengthening the safety net, not dismantling it.
Guided by the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam — “repair the world” — we are focusing even more on repairing and strengthening our systems. We will not back down, and we will continue to support our partners today, tomorrow, and in the future. A summary of last quarter’s work is below.
Undue Medical Debt
In February, Governor JB Pritzker joined advocates, healthcare professionals, and patients to announce that the latest round of relief in the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program has erased more than $220 million in medical debt for approximately 170,000 individuals statewide. As part of the event, Ameya Pawar, Michael Reese Health Trust President and CEO, was invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on the broader impact of canceling medical debt.
Michael Reese is proud to have been one of the first contributors to the project, committing $250,000 in June 2024.
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.
Read the press release: https://bit.ly/3F4xpH6
Foundations on the Hill: Championing the Nonprofit Sector
In early February, Ameya Pawar, Michael Reese Health Trust President and CEO, and Blair Harvey, Chief Program Officer, joined over 30 colleagues from across Illinois in Washington, D.C., for Foundations on the Hill (FOTH), the largest annual policy conference for the philanthropic sector. Every spring, United Philanthropy Forum, Council on Foundations, and Independent Sector host this national event to connect foundation leaders with policymakers.
This year, Forefront led a historically large Illinois delegation and organized two successful days of Hill visits, including meetings with Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Danny Davis. We’re grateful to Forefront for their leadership and continued dedication to amplifying our collective voice.
Karina’s Law
In February, Governor JB Pritzker signed Karina’s Bill into law, a measure that requires law enforcement officers to promptly remove firearms from those accused of abuse. This legislation comes at a critical time, as Illinois has seen a 63% increase in firearm-related domestic violence deaths between 2019 and 2023.
This milestone is a testament to the unwavering commitment and courage of advocates, survivors, and organizations dedicated to protecting those affected by gender–based violence.
Michael Reese Health Trust is proud to have supported the advocacy that helped make this possible, including the efforts of Jennifer Rosenkranz, Michael Reese’s Program Director, Domestic Violence, and numerous partners who have worked tirelessly to champion such vital initiatives.
Extra recognition for this huge step goes to The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, a key leader who spent years advocating for this law. Michael Reese will continue to work with partners as we collaborate on the implementation phase of Karina’s Law.Relaunching the Staying Strong Collaborative
In December, we engaged with our partners to understand how we can best support them. One key area of focus emerged— advocacy. In response, Michael Reese relaunched Staying Strong, a collective of over 40 advocacy and foundation partners working together to safeguard health equity.
Led by Jennifer Rosenkranz, Program Director, Domestic Violence, and Gina Massuda Barnett, Program Director, Health Workforce, the collaborative officially reconvened on February 4th. Staying Strong is a rapid-response advocacy and learning collaborative that connects funders, advocates, and policy leaders in moments that matter. In times of political or social threat, we activate our network to share critical information, coordinate responses, and protect access to health and opportunity.
If you’re interested in attending the next Staying Strong convening, contact Jennifer Rosenkranz at jrosenkranz@wearemichaelreese.org.
Other Key Moments
March 2025
Ameya Pawar and Blair Harvey were joined by Board Members, Chair Mally Rutkoff and Vice Chair Judy Smith at the Jewish Funders Network Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference united individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing social and economic justice, offering a chance to learn, collaborate, and strengthen partnerships for positive change within and beyond the Jewish community.
March 2025
Site Visit: Ameya Pawar, Senior Administrative Assistant, David Israel, and Board Vice Chair Judy Smith visited CJE SeniorLife, a longtime partner of Michael Reese. Rooted in Jewish values, CJE SeniorLife works to enhance the quality of life and facilitate independence of older adults. Learn more about their work. >
January 2025
Ameya attended a luncheon at the Norton and Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics, a longstanding grantee partner of Michael Reese and a supporting foundation of the Jewish United Fund.
Team Updates
Team Building Retreat
In February, Michael Reese Health Trust held a two-day Team Building Retreat at Catalyst Ranch. During our sessions, we took time to reflect, recharge, and work to strengthen our team, ensuring we’re better equipped to serve our mission and community.
Promotions
Laura Embers has been promoted from Accountant to Senior Accountant. During her time at Michael Reese, Laura has quickly become a valuable member of our team, demonstrating expertise and dedication to our financial operations. Additionally, Launita Scott has been promoted to Chief of Staff and Director of People & Culture. We appreciate her contributions to the organization and look forward to her continued leadership in this new role.
Educational Milestone
Congratulations to Dr. LaTisha Jestine Hardy! Dr. Hardy, Michael Reese Program Coordinator, recently earned her Doctor of Human Services with a specialization in Leadership and Organizational Management from Capella University. We are excited for all that’s ahead!
Q3 Partners
Honor Our
Jewish Legacy
We support health providers, advocates, and services that serve the Jewish community.
CJE: SeniorLife– Sustainable Growth Plan ($40,000)
Funding will support the hiring of a fundraising and strategy consultant to create a development framework. The grant will support the development and implementation of a fundraising framework and a pathway for increased funding in the future
End
Homelessness
We work to end homelessness by advocating for stronger, more coordinated systems that ensure people have access to stable housing.
Thresholds – The Glenn SRO Preservation ($250,000)
Funding will support the acquisition of Glenn Apartments to preserve 100 units of affordable housing. The Glenn is one of the few remaining Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Hotels in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood and is a vital part of the housing ecosystem for people experiencing homelessness, especially those with behavioral health needs.
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.
Black Midwifery Collective – Licensed Certified Professional Midwifery Program ($300,000; 36 months)
Funding will support the establishment of Illinois’ first Licensed Certified Professional Midwifery (CPM) degree program at Kennedy King College, development of complementary continuing education offerings, and advocacy for equitable provider reimbursement. This program will serve as a pipeline to higher-wage birth-related employment for Community Health Workers (CHWs) and doulas.
Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance – General Operating Support ($150,000; 24 months)
Funding will support the maintenance of this vital funder alliance and the expansion of their work in the healthcare, public health, and social service sectors, which all focus on community hiring, worker pathways, and job quality.
Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)– Mental Health Equity & Justice Campaign ($200,000; 24 months)
Funding will support increased access to mental health services and expand the number of Community Healers who provide peer-to-peer mental health support in low-income communities of color.
Enlace Chicago – Community Health Worker (CHW) Program & PAES Network ($150,000; 24 months)
Funding will support expanding the reach of their CHWs in addressing critical community issues and increase participation in Promoviendo, Abogando, y Educando por la Salud (PAES), a network of predominantly Spanish-speaking Latinx/e CHWs in Little Village.
Mercy Housing Lakefront – Community Health Worker (CHW) Program ($145,000; 24 months)
Funding will support the expansion of their CHW program by adding three additional part-time CHWs to serve three more Permanent Supportive Housing properties in Chicago’s Uptown and Roseland neighborhoods.
Strategic Initiatives
We support ideas, projects, and approaches that align with our mission and promote health equity.
Shriver Center on Poverty Law – General Operating Support- ($200,000; 24 months)
Funding will support efforts to :
1) preserve and protect funding, eligibility, and entitlements in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid and State Immigrant Health Programs, and
2) reduce churn in the Medicaid system and ease the transition between Medicaid and the Marketplace keeping recipients in coverage and in stable healthcare relationships.
Legal Council for Health Justice – General Operating Support- ($200,000; 24 months)
Funding will support efforts to provide legal representation and conduct advocacy to protect and secure healthcare coverage and access in Illinois. A focus in the coming year will be preserving, or limiting reductions, in Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and protections for low-income clients, particularly immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Health First Collaborative (HFC)
HFC is an incubator and amplifier of community-driven ideas that have the potential to transform health.
Protect Our Care Illinois (POCIL) – Rapid Response Funding- Defense of Medicaid ($500,000; 12 months)
Funding will support five POCIL organizations that are part of a larger statewide coalition working together to protect and expand access to affordable healthcare and essential health services for the people of Illinois. The five organizations include: AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Citizen Action Illinois, EverThrive Illinois, Legal Council for Health Justice, and Shriver Center on Poverty Law.
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Exploring the Intersection of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Domestic Violence
Decades of research into traumatic brain injuries (TBI) initially focused on athletes and veterans, examining the immediate and long-term effects of violent blows or jolts to the head, such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, mood swings, depression, seizures, migraines, and memory problems.
However, there’s a less explored aspect of TBI – its impact on survivors of domestic violence. While studying brain injuries in the mid-1990s, Dr. Eve Valera, an associate professor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and a research scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, began volunteering at a domestic violence shelter. She noticed that the abuse and problems many women reported were consistent with possibly experiencing concussions. Women reported many acts of violence that could cause trauma to the brain, as well as many post-concussive symptoms.
Of the 99 women she interviewed, approximately 75% reported at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained from their partners, and about half reported more than one — oftentimes many more than one.
Unfortunately, nearly 20 years later — concussion-related research within the domain of intimate partner violence continues to be scarce, signifying a largely unacknowledged and significantly under-researched public health crisis.
The Brain Injury Association of America highlights that undetected and untreated TBI can result in enduring behavioral, emotional, and cognitive struggles, potentially causing issues like homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse, or even loss of life.
The Pathways Program at Swedish Hospital, led by Director Mariá Balata, has been working to address this intersection since 2015. This initiative focuses on equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge to recognize signs of abuse, including TBI symptoms, in survivors. Balata emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of gender-based violence on health and empowering survivors.
“The survivors we work with often have a hard time keeping track of appointments or commitments. What doctors would call noncompliance we now understand might actually be the brain struggling with executive function. What we used to think of as emotional trauma, we are now understanding may be a biological response.”
While there’s no cure for TBI, our brains can heal, and brain injuries can get better, especially when they get identified early.
Providing survivors with tools to comprehend their situation and its effects on their functioning is crucial. By understanding what’s happening to them, survivors can liberate themselves from the emotional burden imposed by people who cause harm.
“And while they still have to continue to struggle with what happened, they know they can take steps to live with it. So maybe it’s using a cane, maybe it’s knowing you’re going to need lists for everything, maybe it’s knowing you’re going to need alarms on your phone for reminders. That’s better than walking through the world thinking you’re stupid or incapable, as the abuser might like you to believe.”
“My hope is that by providing this kind of support people learn to walk with their trauma in a way that doesn’t weigh them down in the way that it did before.”
“If we can help people understand what is happening, it can provide an important release of an emotional burden that helps them regain a sense of self. Their sense of self is no longer defined by what the abuser did or the narrative that that person created. There’s a new narrative where they get to take back control.”
Michael Reese has been a partner of the Pathways Program since 2016 and is currently convening providers of domestic violence services and experts in head injury to consider how best to deepen our investment in this critical area. Our mission to ensure all Chicagoans can live healthy lives includes a focus on domestic violence. This priority area focuses on three key strategies to support both survivors and those who cause harm to break the cycle of violence:
Create a service-delivery system that ensures survivors of domestic violence-related head injury are identified, screened and treated;
Increase and strengthen services for People Who Cause Harm (PWCH);
Support select innovative models that expand existing domestic violence services.
