Evanston/Skokie Community Health Center Opens Next Week

Erie Family Health Center Evanston/Skokie is opening its doors at a brand new facility on Hartrey next Monday, Nov. 4.

Erie is one of 219 community health centers funded by President Obama's Affordable Care Act, and has been operating out of the Evanston civic center for the past year. In that time, it has served 1,400 medical patients and 850 dental patients, according to an e-mail from health director Tiosha Goss.

The new facility at 1285 Hartrey Ave. will allow Erie to serve more than 5,500 people, according to Goss. Offerings include pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine, oral health services for children and behavioral care. 

In addition to serving more patients, Erie's new facility will also allow it to expand many of those offerings. The new location has five dental chairs and no waiting list or referrals needed for kids under age 20, while prenatal care will now include counseling and benefits assistance.

New services at the facility include health education classes, behavioral health patient visits and a children's playroom. There will also be a dedicated room for breastfeeding or pumping mothers. 

The new facility will also offer case management for pregnant women and teen mothers.

Erie operates 12 health centers in the city of Chicago, but the Evanston/Skokie location is the only one in the suburbs thus far. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides a $650,000 annual operating grant, while NorthShore University HealthSystem committed $600,000 in operating support over the first three years and $1.2 million toward opening the permanent location.

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