Before becoming Greater Family Health, we were known as the Free Clinic, which provided primary care services to Elgin’s low-income families. We operated out of several different locations, including the basement of a local church and the Community Crisis Center.
In 1998, a group of local stakeholders and organizations, known as the Community Task Force 2000, came together to address the health care needs of Elgin’s low-income community. The goal was to provide needed primary care services to Elgin residents and minimize the burden on the local hospitals, which were seeing patients in their Emergency Rooms for non-emergency needs. The solution to this problem was to create a community health center that would provide quality health care to all, including those who didn’t have the ability to pay, and our organization was born.
In 2002, Greater Family Health applied to become a Federally Qualified Health Center, and after a successful application, we began receiving support from the Bureau of Primary Health Care. While originally created to serve the Elgin community, we have successfully expanded and now focus on 54 municipalities in Illinois.
We believe that everyone deserves access to high quality, affordable health care delivered with respect by compassionate and qualified professionals. We have a commitment to improve the quality of care we provide and the health of our patients. This commitment led us to pursue accreditation by the Joint Commission and the certification as a Primary Care Medical Home. Because of our Primary Care Medical Home status, our patients benefit from having access to an interdisciplinary team of medical, dental, and behavioral health providers, all working in partnership with the patient to improve their quality of life and their families.
We work to eliminate any barriers that may keep our patients from accessing services. We do this by providing 24-hour access to providers, comprehensive care management, transportation assistance, access to reduced-price pharmaceuticals, on-site laboratories, same and next-day appointments, bilingual staff and translation services.
Mission & Vision
Mission
Vision
Core Values and Guiding Principles
Caring and Respect
Quality
Excellence
We have qualified staff who excel as a result of training, coaching and mentoring.
Diversity
We extend our services to all people and ensure our staff reflects the cultural diversity of those we serve.
Integrity
We ensure staff are responsive, professional and accountable for their performance.
Responsive and Collaborative
We assess community priorities, needs, and expectations, and work cooperatively with other providers and resources to address those needs.
Advocacy
We advocate for patient rights.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Jason Carey
Stacy David
Dr. Stephannie Davies, MD
Lupe Fonseca
Christina Mazhary
Erin Segovia, RN, BSN
Robert Warzecha
Board of Directors
Officers
- Board Chair: Lizette Leanos (UI Health)
- Past-Board Chair: Deborah Everett (Community Member)
- Board Chair-Elect: Nimra Kahn (Community Member)
- Board Treasurer: Kasia Zarrow (K. Creative, Inc)
- Board Secretary: Laura Espinoza (Gail Borden Public Library)
Board Members
- Jessica Alvarez (Community Member)
- Paul Bednar (Broker – Real People Realty)
- Eira Corral-Sepulveda (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago)
- Jeremy Hayes (One Source Productions)
- Brian Heimberg (Attorney - Huck Buoma, PC)
- Nimra Kahn (Community Member)
- Kasia Zarrow (K. Creative, Inc)
Committee Volunteers
- Donna Anderson
- Rebeka Berry
- Kurt Bogott
- Bud Heimberg
- Ed Hunter
- Lisa Sangster
Ex-Officio Board Members
- Corey Dixon (Kane County Sheriff’s Office)
Learn More About Greater Family Health
Did you know that Greater Family Health is accredited by the Joint Commission?
Greater Family Health has earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval and accreditation as a Primary Care Medical Home (PCHM). Only 10% of all ambulatory health centers in the U.S. qualify for this recognition.
The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization and the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. To earn and maintain The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™, an organization must undergo an on-site survey by a Joint Commission survey team at least every three years.
If you’d like to file a complaint, click here.
Did you know that Greater Family Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)?
In 2002, Greater Family Health applied to become a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), and after a successful application, we began receiving support from the Bureau of Primary Care Health Care.
The first FQHCs were established in the U.S. more than 50 years ago by community residents and health care providers who believed that everyone should have access to quality health care no matter who they are, where they live, or their ability to pay. The health center movement they launched brought doctors and health care services into medically underserved areas all across the country.
Community Health Centers are independent, non-profit, non-governmental health care organizations. While no two health centers are exactly alike, they share the same mission: To provide access to high quality, cost-effective health care services to everyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
Did you know that Greater Family Health is funded by United Way?
United Way is an organization that operates in communities across the nation and world. United Way’s mission, to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good, is realized through local support. United Ways locally fund area agencies like Greater Family Health and support efforts towards three areas of focus: Education, Income and Health.
Did you know that Integrated Health Care is an essential part of Greater Family Health’s philosophy of care provision?
Greater Family Health is certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH). Our status as a PCMH means we can provide our patients with many benefits, including care integration for patients with multiple health concerns, expanded access to care, high quality and safe care, and a care relationship that is a partnership between you (the patient) and us (the Care Team). We are dedicated to working with you and your family to ensure that all your needs are met.
We provide our patients with a Care Team that delivers comprehensive and integrated health care because we know many of our patients have multiple health concerns. Integrated Health Care is the systematic coordination of general and behavioral health care provided by Greater Family Health. Integrating mental health, primary care, and sometimes substance abuse services produce the best outcomes and prove the most effective approach to caring for people with multiple health care needs.
Did You Know that Integrated Health Care Benefits You?
We are responsible for meeting the large majority of our patient’s physical and mental health care needs, including prevention and wellness, acute care, and chronic care. Within Greater Family Health, a team has been built to your needs.
You don’t need to go to different medical practices to receive the variety of high-quality health care services and treatments that you need, as we can either provide that care directly or coordinate it with you. In addition, we will assist you in connecting with services and care provided by pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers and care coordinators.
