The New Americans Health Information Portal is a collaborative effort involving seven mutual aid associations, the University of Illinois at Chicago Library of the Health Sciences, and Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights. Health promoters from the mutual aid associations review multi-lingual, multi-format health information according to established criteria assuring quality, authority, and cultural competence. Hyperlinks to documents approved by the health promoters are then uploaded onto the website.
The seven mutual aid associations are:
1.Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Cultural Center (BHACC) :
Address: 1016 W. Argyle Chicago IL 60640
Established in 1994 as a refugee center, then as a 501c-3 mutual aid association in 1997, the BHACC targets the 35,000 refugees from the former Yugoslavia living in the greater Chicago area. The language spoken is Bosnian/Serbo-Croatian. Agency has high-speed connection to the Internet and a workstation and meetings rooms for agency staff. Health information resources are limited to the Internet, refugees trained as health care professionals in Bosnia, and the services of the health promoter.
2. Cambodian Association of Illinois (CAI):
Address: 2831 W. Lawrence, Chicago IL 60640
Established in 1976, the CAI serves the 3,000 Cambodian refugees in the Chicago area. Over 1000 Cambodians were assisted last year. The language spoken is Khmer. Agency has high-speed connection to the Internet and multiple workstations for staff. Health information resources are limited to the Internet and the services of the health promoter. There are few Khmer-speaking health professionals.
3.Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA):
Address: 1016 W. Argyle, Chicago 60640
Established in 1981, the CMAA serves refugees and immigrants from China, Taiwan, and elsewhere in the northern section of the Chicagoland area. Approximately 10,000 client encounters took place last year, including Russian, Ethiopian, and other refugees in the various ESL and citizenship classes. The primary languages spoken are Mandarin and Cantonese, with some Vietnamese. Agency has high-speed connection to the Internet and multiple workstations for staff. Health information resources are limited to the Internet, Chinese-speaking health professionals, and the services of the health promoter.
4. Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago (ECAC):
Address: 4750 N. Sheridan, Suite 249, Chicago 60640
Established in 1984, ECAC serves East African refugees in Chicago from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Somalia and also serves as a resettlement agency for refugees from all over Africa. Last year, approximately 400 clients were served in various refugee needs such as ESL, citizenship, health, after-school program, and job development. Primary languages spoken are Amharic, Oromo, and Tigrinya. Agency has high-speed connection to the Internet and multiple workstations for staff. Health information resources are limited to the Internet and the services of the health promoter. There are few health professionals who speak the languages of East Africa.
5. Lao American Community Services (LACS):
Address: 4750 N. Sheridan, Suite 369, Chicago 60640
Established in 1981 and first funded in 1984, LACS addresses the needs of 5,000 Laotian and Hmong refugees in the greater Chicago area, including the outlying communities of Elgin, Rockford, Joliet, and Aurora. Last year, the LACS served over 250 clients. Languages spoken are Thai, Lao and Hmong. Agency has high-speed connection to the Internet and multiple workstations for staff. Health information resources are limited to the Internet and the services of the health promoter. There are few Hmong, Thai, or Lao-speaking health professionals.
6.Pan African Association (PAA) :
Address: 6163 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660
Established in 2002, PAA targets the roughly 50,000 African nationals in the Chicago area with programs as varied as African dance to employment counseling, citizenship classes, and health promotion. Many languages are spoken including Amharic (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia), Oromo (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia), Maay Maay (Somali Bantu), Somali, Kirundi, Kiswahili, Ibo (Nigeria), Ewe (Togo) Yoruba (Nigeria), Dinga (Sudan), Arabic, French, Portuguese (Angola, Mozambique), Hausa (Nigeria), Mandingo (Liberia, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Senegal), Fula/Pullar (West Africa with some parts of Central and Eastern Africa), and Creole (Haiti, Nigeria, and Ghana). Agency has high-speed connection to the Internet and multiple workstations for staff. Health information is limited to the Internet and the services of the health promoter who speaks two African dialects in addition to English. There are few health professionals in the Chicago area who speak African languages.
7. Vietnamese Association of Illinois (VAI):
Address: 5110 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660
Established in 1976, VAI targets the approximately 20,000 Vietnamese refugees in Illinois. The primary language is Vietnamese, but other refugees also seek services who speak Chinese and Amharic. Agency has high-speed connection to the Internet and multiple workstations for staff. Health information resources are limited to the Internet, Vietnamese-speaking health professionals, and the services of the health promoter.
