Circle Family Care hosted its annual fundraiser, "Jazz on Lake" at the Carleton Hotel, 1110 Pleasant Street, Oak Park, IL, March 18, 2006. More than 100 guest enjoyed an appetizer buffet, listened to a jazz quartet, and bid on items at the silent auction. The top prize was a Two week's vacation to Orlando Florida.

As well as airline tickets from Orbitz.com. The event raised more than $12,000.00 for Circle Family Care's supportive services for disadvantaged children and youths on Chicago's West Side.

Departures:

Thank you for your yeas of service.

Dr. Chen Chung Chen will be retiring from CFC after 22 years of service on June 29, 2006. Dr. Chen served as Psychiatrist at both the Austin and Humboldt Park Behavioral Health Units.

School Physicals available now, call and schedule your child's appointment early.

"Health center opens in North Lawndale " - Circle Family Care featured a Northwestern University article on Chicago health care for disadvantaged populations

National Health Center Week Celebration A Community Success

National Health Center Week was celebrated August 10-16 to recognize the service and contributions of Community, Migrant, and Homeless Health Centers. Circle Family Care, serving the communities of Austin, Humboldt Park, East and West Garfield and North Lawndale observed the week with a multitude of health education sessions and free health screenings.

In the lobby of CFC's main clinic at 4909 W. Division in Chicago, Nurse Practitioners Nita Beran and Carolyn Samec provided free blood pressure and diabetes testing to community members on a walk-in basis. They also took the opportunity to dispense health information and follow-up recommendations for these conditions, as well as educational materials on men's health, prenatal care and other health issues relating to our West Side population.

At the same time, outreach workers dispensed information and helped area residents sign up for Kidcare, which provides vital, low-cost medical insurance to low-income mothers and children. Free school physicals were offered on friday August 15, to students of Westinghouse Career Academy (CFC partners with Westinghouse to provide health education) and neighborhood residents ready to return to school. Additionally, health education classes were conducted throughout the week in the clinic's meeting room on such subjects as smoking cessation, stress management and controlling diabetes and asthma. Through these activities Circle Family Care provided free services and education to more than 300 West Side residents over the course of the week.

The observance of Health Center Week comes at a time when more and more Americans are turning to health centers for medical care, where no one is turned away regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Community, Migrant, and Homeless Centers have compiled a solid record of success for nearly 40 years of caring for the uninsured and medically underserved," said Jennifer Riskind, Director of Development and Public Relations. "They have dramatically reduced health disparities and pioneered successes in treating chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension." Health Centers provide care to more than 13 million people nationwide.

The achievements of health centers have won notice from President Bush and the Congress. The President's Health Center Initiative calls for strengthening the health safety net and doubling the number of patients served at health centers by 2006. In addition, the Institute of Medicine has proposed tapping 40 Community Health Centers to develop national models of practice for the delivery of "stellar" primary care as part of the solution to the national health care crisis.

Circle Family Care CEO Presented with the Sheila Lyne, RSM, Outstanding Community Advocate Award

Circle Family Care CEO, Len Sharber, was presented with the Sheila Lyne, RSM, Outstanding Community Advocate Award on December 18, 2002. The award was received during the First Annual Recognition Awards Reception for the Chicago/Cook County Community Health Council.

Named in honor of the Council’s co-founder, the award is designed to recognize community advocates who exhibit outstanding service to members of the community and/or communities for which they serve. Nominees must exemplify outstanding behavior in one or more of the following areas: Innovation in ways to improve the health status of community residents; Community-based partnerships; and Service.

Len Sharber has been the Executive Director (currently titled Chief Executive Officer) for Circle Family Care since 1984. He received a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in 1970, with a major in Physics and minors in both Education and Mathematics. He obtained his Masters in Divinity from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1975 with emphasis in Pastoral Counseling and Church Renewal. Mr. Sharber is an ordained minister with credentials bestowed by the American Baptist Churches and current in the Advent Christian Church. He is also an Advanced Family Therapist having attained the Advanced Certificate from the Family Institute of Chicago in 1980.

Currently, Mr. Sharber is Chair-elect of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, President of the Westside Health Authority, Secretary/Treasurer of the Cook County/Community Health Council, and Co-Convener of the Local Area Network 67 for Child and Adolescent Services. Len also sits on the local FEMA Board and is President of the Prairie States Conference of Advent Christian Churches. He is a professional member of the American Family Therapy Academy.

In his capacity on the Chicago/Cook County Community Health Council, Mr. Sharber has served on the Council since it's inception, and is currently the Treasurer of the Council, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, and a member of the Executive, Development and Search Committees.

Incorporated in 1977, Circle Family Care (CFC) provides medical, educational, social, and behavioral health and human services, targeting the under-served populations on Chicago's West Side. On the eve of its' 25th Anniversary, CFC is still rooted in the community, offering such vital services as foster care, individual and family counseling, family support services, art therapy, teen outreach, psychotherapy, case management, medical services to the homeless, psychosocial rehabilitation, immunizations, complete family practice, HIV/AIDS outreach and health education services. Our physicians are on staff at West Suburban, Oak Park, Bethany and The University of Illinois hospitals. The Chicago Department of Health, Office of Mental Health/Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and the United States Bureau of Primary Health Care license the Agency. CFC is also accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and provides services on a sliding fee scale without regard to gender, race, religion or financial resource.

Community Gathered to Celebrate 25 Years of Circle Family Cares

Circle Family Care (CFC) celebrated its 25th anniversary with the gala Rooted in the Community…Reaching for the Stars on Saturday, November 2, 2002 at the Harold Washington Library Wintergarden Room. The event marked CFC's 25 years of providing quality care to Chicago's West Side residents.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell served as the Keynote Speaker, and CLTV Weekend News Anchor Evelyn Holmes hosted the evening. Guests mingled during the cocktail hour while purchasing chances to win a grand-prize trip to the Oyster Bay Resort in St. Martin, then dined on grilled salmon and beef tenderloin prepared by Blue Plate Catering. After dinner, Mary Mitchell spoke of “How I know what I know,” sharing her experience growing up in a family of ten children in the projects, and how important she feels it is to continue to give back to the community and serve those in need.

Evelyn Holmes noted “the feeling of warmth and community” in the room, and stressed the sense of obligation we all have to care for those with nowhere else to turn. Before Impulse got everyone on their feet dancing, awards were presented to Jon & Nita Beran, Paul & Emily Bray, and Circle Family Care CEO Len Sharber in recognition of their contribution as founding members of Circle Family Care and 25 years of service to the Agency. Gala Co-Chairs Shelia Cooper and Suzette Porter were thrilled with the turnout, pointing out that the future of Circle Family Care over the next 25 years started then and there.

Funds raised will benefit Circle Family Care’s programming, helping extend our services to children and families in need. Since 1977, CFC has been providing life saving care to children and families on Chicago’s West Side. This year, over 13,000 individuals will be served at seven sites throughout the Austin and Humboldt Park neighborhoods. CFC provides an array of medical, behavioral and educational services specifically designed to reduce the hardships suffered by low-income families.

A major emphasis is placed on prevention of family dysfunction through parent training, individual and family counseling and case management services. Programs are targeted to the West Side’s underserved population: teens, expectant mothers, parents in crisis, abused mothers and children, HIV/AIDS patients and their families, the developmentally disabled, and those seeking outpatient healthcare or suffering from chronic medical disorders.