Our History
HC One has targeted racial and socioeconomic disparities in perinatal outcomes since 1986 with cutting-edge programs that integrate HC One-trained and supported community health workers. Through a process of engagement with natural leaders in a variety of communities, HC One's original grassroots approach to breastfeeding promotion expanded into a model program for community-based maternal and child health promotion.
Originally the Chicago Breastfeeding Task Force, our programs have always emphasized reinforcement of self-esteem and empowerment. They are interactive, participant-driven, and focused on personal and social change.
Our training and support of community health workers has included work in immunization promotion, lead prevention, asthma support, and support around the birthing process. HC One's nationally recognized programs have resulted in fewer complications during births, decreases in rates of c-section births, increases in breastfeeding rates and attachment between mother and child, and increases in mothers' self-esteem and personal skills.
Our work in Chicago has led to a number of demonstration projects and best practices. Our community-based programs in breastfeeding promotion and our leadership in the development of the community health worker role have extended our reach. Since we began as Chicago Breastfeeding Task Force in 1986, HC One has maintained and expanded our nationally-recognized training program for breastfeeding peer counselors and our collaboration with local and state agencies on breastfeeding promotion projects.
Our most visible innovative work has been the development of the community-based doula model, which provides support to young families during pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period. HC One's expertise in piloting the community-based doula model in Chicago has garnered increasing recognition, including our role as Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) National Community-based Doula Leadership Institute since 2008.
We were honored with the 2003 National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies State Impact Award for the "exemplary state-level impact" of the Harris Doula Institute, and our Executive Director received the 2003 Start Early: Learning Begins at Birth Award from Voices for Illinois Children. We also received in 2004 one of three Irving B. Harris Awards for Outstanding Book Proposals from the Zero to Three Press for development and publication in 2006 of the book, The Community-Based Doula: Supporting Families Before, During and After Childbirth.
In 2009, Executive Director Rachel Abramson received national recognition from the American Public Health Association's Maternal and Child Health Section when she was named their 2009 Outstanding Leader in Advocacy. Most recently in April 2011, Chicago CHW Local Network Coordinator Laura Bahena was selected to serve on the National Steering Committee for Promotores de Salud.
Our Name
In 2008, because we had worked well beyond the boundaries of Chicago for years, we unveiled our new name: HealthConnect One! This name holds no boundaries, and much promise.
Health because we retain our focus on maternal and child health.
Connect because we connect underserved populations with support from within their communities for better results on a grassroots level.
One because we believe in the power of one - one caring health worker, residing in the same community as the people she supports, engaging one-on-one to strengthen parent-child bonds and help women and children live healthier lives, and joining in a unified effort to make change for the benefit of families.
