January 2021 Newsletter
The Foundation Newsletter is a quarterly publication which will keep members informed about the latest philanthropic endeavors and educational and research initiatives supported by The Foundation.
Collaboration and Mental Health First Aid
The Foundation continues to be on the forefront of mental health first aid as it relates to collaborative care. In partnership with NAMI (National Alliance Mental Illness), IAFP developed an infographic promoting Mental Health First Aid courses. The MHFA courses teaches physicians and their teams to identify risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addition as well as to better understand recovery and resiliency.
Additionally, IAFP members Lauren K. Turich, MPH, MS, MSIV, Kevin Chang, MD, Daniel Bester, MSIV, and Raj Shah, MD published a Synchronicity report as a framework for family medicine leaders to advocate for a mental health collaborative care model. The report contains recommendations and resources to help family physicians and health care teams best advocate for their patients.
The Foundation looks forward to continuing to help IAFP members help their patients and their colleagues improve mental health. Stay tuned for more on this topic throughout 2021!
Food is Medicine – Helping Patients Build a Healthier Lifestyle
The Foundation is committed to providing members with resources to help their patients lead healthier lifestyles. In addition to offering a Food is Medicine Member Interest Group, the Foundation and IAFP continue to offer infographics and other patient resources to best assist physicians and their support team.
The Fresh Resource Urban Initiative Team (FRUIT) is a grassroots project at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine with the objective of improving patient access to affordable, fresh produce and additional health resources. The FRUIT team is committed to promoting healthy eating and lifestyle choices among the UIH patient population and UIC medical students, and to contribute to primary prevention and patient education strategies beyond the clinic. The Foundation and FRUIT are pleased to offer “How to Build a Healthy Plate,” a resource to assist your patients as they work towards a healthier lifestyle. This document may be found in both English and Spanish.
Conversations about Cannabis
As recreational cannabis is now legal for adults age 21 and older in Illinois, physicians are tasked with having conversations with their patients about the consequences of using marijuana. With support provided by a grant from the AAFP Foundation through the Family Medicine Philanthropic Consortium, the Family Health Foundation of Illinois developed a patient handout which may be found on the IAFP website.
Download this free resource to share with your patients today!
Donate to Help the Future of Family Medicine
Donate to the Family Health Foundation of Illinois and help the future of family medicine. The annual Summer Externship Experience provides an opportunity for pre-clinical medical students (M1 or M2) who are in leadership roles at their campus FMIG to experience a practical, clinical learning environment in the office of an Illinois family physician leader.
The Foundation also offers a Family Medicine Mentor Connection where IAFP student members are linked with IAFP resident and active member volunteers for a mentoring connection. The goal of this program is to provide students with a variety of tangible family medicine exposures, positive mentoring and interaction only available and possible through the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians.
Donate today and help secure the future of family medicine!
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