Policy

The RUSH Center for Excellence in Aging (CEA) advocates for federal policies that support older adult wellness, aging research, integrated health and social services, and increased investment in community-based services. Center members partner with a variety of organizations to push for positive change and share lessons learned from their experiences working in health care. Below are examples of organizations CEA members collaborate with to advocate for older adults and their families.

National Coalition on Care Coordination

Housed administratively at RUSH, the National Coalition on Care Coordination (N3C) is a national membership coalition of organizations dedicated to improving the quality of care for individuals through support for care coordination in health and social sectors.

Illinois Community Health and Aging Collaborative

The Illinois Community Health and Aging Collaborative improves the health status of older adults and persons with disabilities in Illinois by leveraging the strengths of community-based organizations and elevating their provision of cost-effective, high quality, evidence-based healthy aging programs. They envision that evidence-based, healthy aging programs will be accessible to all adults across Illinois, making Illinois a healthier state in which to live.

West Side Accountable Health Communities Collaborative

The West Side Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Collaborative was formed in response to a funding opportunity from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), with the purpose of bridging the divide between the clinical health care delivery system and community service providers to address health-related social needs, including food insecurity, housing instability, utility needs, interpersonal violence and non-medical transportation. The West Side AHC Collaborative will support community providers and the delivery of navigation activities at community sites, including FQHC’s and primary care partners by developing a system to track screenings, referrals, navigation activities and reporting, while integrating a newly created data system into existing systems at the clinical and community partner sites.

Chicago Board of Health

The Chicago Board of Health formulates health policies and advises the mayor and the public health commissioner on all health issues. The Board promulgates all health regulations, including emergency regulations. Steven Rothschild, MD, a primary care physician at RUSH, serves on the nine-member board.

American Society on Aging: Chicagoland Regional Roundtable

This group hosts educational and advocacy meetings yearly on a range of issues related to aging.

Learn more and view recent session materials here.

Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion and Integrative and Public Health

Created by the Affordable Care Act, this group brings a non-Federal perspective to the strategy’s policy and program recommendations and to its implementation. The presidentially-appointed Prevention Advisory advises the National Prevention Council in developing public, private, and nonprofit partnerships that will leverage opportunities to improve our nation’s health. Susan Swider, PhD, RN, a professor at the RUSH University’s College of Nursing, serves as a member.

Chicago Department of Family and Supportive Services: Well-Being Task Force

Established to provide services for older adults and advocate on behalf of seniors living alone without internal or external support systems, this task force establishes a foundation on which to organize agencies, create community partnerships and use efforts of volunteers to assist in reducing the vulnerability of isolated seniors.