Health Services: Meeting People Where They Are.
At Corazón, we are mindful that the people we serve will represent varied contexts and needs, express different perspectives, and have unique life journeys. We seek to meet people where they are, without bias or judgment, so that all who come to us may thrive.
Our Department of Health Services specializes in sexual health services offered from a sex-positive framework for adults and youth of every sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Serving the heart of the community means caring for the whole person and the whole community.
Tackling Sexual Health Disparities.
Latinx individuals bear a greater burden of health care challenges than other many other demographic groups due to social inequities, economic barriers, cultural attitudes, and a host of other factors.
Decades of clinical and health services research have demonstrated the urgency of addressing key issues, including childhood obesity, type-2 diabetes, and HIV/STI infections.
Indeed, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that Latinx individuals have a much higher rate of infection than whites for gonorrhea (1.6 times), chlamydia (1.9 times), and (syphilis 2.2 times), particularly for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender females. The data below provide an overview of some of the key health issues that Corazón seeks to address through its health services.
HIV/STI Testing and Counseling
Free and confidential HIV/STI testing has long been one of Corazón’s flagship services. Our experienced staff specializes in offering discreet, personalized, and compassionate care that takes into account the needs of the whole person, including MSM (men who have sex with men) and trans clients. Our HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea tests are all completely confidential and supported by counseling and referral services.
Safer sex products, such as condoms, dental dams, and personal lubricants, are provided to all clients free-of-charge. Testing is available Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 and by appointment, as well as at regular testing events in the wider community.
LGBTQ+ Outreach and Support
Corazón serves as a vital safety net for Cicero’s LGBTQ+ residents, offering HIV/STI testing, counseling, and referral services in a sex-positive and judgment-free environment. In addition to offering daily (M-F) walk-in testing for HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea, we also host regular events in the wider community, such as our Queer Night Out events and our Sunday-night HIV testing event at the Luxur Nightclub in Cicero.
Corazón is excited by the continuing expansion of its health services and impact, including our growing relationship with Cicero’s trans and gender-nonconforming community.
Health Workshops
In addition to its sexual health classes at Morton East High School and Heritage Middle School, Corazón has hosted monthly health workshops delivered by physicians from MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn and the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as a variety of other health professionals.
These workshops serve the youth in our Teen REACH after-school program and cover a wide range of topics, including dental hygiene, orthopedic health, and cardiac diseases. Corazón also hosts workshops in the wider community, particularly on HIV/STI prevention and treatment.
Sexual Health Education
Corazón started implementing sexual health classes during the 2009-2010 school year, which was the first time in a decade that Morton East High School had dipped below 100 pregnancies. In 2021, we offer classes at Heritage Middle School in Berwyn, as well as at Morton East in Cicero, using the state-approved Cuídate and Making a Difference curricula.
These curricula provide valuable content that cover the following six adult preparation subjects: healthy relationships, adolescent development, financial literacy, educational and career success, healthy life skills, and parent and child communication.
Health Ambassadors
Corazón's Health Ambassador Program is a one-of-a-kind approach to training youth and adult community members as peer leaders and advocates for a healthier community. Health Ambassadors work creatively to improve health outcomes via community canvassing, public service announcements, social media campaigns news articles, town hall meetings, testing opportunities, survey research, and more.
In the summer of 2021, our Health Ambassadors assisted the agency in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by disseminating health information and staffing community vaccination events.
Mobile Testing Vehicle
Corazón’s health services is also able to go out on the road through our new mobile testing vehicle, which contains two exam rooms for HIV/STI testing, COVID-19 vaccinations, and other key health services. Thanks to a generous grant from the Chicago Community Trust and the Rockefeller Foundation, we are able to bring expand the scope of the agency’s reach and impact on the public health needs of the community.
Community Health Events
Corazón hosts community health events throughout the year to promote health and wellness among Cicero’s residents. These include our annual health fair, mobile HIV testing events, health workshops, and most recently, our COVID-19 vaccination drive. We also host a variety of virtual events to promote our services and programs and provide people access to the same health information available at our live events.
Referral Services
Corazón has been serving the heart of the community since 2003, and in that time, we have developed a extensive professional network that allows us to connect our clients to a wide range of social services. From linkages to care for HIV-positive clients to resources for housing, food assistance, mental health assistance, and more. Corazón is a hub for meeting the diverse needs of the Cicero community.