At Chicago Street Medicine, we believe that human diversity is a gift to be celebrated. We accept and affirm all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, or socioeconomic status. Inclusion is at the heart of our mission, and we welcome and invite all individuals to utilize our services and access our resources.
We recognize that systemic barriers and injustices disproportionately impact marginalized and underserved populations, particularly individuals experiencing homelessness. As such, we are dedicated to actively dismantling these barriers and fostering a more equitable healthcare system that prioritizes the needs of those who are often overlooked or neglected.
We are committed to ensuring that our services are accessible, culturally competent, and responsive to the diverse needs of the communities we serve. We are dedicated to building a more just and inclusive healthcare system that honors the dignity and worth of every person.
Through service, education, research, and advocacy, we will continue to:
We recognize that systemic barriers and injustices disproportionately impact marginalized and underserved populations, particularly individuals experiencing homelessness. As such, we are dedicated to actively dismantling these barriers and fostering a more equitable healthcare system that prioritizes the needs of those who are often overlooked or neglected.
We are committed to ensuring that our services are accessible, culturally competent, and responsive to the diverse needs of the communities we serve. We are dedicated to building a more just and inclusive healthcare system that honors the dignity and worth of every person.
Through service, education, research, and advocacy, we will continue to:
- Build a leadership team that better reflects the diversity of the people we serve. We are committed to recruiting and appointing leaders from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with lived experiences of homelessness and deep familiarity with the unique community cultures across the city of Chicago.
- Seek input and guidance directly from those we serve. We see our patients as partners in care and advocacy, and we take their feedback seriously. We will not speak on behalf of those we serve without their intentional involvement and consent.
- Recognize barriers to inclusive care. We strive to address and overcome the many barriers that people face. For example, we are implementing more consistent translation services at our outreach sites in order to address language barriers.
- Ensure equitable distribution of resources. We assess and adjust geographic coverage and resource distribution to ensure investment in systematically under-resourced communities. We are committed to providing assistance where it is most needed, not where it is most convenient.
- Respect individuals' autonomy and avoid imposing harmful stigma. We do not discriminate based on an individual's health behavior decisions, including the use of drugs/illicit substances. Harm reduction is part of our approach to holistic care.
- Prepare culturally competent, mission-oriented volunteers. We ensure that our volunteers receive appropriate training that prepares them to interact respectfully with our patients and provide the highest quality of medical care.
- Commit to addressing the inequities within our policies and systems. We will work to dismantle inequities by continually updating and revising our practices. We will prioritize impact over intent and take accountability for our own shortcomings.
