Community Health Days Coming to Three Chicago Housing Developments

Molina Healthcare of Illinois, the Chicago Housing Authority, the Chicago Department of Public Health and Prism Health to offer school physicals, immunizations and screenings through August 16

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / August 14, 2026 / Families at three Chicago housing developments can receive school physicals, immunizations and health screenings this summer during a series of Community Health Days running through August 16.

The events are a partnership between Molina Healthcare of Illinois, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Prism Health, hosted with each development's Local Advisory Council. Prism Health's Wellness on Wheels mobile clinics, staffed by licensed bilingual teams, will be on site at every event so families can complete back-to-school health requirements before classes begin. Each Community Health Day combines an adult preventive clinic with school and sports health exams, so parents and grandparents can complete their own screenings while children finish the exams, vaccines and forms Illinois schools require by October 15.

The host communities stretch across the South Side, from Bronzeville to the city's far southern edge, spanning neighborhoods where, according to Chicago Department of Public Health data, life expectancy trails the city's highest-longevity community areas by as much as 20 years. Bringing physicals, vaccines and screenings to the places families already gather is one practical step toward narrowing that gap.

Services offered at each event

• School and sports physical exams, with Illinois school forms completed on site

• Required school vaccines, including no-cost childhood vaccines supplied by the Chicago Department of Public Health through the Vaccines for Children program, plus adult immunizations

• Blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings

• Blood lead risk screening and testing, now required statewide for every Illinois child at 12 and 24 months

• Confidential HIV and hepatitis C testing, with prevention resources including naloxone

• Vision and hearing screenings, dental exam referrals and mental health check-ins

• Help with food, housing and other needs, plus health coverage assistance from Molina Healthcare team members on site

Events are open to every resident and family, and no one is turned away if they cannot pay. Registration is encouraged at prism.org/CHA26 or 800-325-1812, and walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. Families with insurance should bring their card since covered services may be billed to their health plan with no surprise costs, and families without insurance are served on a sliding fee scale. Services are offered in English and Spanish with additional language help at no cost, and each family leaves with a record of services received and, where follow-up care is needed, a referral to a nearby provider.

"Everyone deserves access to care, regardless of their circumstances or where they live," said Kris Classen, plan president, Molina Healthcare of Illinois. "Bringing services directly to families, alongside trusted community partners like Prism Health and the resident leaders who host these events, is one of the most effective ways to ensure students get the vaccines and healthcare they need."

"As families prepare for the new school year, making sure children are up to date on their vaccines and health exams is one of the most important steps we can take to keep students healthy, ready to learn, and advance a healthy Chicago," said Dr. Garth Walker, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. "Vaccines have been scientifically proven to be effective in keeping our children, our most vulnerable populations, and our community at-large healthy. Back-to-school physicals, immunizations, and routine screenings help identify health needs early ensuring that students can start the year off well and be prepared to learn. We're grateful to partners who bring these essential services directly to families, ensuring every child has the opportunity to start the year off strong."

"The same afternoon a third grader gets her school physical, her grandmother can get her blood pressure checked," said Zul Kapadia, president of Prism Health. "That is what a Community Health Day is: one visit, steps from home, for everyone in the household. We are grateful to Molina, CHA, CDPH and the Local Advisory Council presidents who welcomed our teams into their communities to make it possible."

Event schedule

About Molina Healthcare of Illinois

Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace programs in Illinois. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Illinois, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.

About the Chicago Housing Authority

The Chicago Housing Authority is the third-largest public housing authority in the nation and the largest single owner of rental housing in Chicago, serving 135,000 people in 65,000 households across all 77 of the city's community areas through its public housing and voucher programs.

About the Chicago Department of Public Health

The Chicago Department of Public Health works to eliminate health inequities and remove barriers to health for residents across the city, carrying out core public health functions including disease control, health monitoring, public health campaigns and clinical services. For more information, visit chicago.gov/health.

About Prism Health

Prism Health is a forty-year-old health organization advancing equity through mobile and community-based health programs statewide. Prism has served more than 2,000 communities and trained more than 1,000 healthcare workers, operating class B mobile clinics, and multilingual clinical teams that deliver hundreds of mobile health events annually in partnership with schools, housing communities, faith organizations, and local health departments.

Prism Health General: [email protected] | (800) 325-1812

Event and partnership inquiries: [email protected]

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE: Prism Health