Rush Community Service Initiatives Program (RCSIP)

The Rush Community Service Initiatives Program (RCSIP) was established in 1991 to create a network of community service programs that match Rush Medical College student interest and initiative with the social and healthcare needs of the Chicago population. Since then, the program has evolved into a University-wide initiative that engages all students. The mission of RCSIP is to provide community-based volunteer experiences for Rush students that enhance their ability to work in teams, develop patient relationships, care for diverse populations, and provide targeted services based on community need.

ACCESS PROGRAMS These programs provide access to health services to community residents limited by structural, financial,

and/or personal barriers.

20/20 20/20 provides free vision services each month to residents of Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. Student volunteers assist with visual impairment screening and full vision exams. Chicago City Church Chicago City Church on Chicago’s south side is home to a monthly primary care clinic where students assist with physical exams, help dispense medication, and participate in simple procedures (e.g., wound care). The Franciscan House of Mary & Joseph Clinic The Franciscan House of Mary & Joseph is a shelter on Chicago’s near west side that provides a meal, shower, and safe place to sleep for up to 235 men and 35 women each night. One evening a week Rush students and physicians operate a clinic at the shelter, providing triage and physical exams, obtaining medical histories, and dispensing medication. The Community Health Clinic The Community Health Clinic provides free preventive and primary healthcare services to residents of Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. Once a week students and physicians from Rush deliver services ranging from routine physical exams and immunizations to a full laboratory and pharmacy. Freedom Center The Salvation Army Freedom Center, located just blocks away from Rush, is home to the Harbor Light Center—one of the largest Salvation Army substance abuse recovery programs in the United States. Each week, the Freedom Center operates a free clinic for its residents in which students assist attending physicians in the provision of primary healthcare services.

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Heart to Soles Heart to Soles is an annual event in which Rush students, in collaboration with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, provide foot and ankle exams and distribute free socks and shoes to residents of The Franciscan House of Mary & Joseph. Recovery Alliance Medical Mobile Van (MMV) The mobile healthcare delivery unit, staffed once a week by Rush students and a physician, drives to key locations on Chicago’s west side, serving primarily drug-dependent and underserved adults.

HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION PROGRAMS These programs provide educational resources or opportunities for promoting preventive lifestyle behaviors

and the self-management of disease.

5+1=20 The 5+1=20 program educates students from Benito Juarez High School and the Marine Math and Science Academy on the five chronic illnesses that plague their communities (largely Mexican-American): asthma, hypertension, HIV, diabetes, and cancer. Approximately twice each month Rush students offer lectures on topics ranging from disease awareness to the importance of checking blood pressure. Mexican Consulate Health Outreach (MCHO) The MCHO program provides educational presentations and health services (e.g., BMI calculation, blood pressure screening, blood glucose monitoring) to community residents at the Mexican Consulate, which is located five minutes from Rush. MLK Day All RCSIP programs come together annually in a day of service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King. Students, faculty, and staff engage in a range of health- and wellness-related activities, including the collection of supplies to ship overseas, preparation of breakfast at homeless shelters, and provision of health screenings to underserved populations. Additionally, local grammar and high school students are invited into Rush labs to explore and learn about healthcare careers. Original Change Project (OCP) OCP is a consulting group that helps community organizations organize and operate local health fairs. RU Caring RU Caring organizes large community events, 2 times per year, with an emphasis on comprehensive health and wellness. Services include basic vitals checks, physical exams, dental/vision/hearing screenings, immunizations, and health and nutrition education.

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Rush Wellness Center at Sanctuary Place The Rush Wellness Center operates a weekly clinic for homeless women and families living at Sanctuary Place, a housing community on Chicago’s west side. Wellness Center services include healthy cooking demonstrations, health and nutrition counseling, health screenings, stress management and self-esteem workshops, and exercise groups. Youth Advocates (YA) YA collaborates with Rush volunteers to provide primary healthcare services to youth at three Chicago Public Schools—two large co-ed high schools (Orr Academy High School and Crane Medical Preparatory High School), and one school for pregnant and parenting girls in 6th to 12th grades (Simpson Academy). At the high schools, students see patients with a wide variety of medical complaints and perform mandated risk assessments on first-time patients.

PIPELINE PROGRAMS These programs train and educate all ages on health science careers.

Chicago Public Schools Career and Technical Education In partnership with Crane Medical Preparatory Academy and the Michael Reese Trust Fund, Rush University students and faculty provide information to high school students about careers in health care. Services include mentoring, tutoring, and career awareness and exploration. Instituto Health Science Career Academy (IHSCA) IHSCA, a Chicago high school, prepares students for success in college, readiness in entry-level jobs, and ongoing healthcare education. Rush students serve as mentors and arrange lectures by Rush faculty. Mini Medical School Mini Medical School is a five-week-long day camp at Rush designed to expose Chicago Public School grade school students to the health sciences. Rush students and faculty plan the curriculum, arrange activities, and provide hands-on assistance during the camp. The Sankofa Initiative The goal of the Sankofa Initiative is to help grade school and high school students progress in math and science. To this end, Rush students offer tutoring assistance and conduct interactive, hands-on science experiments at a variety of sites.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS These programs organize community activities and events to promote wellness in the Rush service area.

Asthma Camp Asthma Camp is a five-hour program held on Chicago’s west side for children ages 5-18 with asthma. Students teach the children about the various aspects of asthma—including triggers, medications, and use of inhalers—with the goal of helping the children learn to live a healthy life with asthma.

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Buddies In the Buddies program, students spend time with pediatric patients at Rush Children’s Hospital, thus giving family members time for a break. Red Ribbon Friends In conjunction with Lurie Children’s Hospital, the Red Ribbon Friends program matches Rush students with children who are directly or indirectly affected by HIV. In addition to spending time with the children and their families, this program allows students to work with HIV team members. RU Engaged Grants RU Engaged Grants are four student-led projects that either address problems identified in Rush’s Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) findings or align with RCSIP healthcare career pipeline training for Chicago Public School students. Rush Remedy Through the Rush Remedy program, Rush employees collect and box unused medical supplies and equipment and send them to underequipped clinics and hospitals worldwide. Saturdays with Seniors In the Saturdays with Seniors program, students travel to a subsidized senior citizen home in Chinatown where they lead a stretching and strength training class and conduct blood pressure screenings. Special Buddies The Special Buddies program seeks to improve the time patients with developmental disabilities spend in the hospital at Rush. Students spend time with the patients, providing general support.

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