The overall goal of the Illinois AHEC Network is to improve health care for the underserved by increasing the supply and distribution of quality trained healthcare workers. The Illinois Area Health Education Centers Network Program (IL AHEC Network) is a statewide initiative consisting of a primary program office located at the National Center for Rural Health Professions, University of Illinois,
College of Medicine – Rockford (NCRHP,UIC COM-R), a cooperating satellite program office in the Urban Medicine Program at the UIC College of Medicine Chicago (UMed, COM-C), and participation from Northwestern University School of Medicine and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The IL AHEC Network provides educational ‘pipeline’ programs that address the development and retention of the state’s health workforce using resources from its area partnerships. The overall intent is to improve health care for the underserved by providing/giving access to health professions education, health careers development, and community and public health promotion activities. Goals of the Program include:
1) improving distribution of the health professions workforce through recruitment/retention programs;
2) increasing diversity of the workforce through educational outreach to youth in underrepresented communities;
3) improving quality of the workforce through regionally-based educational offerings; and
4) increasing access through developing a diverse and culturally competent workforce
All Illinois AHEC Network programs and activities are evaluated on performance measures that meet the goals of impacting the access, distribution, diversity, and quality of the health professions workforce. The Illinois AHEC Network works closely with Community Health Centers, Critical Access Care hospitals, Illinois community colleges and universities, and other health facilities in Illinois Health Professions Shortage Areas.
