Durbin Attends Austin Hope Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Durbin Attends Austin Hope Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The new Austin HOPE Center, which was made possible through a $1 million earmark secured by Durbin, will provide a welcoming space for youth to seek high-quality pediatric behavioral and specialty health care services

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Austin HOPE Center, which is designed to be a welcoming space for youth and families to seek clinical care and access community-based services. The newly unveiled facility will provide high-quality pediatric behavioral and specialty health care services; community responsive health education and training; gathering space for youth development and other community organizations; outdoor space for programming and respite; and space to encourage community building.

Durbin secured $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending-also known as an earmark-in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Act for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago to partner with Stone Community Development Corporation to create the new community health clinic site in Austin to serve children and families.

"I want to recognize the incredible partnership that made this possible: Stone Community Development Corporation, Lurie Children's, Thresholds, and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives," Durbin said. "Together, you've created a space where residents can access pediatric care, behavioral health services, housing and employment support, and much more. I secured $1 million in federal funding for Lurie Children's to help create this community health clinic in Austin and now, that investment comes to life. I can't wait to see all the good that happens here."

Photos from the event are available here.

Durbin has long championed the work of Chicago-area hospitals in addressing childhood trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). In 2018, Durbin launched the Chicago HEAL Initiative, a partnership between 10 of the largest hospitals serving Chicago to address the root causes of gun violence through economic, health, and community projects in 18 of Chicago's neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence, poverty, and health disparities. Read more about the HEAL Initiative here.

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