U of C brings on new domestic violence advocates at Ingalls Memorial Hospital

Nov. 28--University of Chicago Medicine has ended a nearly 20-year agreement with South Suburban Family Shelter to provide advocacy services to victims of domestic violence at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey and at Ingalls' urgent care centers, according to U of C Medicine and the shelter.

The Homewood-based shelter has about a dozen domestic violence advocates working at the hospital and urgent care centers, according to Dawn Peloso, development director for South Suburban Family Shelter.

U of C Medicine said that Ingalls has instead turned to the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago to support patients in need of domestic violence services.

South Suburban Family Shelter received a letter dated Nov. 2 from U of C giving 30-day notice that it was ending its contract, according to Kimberly Garrison, a spokeswoman for Ingalls. Peloso said the letter did not explain why U of C was ending its relationship with the shelter.

Ingalls didn't give a specific reason for ending the contract, but thanked South Suburban "for our longstanding relationship."

The shelter received $16,750 a year from U of C to provide advocacy services, Peloso said Tuesday. The shelter, in a news release announcing the termination of the contract with U of C, said it is working to offset the revenue loss.

Peloso said shelter staffers will remain at the hospital and urgent care centers through this coming weekend.

Last year, South Suburban said it served nearly 11,700 people at the emergency department at Ingalls Memorial and urgent care centers, providing domestic violence screenings and assessments.

South Suburban provides services, including counseling and legal and medical advocacy, emergency shelter and transitional housing.

Ingalls said that its relationship with the YWCA will provide Ingalls' patients with access to emergency shelters and resources, including support groups.

SSFS also has advocates working at other locations in the south suburbs, including Franciscan Health Olympia Fields and a health clinic in Ford Heights, Peloso said.

She said the shelter is "scrambling" to place the staffers now working at Ingalls in new positions.

"We are looking for other locations we can partner with," Peloso said.

U of C Medicine and Ingalls completed their merger in late 2016, although no money was exchanged as part of the merger. In addition to the Harvey hospital, Ingalls operates facilities in Calumet City, Crestwood, Flossmoor, South Holland and Tinley Park. Locally, U of C Medicine also operates the Center for Advanced Care in Orland Park.

mnolan@southtownstar.com

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