Chicago, IL – February 8, 2012.  The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) dedicated its energy and yuletide cheer to those in need through its 2011 Parol Program.  This third annual event brought volunteers and businesses together to address the needs of older adults in the Filipino community during the holiday season.

Highlights of the 2011 Parol Program included Christmas card decorating workshops at Uncle Mike’s Place (1700 West Grand Avenue, Chicago) on December 10, 2011 and at Marigold (5752 North California, Chicago) on December 11, 2011.  FACHIC brought together over twenty volunteers to decorate, assemble, and send 230 cards which included an in case of emergency contact form.  Volunteer decorators spanned from children to adults, all satisfied with their product and happy to pay respect to older adults in the community.

FACHIC also recruited volunteers to assist with holiday wellness check phone calls.  Approximately 250 calls were made and five gift baskets, donated by Mom’s Bake Shop (2415 West Peterson, Chicago), were delivered to high risk individuals.

FACHIC is proud of its expanding Parol Program, having added one additional card decorating workshop since 2011 and partnering with more local businesses than ever before.  If you are interested in volunteering with our 2012 Parol Program or donating to this worthy cause, contact FACHIC at (312) 962-7748 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Parol Program was established in 2009 with support from the Filipino American Network (FAN).  The goal of the Parol Program is not only to offer holiday cheer, but also to assure Filipino American seniors that community health resources were available in their time of need.  Updates about the Parol Program can be found at http://www.fachic.org/parol.

The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC)is a collaborative of community, health professional, and academic leaders united to address Filipino health issues in the Chicago area. The mission of FACHIC is to increase awareness of Filipino health disparities and to implement health interventions and educational programming to improve the health status of the Filipino community. FACHIC is a 501(c)(3) Illinois nonprofit organization.  All programs and services are free and available to all.  For more information, visit http://www.fachic.org.

Chicago, IL – February 7, 2012.  The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a participating agency in the Medicare Fraud Project led by the Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly in the Chicago area.  FACHIC will be sharing a monthly Medicare fraud tip to seniors in English and Tagalog.  Please feel free to share the tip widely.

February 2012 Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol Program

Medicare will only cover home health services (a nurse or therapist who comes to your home) if you are “homebound.”  If you are “homebound,” you cannot leave your home on your own without some kind of assistance. Home health services include physical therapy, speech therapy, and skilled nursing services.  Basic care services like bathing, help with getting dressed, cooking, cleaning, etc. are NOT skilled nursing services.  If someone offers you “free” basic care services in your home, this is fraud – just say no!  If you need home health services, contact your doctor. Your doctor must write a prescription for home health services before you receive them.  Never accept home health services from anyone who comes to your door or calls you on the telephone, even if they tell you that your doctor sent them!

Pebrero 2012 Ang Programang Illinois Senior Medicare Patrol

Aakuin lang ng Medicare ang mga serbisyong pangkalusugan sa tahanan (isang nars o terapist na pupunta sa iyong tahanan) kung ikaw ay “homebound”.  Kung ikaw ay “homebound,” hindi ka maka-alis ng bahay ng mag-isa na walang tulong ng ibang tao. Kasama sa serbisyong pangkalusugan sa tahanan ang pisikal na terapi, terapi sa pananalita, at serbisyo ng  dalubhasang nars.  Ang mga pangunahing serbisyo ng pangangalaga gaya ng pagpapaligo, pagtulong sa pagdadamit, pagluluto, paglilinis, atbp. ay HINDI serbisyo ng dalubhasang nars.  Kung mayroong maghahandog sa'yo ng “libreng” pangunahing pangangalaga sa iyong tahanan, ito ay isang panlilinlang – tumanggi ka na lang! Kung nangangailangan ka ng serbisyong pangkalusugan sa tahanan , tawagan ang iyong duktor. Kailangan ng iyong duktor na sumulat ng riseta para sa serbisyong pangkalusugan sa tahanan bago ka tumanggap nito.  Huwag kang tatanggap ng serbisyong pangkalusugan sa tahanan mula sa sinumang bibisita sa iyo o tatawag sa telepono, kahit na sabihin pa nila na sila ay pinadala ng iyong duktor!

The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a collaborative of community, health professional, and academic leaders united to address Filipino health issues in the Chicago area.  The mission of FACHIC is to increase awareness of Filipino health disparities and to implement health interventions and educational programming to improve the health status of the Filipino community.  FACHIC is a 501(c)(3) Illinois nonprofit organization.  All programs and services are free and available to all.  For more information, visit http://www.fachic.org.

Chicago, IL – January 30, 2012.  The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC), in partnership with the Chicago Department of Public Health, is offering vouchers for free flu shots. This free program is under the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with Walgreens.

Vouchers may be used at any Walgreens in the Chicago area through April 15, 2012.  The voucher will cover the cost and administration of the flu shot.  In order to be eligible, you must be 18 years old (or if 14-18 years old must have parent or guardian permission), have no insurance coverage for a flu shot and unable to afford the cost of a flu shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all individuals 6 months of age and older should receive the vaccine. Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe flu.  High risk patients include: adults age 65 and older, pregnant women, health workers and nursing home residents.  Adults with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease on dialysis, smoking use, cancer or any chronic disease are also considered high risk.  Caregivers of children or at risk adults and household contacts of individuals with high risk medical problems should also consider receiving a flu shot.

If you are interested in receiving a voucher or know someone who would benefit from receiving a voucher, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your request or call (312) 962-7748 for more information. Vouchers are limited and subject to availability.  Vouchers may be sent via US first class mail or picked up at the monthly free FACHIC social work clinics.  A complete schedule of monthly FACHIC social work clinics including the location and time can be found at http://www.fachic.org/socialwork.

The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a collaborative of community, health professional, and academic leaders united to address Filipino health issues in the Chicago area. The mission of FACHIC is to increase awareness of Filipino health disparities and to implement health interventions and educational programming to improve the health status of the Filipino community. FACHIC is a 501(c)(3) Illinois nonprofit organization.  All programs and services are free and available to all. For more information, visit http://www.fachic.org.

Chicago, IL – January 7, 2012.  The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) continued co-sponsorship of the Passport to the Philippines at the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier on June 11 and 12 in 2011.  The Passport to the Philippines is part of the Passport to the World series at the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier that showcases the arts and traditions of Chicago’s many ethnic groups.

A variety of programs, performances, workshops and exhibits to authentically represent Filipino culture and traditions were offered.  FACHIC volunteers led an interactive workshop of Filipino traditional children’s games to emphasize the importance of physical fitness and going outside to play to children and their families.   Among the games that were demonstrated included patintero and tumbang preso.  Jane Jih, the Executive Director of FACHIC, noted how “it is wonderful to see children of all ages and backgrounds play and exert their energy, some of them playing games that their parents played as children.” 

FACHIC also hosted a demonstration of a healthier version of halo halo where children and adults alike were able to participate in the creation of this traditional dessert.  This healthier version of the popular Filipino dessert was made with fresh ingredients that are lower in fat and sugar.  Those in attendance had a sample of the halo halo to taste and took home a copy of the recipe.  A printable and saveable copy of the recipe for healthier halo halo can be found at http://www.fachic.org/recipes.

The Philippines joined the Passport to the World program at the Chicago Children’s Museum in June 2008. The Passport to Philippines is now in its fourth year.  The Philippines was chosen to be included the Passport series because the Filipino American community has a sizable ethnic presence and rich historical contributions to the diversity of Chicago neighborhoods.
Passport to the Philippines committee is co-sponsored by PepsiCo Asian Network (PAN), Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC), Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC), Filipino American Network (FAN), National Association of Filipino Americans Associations (NAFFAA), Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF), the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Chicago (UPAAGC) and TUY Club USA.

The Filipino American Community Health Initiative of Chicago (FACHIC) is a collaborative of community, health professional, and academic leaders united to address Filipino health issues in the Chicago area.  The mission of FACHIC is to increase awareness of Filipino health disparities and to implement health interventions and educational programming to improve the health status of the Filipino community.  FACHIC is a 501(c)(3) Illinois nonprofit organization.  All programs and services are free and available to all.  For more information, visit http://www.fachic.org.