Community Engagement

Residents, students and faculty participating in Mayor’s Neighborhood Improvement Initiative in May 2022. — Residents, students, and faculty participating in Mayor’s Neighborhood Improvement Initiative May 2022.

The Department of Family and Community Medicine promotes and enhances the health of our community by extending our education, patient care and research endeavors beyond the clinic setting. We partner with many community organizations to improve the health of communities through:

educating students and residents how to become community-responsive health professionals;
working closely with community organizations to provide clinical care as part of community initiatives;
supporting community-based research that is responsive to community needs by building trust with community partners over time, while providing research and training opportunities for faculty, students and residents.

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

Gigi’s Playhouse

Gigi’s Playhouse provides free educational, therapeutic-based and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community, through a playhouse model. If interested, register here

Northern Illinois Food Bank

The Northern Illinois Food Bank has an ongoing need for food sorting, packing, and distribution to our neighbors. If interested, find opportunities here, register for a Mobile Market distribution or register for a My Pantry Express distribution.

Rockford Public Schools

Rockford Public Schools are looking for individual to mentor high school students. These mentors are for students interested in the medical field and who can speak on health-related topics. Time slot dependent upon your availability. Contact Kathleen Monteleone at kmontel@uic.edu for further details.

Rockford Rescue Mission

The Rockford Rescue Mission has an urgent, indefinite need for meal servers for breakfast and dinner each day of the week. If interested, please contact Sabuj Sarker, Rockford Rescue Mission volunteer supervisor at SabujSarker@rockfordrescuemission.org and let him know what day and meal that you can help serve. Rockford Rescue Mission volunteers need to complete an application.