Care Coordination Team
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are the initial point of contact for children and families who are enrolled in the CHECK program. CHWs create a roadmap for families to reduce triggers for chronic conditions, and manage the social stressors in their lives. Patients and families receive in-depth assessments, care planning, referral to social services, and, if needed, referrals to in-house legal support and community based mobile dental care. CHWs provide services both in community settings, including primary care practices and community based organizations, as well as the UIC hospital and health system, liaising between clinical and community based providers. CHWs also do home visits. A total of 38,376 services have been provided.
Michael Gerges, MA, LCPC
Executive Director
Michael Gerges, LCPC has been a member of the CHECK team since 2015 and is the current Executive Director of CHECK. CHECK was the largest national pediatric payment and comprehensive delivery system model funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center, and now provides services through partnerships as well as operating as an Illinois Integrated Health Home. In his role as Executive Director, Mr. Gerges is responsible for the operational leadership, oversight, and financial management of CHECK. Mr. Gerges is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and has an extensive background in mental health and behavioral health care. Michael’s past experience includes leadership and service delivery in substance use disorder treatment, residential services for DCFS youth-in-care, individual and group therapy, correctional healthcare, and other community mental health experience in both non-profit and for-profit settings. Michael joined CHECK in 2015 as a member of the Behavioral Health team before moving to the position of Director of Behavioral Health, Director of Clinical Operations, and then Executive Director. Michael uses his expertise and experience to ensure CHECK’s services and partnerships are high-quality, integrate health and behavioral health, and focus on meeting CHECK’s clinical and strategic goals.