1968

Trustees in the Village of Park Forest recognize that teens in their town need a forum to discuss their grievances, a platform to air their perceived problems and help to resolve them.

The Park Forest Youth Commission is formed, and C. Gary Leofanti is hired as a youth out-reach worker. Leofanti opens a drop-in center for teens, sets up coffee houses and initiates a series of sensitivity trainings.

1972

Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center is incorporated, and Leofanti is appointed executive director. The name Aunt Martha’s is chosen to convey to young people a place of welcome where they can feel safe, be heard and get helped.

Leofanti identifies local homes willing to accept runaway youth and initiates counseling for runaways.

1974

Aunt Martha’s initiates health care services with the inception of a family planning program for adolescents.

1978

Aunt Martha’s expands its health care services to include prenatal care for low-income community residents.

1985

Leofanti is selected as a Fellow in the prestigious Leadership Greater Chicago program.

Leofanti earns international recognition as the organizer of the first International Youth Workers Conference. He later serves as project director of youth worker exchange programs with Italy and Poland.

1985-1986

Aunt Martha’s expands from its base in south suburban Cook and eastern Will counties to western Will County and the City of Joliet.

1990

With funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Aunt Martha’s begins providing family case management services.

1993

Aunt Martha’s expands its services into Kane County with the inception of the Lake House Program – a residential, diagnostic program for DCFS wards.

1996

Aunt Martha’s establishes school-linked health centers in Aurora and Chicago Heights.

Aunt Martha’s receives an Outstanding Agency Award from the Cook County Juvenile Probation Office for its exceptional outreach, commitment and service to the children of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

1997 Joint Commission Accreditation

Aunt Martha’s earns full accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Aunt Martha’s is selected by the National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Parenting, and Prevention (NOAPPP) as one of 20 programs to participate in a nation-wide study to identify and evaluate models of adolescent pregnancy prevention. The NOAPPP evaluators note that they are especially impressed with the organization’s comprehensive approach to meeting both health care and social service needs of adolescents.

1999

Aunt Martha’s Vincennes Community Health Center (Chicago Heights) is granted Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status.

Aunt Martha’s receives a Certificate of Honor from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families “in appreciation and recognition of the agency’s commitment, dedication, and outstanding service to runaway and homeless youth and their families.”

Aunt Martha’s Evening Reporting Centers (ERCs) are recognized at a National Training Conference on Juvenile Detention Reform. The Deputy Director of Cook County’s Juvenile Probation and Court Services describes the ERCs as the “crown jewel” of juvenile detention alternatives.

2000 Joint Commission Accreditation

Aunt Martha’s Aurora Community Health Center is granted FQHC status.

Aunt Martha’s is re-accredited by the Joint Commission for ambulatory and behavioral health care services.

2002

Aunt Martha’s Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program earns the prestigious Barbara Bush Foundation Award for Family Literacy.

2003 Joint Commission Accreditation

Aunt Martha’s begins offering oral health services at the Vincennes Community Health Center (Chicago Heights).

Aunt Martha’s is selected by the Bureau of Primary Health Care to participate in the national Health Disparities Collaborative on Adolescent Depression.

Aunt Martha’s is re-accredited by the Joint Commission for ambulatory and behavioral health care services.

2005

Aunt Martha’s Chief Operating Officer, Raul Garza, earns national recognition from the Johnson & Johnson/UCLA Healthcare Executives program for designing and implementing the program’s most outstanding Community Health Improvement Project.

2006 Joint Commission Accreditation

Aunt Martha’s is selected by Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services to operate the Children’s Reception Center, a hybrid shelter and health center, which serves as the primary intake point for children entering the State’s custody in Cook County.

Aunt Martha’s is re-accredited by the Joint Commission for ambulatory and behavioral health care services.

2007

Aunt Martha’s is selected to serve as the lead agency for HealthWorks of Cook County, the program which is responsible for ensuring access to and coordinating the timely delivery of health care services to State wards in Cook County.

2008

Aunt Martha’s is selected by Illinois’ Department of Mental Health to provide the technological infrastructure and serve as the primary provider for the State’s first telepsychiatry network.

During a visit to the Aurora Community Health Center, Dr. Elizabeth Duke, HRSA Administrator, comments that, “Aunt Martha’s is the poster child for what HRSA wants an FQHC to be like – breaking new ground, reducing health disparities and increasing access to care.”

2009 Joint Commission Accreditation

Raul Garza replaces C. Gary Leofanti as Aunt Martha’s Chief Executive Officer. Leofanti continues to serve as Aunt Martha’s President.

Aunt Martha’s is re-accredited by the Joint Commission for ambulatory and behavioral health care services.

2010

Aunt Martha’s health centers provide their one millionth patient visit (projected for early February 2010).