College of DuPage's Dialogue Over Distance to discuss 'Housing Is Health Care' April 29
Join local community organization leaders and health care providers as they discuss barriers to stable housing and the impact on healthy lives during "Housing Is Health Care: Examining the Benefits of Proper Shelter." The webinar, presented live via Zoom at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, is part of College of DuPage's "Dialogue Over Distance" series.
The discussion features DuPage Pads President and CEO April Redzic, who shares the unforeseen direction of services after COVID-19; Northwestern Medicine's Dr. Aaron Quarles of Emergency Medicine, who discusses the realities and obstacles of emergency room care; and architect and COD adjunct faculty member Emily Basham, who explores how housing sustainability affects health.
Register now at info.cod.edu/housingishealthcare to receive the Zoom link.
According to a recent study published in the journal "Pediatrics," crowded housing, frequent relocations and homelessness exacerbate children's preexisting health conditions and the family's overall stress level. Another study from Children's HealthWatch shows that when families don't have stable housing, their risk of struggling with poor health outcomes and material hardships - such as food insecurity - increases.
Redzic said these facts hold true in DuPage County, where data suggests residents are settling for inadequate conditions due to the rising cost of living.
"A stable home environment is the cornerstone of everything for someone who is struggling with their living conditions," she said. "If you do not have an address, you cannot get a job. If you do not have a place to sleep, you cannot be rested for a job interview or perform well in a classroom. If you do not know where you are going to sleep on a given night, it's hard to plan for the future. It all begins with having a room of one's own and a safe personal space to live in."
April Redzic
As a Big Brothers Big Sisters tutor during high school, the president/CEO of DuPage Pads saw firsthand how economic disadvantage affects a child's learning and well-being. She also witnessed how resilient and creative the human spirit is, especially when caring people come forward to help. As the leader of DuPage Pads, an organization that provides a warm bed and a beacon of hope for those experiencing homelessness in DuPage County, she led the organization through a shift to sustain hotel-based emergency shelter provision as well as a new strategic plan.
Dr. Aaron Quarles
In his leadership role at Northwestern Medicine, the Northwestern Medicine Doctor of Emergency Medicine focuses on addressing the social determinants of health. He is particularly interested in aligning community resources with the health care system to enhance the care of patients from marginalized populations.
Quarles serves as the director of recruitment for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program and has been recognized for his mentorship of underrepresented students and trainees. He teaches health care quality and health equity courses at the medical school.
Before relocating to Chicago, Quarles was awarded the Zuckerman Fellowship by the Center for Public Leadership to pursue a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He earned his Medical Doctorate from Harvard Medical School.
Emily Basham
The architect and COD adjunct professor brings years of expertise in institutional and commercial architecture into the COD classroom. She has been involved in all phases of practice - from programming through construction administration - for universities, day care centers and hospitals, including the award-winning Mitzi Freidheim Englewood Child + Family Center, Disney corporation offices in California and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Please note that all "Dialogue Over Distance" presentations are recorded. Closed-captioned recorded presentations can be found on the College of DuPage YouTube playlist.
The "Dialogue Over Distance" series grew out of the college's Speakers Bureau in response to COVID-19. Since its start last April, the series has presented on a broad range of topics, including local elections, economic resiliency, and mental health and social inequalities during the pandemic. Learn more at cod.edu/experts.