Supporters,

Thank you for showing up and lending your voice during our Roseland Community Reform meeting. Together, we are building momentum toward accountability, transparency, and meaningful reform at Roseland Community Hospital.

Now that we’ve begun this work, it’s time to focus on the next steps toward establishing a Roseland Community Oversight Board and a sustainable future for the hospital. 

Next Steps for Roseland

1. Strategic Planning for the Hospital’s Future
In addition to creating oversight, we must prepare for the moment when Roseland’s current leadership steps down or is replaced.

We have access to a detailed transformation plan, created through academic research on hospital oversight and safety-net reform, that provides a blueprint for Roseland’s future. This plan includes:

• Replacing the current executive team with a qualified interim leadership group.
• Converting Roseland into a Critical Access Hospital to stabilize funding and preserve ICU, OB/Gyn, and emergency services.
• Partnering with Cook County Health and CountyCare to expand care access and strengthen Medicaid coverage.
• Restructuring bed capacity and ensuring compliance through independent oversight.

This forward-looking strategy ensures that once oversight is established, we can implement a sustainable model for hospital operations that prioritizes safety, compliance, and community health.

2. City/County Ordinance – Act Now
We will push for a Chicago City Council resolution or Cook County Board ordinance to establish a pilot Community Oversight Board immediately.

This Board would:

• Oversee the Board of Directors to ensure appointments and governance reflect community needs.
• Review hospital finances, quality of care, and use of public funds.
• Monitor compliance with state and federal laws.
• Hold quarterly public forums to gather testimony from residents, staff, and stakeholders.
• Issue public reports with findings and recommendations to the community, City Council, and regulators.

This type of oversight also saves the City and State money by preventing financial collapse, lawsuits, and costly bailouts when hospitals mismanage resources.

3. State Legislation – Build Permanent Authority

We will advocate for the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation modeled after the Hospital District Law but tailored to community oversight.

This law would:

• Create a statutory Community Oversight Board with elected or appointed community members.
• Grant legal access to financial, quality, and safety data from Roseland and any affiliates.
• Require transparency and public accountability under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
• Mandate annual reports to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), City Council, and the public.

4. Ballot Initiative – Let the People Decide
To solidify community power, we can work toward a referendum to establish the Oversight Board.

This requires:

• Petitions signed by at least 10% of legal voters in the Roseland service area.
• Filing with the Cook County Circuit Clerk to place the measure on the ballot.
• Majority approval by voters to create a permanent Community Oversight Board with authority over hospital governance, finances, and patient care standards.

Hybrid Approach: We begin with a strategic plan and a pilot ordinance at the City or County level, while simultaneously building support for state legislation and preparing a ballot initiative to ensure permanence.

Mark Your Calendar
Our next Roseland Community Reform Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 PM (CST). The Eventbrite link will be up and shared within the next week.  

Take Action Today

Sign & share the petition: Petition Link
Support our work by donating to Project34: Donation Link
Join us at upcoming City Council health committee hearings, Cook County Board meetings, and Medical District sessions to make your voice heard.

Together, we can ensure that Roseland’s future includes safe care, financial transparency, and true community accountability.

In solidarity,