Mapping Chicago and Cook County’s Health Networks

networks
health
Chicago
How purpose-oriented networks coordinate health service delivery in a region undergoing federal funding disruption.
Published

September 1, 2025

Overview

This community-based participatory research initiative examines how purpose-oriented networks coordinate health service delivery across Chicago and Cook County, with sustained attention to how these networks adapt under conditions of federal funding disruption. The work proceeds through structural mapping of the regional health services ecosystem, identification of bridging organizations and brokerage roles, and analysis of how funding shifts propagate through interorganizational ties.

The project sits at the intersection of three concerns: the theoretical question of how networks adapt under environmental shocks, the empirical question of what Chicago and Cook County’s health network actually looks like, and the practical question of how local network leaders and funders can build more sustainable community engagement. Outputs include a published structural map, ongoing analysis of pandemic-era and post-pandemic adaptation, and toolkits for network leaders developed in collaboration with practitioner partners.

Funding

  • Volker Alliance Accountability & Reform Research Consortium, Structural and Societal Impacts research stipend, 2026 (PI). Federal Funding Disruption in Chicago’s Health Services Ecosystem.
  • Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement Research Award, 2024–2025 (PI). Empowering Purpose-Oriented Network Leaders and Funders for Sustainable Community Engagement.
  • David Perry Engaged Research Award, 2024–2025 (PI). Purpose-Oriented Network Research with a Community-Oriented Purpose.

Selected Works

Reports

  • Albrecht, K., Zhang, S., & Zehra, M. E. (2025). Mapping Chicago and Cook County’s Health Networks. UIC Networks and Governance Lab. SSRN

Conference presentations

  • Albrecht, K. (2026). Risk, Resilience, and Decision-Making in Urban and Rural Health Networks. Urban Affairs Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
  • Shumate, M., Zehra, M. E., & Albrecht, K. (2026). Sustaining Healthy Cities Through Collaboration: Insights from Toolkits for Purpose-Oriented Networks. Urban Affairs Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
  • Lal, Y., Zhang, S., & Albrecht, K. (2024). Unveiling the Bridge Builders: Exploring Distinctive Traits of Bridging Nonprofits in Public Health Network Domains. Association for Research on Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Conference, Washington, D.C.

Presentation PDFs

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