Don’t hope for change—be it.
Denise's Story
IWS has so many resources that can help you through your transition. They did it for me, and they can do it for you.
YOU help make stories of hope possible here at IWS. See how generous donors like you changed the narrative for a 15-year-old girl facing one of the most difficult decisions of her life—how to navigate through teen pregnancy, especially in an abusive, impoverished home . . .
You can change another life in our community with a year-end gift today!
IWS has so many resources that can help you through your transition. They did it for me, and they can do it for you.
With your help, we can provide quality healthcare to local families in need, expand and innovate to offer comprehensive, wraparound services, and make it easier for struggling families to get the care they need.
The nurse who shows children how to use their inhalers keeps them healthy and happy. The optometrist who provides eye exams and glasses can help turn the grade book from Cs & Ds to As & Bs. The therapist and child development specialists provide support and skills to improve behavior. The dentist makes the toothaches that keep children home from school go away. This is why it is so important that we provide children with the preventive services that help them build a foundation for productive and healthy lives.
Keira is one of the thousands of children in our area who is at risk. Her family trusts IWS to provide healthcare that’s accessible, high-quality, and serves their unique needs so she and her siblings can lead strong, healthy lives.
For more than a century, IWS has pioneered innovative medical and behavioral health practices in serving Chicago’s most vulnerable families. YOU are a part of this vital legacy.
With your contribution today, we can build on our history of giving children the best possible health and wellness foundation. Thank you for your compassion and generosity.
Your gift goes right to work. It makes an immediate difference in the lives of our patients. Thank you!
For the past 8 years, Keira and her family, who live in the neighborhood, have come to IWS for their medical, dental, vision, and family services. She sees our pediatrician, dentist, and optometrist for check-ups and primary care, and she also uses our behavioral health services. Her therapist helps her cope with anxiety and teaches her problem-solving skills for succeeding at home and school, while our social skills group shows her how to interact with peers, bolsters her self-esteem, and gives her a place to shine. Keira and her family know that IWS is a safe place to receive quality care, and she feels at home with our staff and practitioners. For this reason, she always arrives with a smile and greets everyone she sees, from receptionists to doctors.
IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
Visit us 3600 W Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
We provide healthcare services and education to medically underserved and vulnerable families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
Visit us 3600 W Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
Monday 8am – 8pm
Tuesday 8am – 6pm
Wednesday 8am – 8pm
Thursday 8am-8pm
Friday 8am-5pm
Saturday 8am-2pm (open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday of the month)
IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
IWS Family Health is a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization (Tax ID #: 36-2167752). IWS Family Health is a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike and a member of the Illinois Primary Healthcare Association (IPHCA) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
Dr. Hayley Sparks is a board-certified pediatrician with a passion for providing high-quality, family-centered care. She earned her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Before moving to Chicago, Dr. Sparks worked as a pediatrician and clinical instructor for Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she provided primary care for children in a busy community health center. Her favorite part of being a pediatrician is the relationships and trust she gets to build with her patients and families. She is excited to continue supporting children’s health and development as part of the IWS Family Health team.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Sparks enjoys practicing yoga, reading poetry, and spending time outdoors with her husband and young son.
Cathy Alvarez, MSN, CPNP-PC, is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over two decades of experience dedicated to nurturing the health and well-being of children from birth through adolescence. Known for her warm, individualized approach to care, Cathy is passionate about building lasting relationships with her patients and their families—many of whom she’s supported through every milestone of childhood.
Cathy began her nursing career after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999. She gained valuable experience working on the inpatient pediatric unit at Advocate Lutheran Children’s Hospital in Aurora. Driven to deepen her impact, she returned to UIC to complete the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, earning her Master of Science in Nursing in 2005. She is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and has since devoted her career to providing expert care to diverse pediatric populations.
She is an active member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, always staying at the forefront of pediatric healthcare.
Fluent in English and Polish, with conversational Spanish skills, Cathy connects seamlessly with families from many cultural backgrounds.
Outside of work, you can find her cheering on her son at soccer games, exploring new destinations, and enjoying quality time with her family. Her caring spirit and clinical excellence make her a trusted partner in every child’s healthcare journey.”
Marixa Alvarez, ARN, MSN, FNP-BC, is a dedicated and compassionate Family Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University, where she cultivated her passion for holistic, patient-centered care.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Marixa connects deeply with diverse communities, ensuring every patient feels heard and supported. Outside of the clinic, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen—cooking, baking, and bringing people together over a homemade meal. A fun fact? Marixa has a knack for solving puzzles and putting things together—whether it’s a 1,000-piece jigsaw or helping patients piece together their path to better health.
Carlos is a board-certified Physician Assistant who joined the IWS Family Health team in January 2024. He was born and raised in Antigua, Guatemala and is fluent in both English and Spanish.
His academic journey began at Saint Michael’s College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology alongside minors in Chemistry and Religious Studies. Driven by a commitment to service, he devoted a year to volunteering as a medical assistant at a health clinic in Albuquerque, NM, through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. This experience solidified his interest in medicine, inspiring him to delve deeper into healthcare and ultimately leading Carlos to pursue a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences and Infectious Diseases from Boston University School of Public Health.
Following his MPH, Carlos dedicated several years to the public health sector, primarily serving as a linkage to care coordinator, clinical research coordinator, and COVID-19 contact tracer. Moved by a need to help his community during the 2020 pandemic, he secured admission to and completed the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine PA program, earning his Master of Medical Science degree.
Carlos aims to integrate his public health training with his medical practice to bring culturally competent and inclusive medical services to all his patients, but specially the Hispanic/Latino and LGTBQ+ communities he serves. In his downtime, Carlos enjoys cooking, collecting plants, fostering dogs, playing video games, watching reality TV shows, and adding more stamps to his passport!
Dr. Tara Ioffe is a dedicated and compassionate Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with a strong commitment to providing excellent care to her patients. She obtained her medical degree from Avalon University in Curacao and went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency at the University of Oklahoma. She has worked at the University of Chicago and most recently NorthShore University. She has since returned to Chicago and is thrilled to join the IWS Family Health team in 2023, where she will continue to provide excellent care to her patients.
Throughout her career, Dr. Ioffe has gained experience in diverse medical fields, such as immediate and urgent care medicine while working at NorthShore Immediate Care. She did clinical research at the University of Chicago. Dr. Ioffe strives to foster a secure and inclusive environment for all her patients. She believes in an integrated approach to medicine, dedicating her time to understand each patient’s unique needs.
During her leisure time, Dr. Ioffe indulges in reading a variety of books for pleasure, plays boardgames, and loves to explore Chicago with her spouse and young child.
