Carle Health Medical Group was named the 2026 recipient of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) Acclaim Award, according to an announcement on Apr. 21. The award recognizes Carle Health’s Healthy Beginnings program, a maternal and child nurse home visiting service that is part of Community Health Initiatives at Carle Health.
The Acclaim Award honors healthcare delivery groups that bring the American healthcare system closer to an ideal model—one that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable. The recognition highlights Carle Health’s work in supporting families facing socioeconomic challenges through personalized care and outreach.
Healthy Beginnings was launched with the goal of achieving maternal and child health equity. Specially trained nurses, social workers, community ambassadors and early childhood educators visit families from early pregnancy through a child’s second birthday. Since its start in 2017, more than 1,200 families have participated in the program. In 2024 services expanded from Champaign County to Vermilion County.
Julianna S. Sellett, DNP, MBA, vice president of Carle Community Health said: “Receiving the Acclaim Award is an honor we hold in the highest regard and speaks to Carle Health’s unwavering commitment to provide highly accessible, world-class care and service to our community. Our teams work tirelessly, collaborating with a diverse range of cross-sector partners and community members, to build an innovative infrastructure and culture of community health. Our overarching goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their life circumstances, has the opportunity to lead prosperous and healthy lives.”
Napoleon Knight, MD, MBA chief medical officer at Carle Health served as executive sponsor for the award submission. He said: “We are living in a pivotal time for healthcare where relationships matter more than ever. Our community health efforts demonstrate each day just how important outreach and relationship building is to support various populations. Through trusted relationships formed with our nurse home visitors, the families they serve feel seen and heard; their experiences are enhanced; and various health and wellness outcomes are improved such as our zero percent mortality rates for mothers who participate in our services. Because of these outcomes families also experienced reductions in neonatal intensive care unit and emergency department utilization. We are grateful for the vision and support Dr. Leonard our president and CEO along with the board of directors put behind community health outreach from the start nearly 10 years ago.”
The AMGA noted Healthy Beginnings’ integration within its health system as well as high enrollee satisfaction rates; culturally responsive care; positive wellness outcomes; team stability; and focus on well-being.
