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Pamela Hemann (626) 449-4356
Date: September 24, 2009
Event Date: October 12th, 2009
While the country struggles with the issue of health care reform, Pasadena is moving forward with a collaborative effort to provide access to primary health care services to all underserved families within the city. To showcase this important project initiated by the Pasadena Child Health Foundation (PCHF), the newly expanded and renovated health clinic at Washington Middle School, 1505 North Marengo Avenue will be open from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 12th as part of a special community-wide Open House. On tap to welcome guests and families will be Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent, Edwin Diaz and the Washington Middle School Glee Club.
The Pasadena Child Health Foundation (PCHF) is a private foundation whose purpose is to promote the mental and physical health of children in the Pasadena area. In launching its new three-year funding initiative titled the Child Health Collaborative which involves several Pasadena-area service providers, PCHF will place special emphasis on providing accessible health care to Pasadena’s uninsured and underinsured children. The initiative has three primary components. First, to improve access to primary care, the plan calls for the Pasadena Unified School District to provide clinic space and employ a nurse practitioner to staff the clinic beyond the school day. Second, Five Acres, a well-recognized mental health provider will offer counseling services. Another highly regarded local agency, Young & Healthy, operating through neighborhood outreach teams will provide information about clinic services and expertise on health insurance enrollment information.
By bringing together several important community agencies, the Child Health Collaborative can expand its effectiveness. According to the Chair of the PCHF Board, Jolly Urner, “we wanted to make an impact on kids who might be falling through the cracks. Rather than making individual grants to several non-profits, we are investing in a program that incorporates the expertise of local agencies and brings their skills to an area of high need.” Those skills will be available two days each week during after-school hours and the second Saturday of each month.
Child Health Collaborative Open House
4:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 12
Washington Middle School
1505 North Marengo Avenue, Pasadena
Just the basics of the new CHILD HEALTH COLLABORATIVE
How it started: To be sure that all children in Pasadena are provided with accessible health care including the uninsured and underinsured, the collaborative was launched by the Pasadena Child Health Foundation.
What is the Pasadena Child Health Foundation? The Pasadena Child Health Foundation (PCHF) is a private foundation whose purpose is to promote the mental and physical health of children in the Pasadena area.
What makes this project a collaborative? Several well-respected local agencies or institutions have come together to make this project possible. They are the Pasadena Child Health Foundation, the Pasadena Unified School District, Young & Healthy, Five Acres, the Pasadena Educational Foundation and the Pasadena Community Foundation.
What are the primary components of the Initiative? There are three primary components of the three-year funding initiative for the Child Health Collaborative:
- Physical Health: The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) will provide space, security services and maintenance of the facility. It will also employ a nurse practitioner to staff the clinic during its expanded hours so that more children may utilize its services.
- Mental Health: Five Acres will provide mental health services.
- Outreach/engagement: Young & healthy will strategically share information about expanded clinic services through the development of neighborhood outreach teams and provide expertise regarding health insurance information.
How is the Collaborative being funded?: Funding comes from a charitable fund established at the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF). By creating this fund where PCF holds the assets for the project, the Child Health Foundation has created a vehicle for community support. Donations can be made to the Child Health Collaborative Fund at PCF and donors will receive full tax exemption.
A three year project, CHF has already committed $265,000 for the first year to open and fund the school-based clinic.
How will success be measured?: Evaluations of this pilot will be conducted by the Five Acres Evaluations and Research Department to synthesize data collected by all partners in the Collaborative.