National Health Center Week 2016

Celebrating Health Centers as Bipartisan Solutions to Healthcare

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless hosts several events in honor of National Health Center Week, including tours of its Stout Street Health Center with the offices of Senator Bennet and Senator Gardner.

 

DENVER, CO, August 9, 2016—The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless will hosts tours of its Stout Street Health Center this week with representatives from the offices of Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Cory Gardner as part of National Health Center Week (NHCW). The national campaign runs August 7–13th with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Community Health Centers over the course of more than five decades.



Community Health Centers not only prevent illness and foster wellness for the most vulnerable populations, they produce innovative solutions to the most pressing healthcare issues in their communities. Because of the long record of success in innovation, managing healthcare costs, and reducing chronic disease, leaders in Congress have declared community health centers a model of care that offers a “bipartisan solution to the primary care access problems” facing our nation.



According to a report released by the Colorado Community Health Network, more than one in eight people in Colorado rely on a Community Health Center for primary care, behavioral care, and oral health. The Stout Street Health Center is providing high quality, patient-centered care to Colorado’s most vulnerable families and individuals—93 percent of patients have an annual household income at 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or less, and most patients are currently experiencing or have recently experienced homelessness. In 2014, the Stout Street Health Center served 13,231 patients—58 percent of which were enrolled in Medicaid—with an estimated total savings as $16.7 million. 



“We are so proud to be able to serve our community’s most vulnerable neighbors with high quality, integrated health care. And I am honored to work alongside our dedicated staff who offer hope, restore dignity, and improve the lives of those we serve every day.”



To celebrate the successes of health centers across the nation and right here in Colorado, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has scheduled a calendar of events for National Health Center Week, including: 



• August 7-13, Launch of Colorado Coalition for the Homeless’ advocacy drive

• August 10, Tour of Stout Street Health Center with Senator Gardner’s office

• August 12, Tour of Stout Street Health Center with Senator Bennet’s office

• August 15, Tour of Stout Street Health Center with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Regional office

• August 20, Back to School Healthy Kids Fair, providing free health screenings and backpacks for more than 200 school-aged children experiencing homelessness



To learn more about National Health Center Week, please visit: www.healthcenterweek.org.



 

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being and stability of those it serves. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, the organization has earned state and national recognition for its integrated healthcare, housing and service programs. The Coalition’s comprehensive approach addresses the causes of homelessness, as well as the consequences, offering critical assistance to over 15,000 individuals and families each year. Learn more at www.coloradocoalition.org. 

###