Winter/Spring 2021
FROM CCI
Hope for where the road will take us. “Hope” Illustrated by Sarah Cornejo, CCI Marketing Communications Manager. Feb 2021
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FOOD is
Medicine T
We look forward to making food central to our health care model.
hirty years ago, with the launch of the Special
Today, in the aftermath of full bellies and thankful hearts,
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
we prepare to take the next step in our food journey — the
Infants and Children (WIC) Program, CCI began
launch of a Food is Medicine Program. In the first phase,
making sure that families had access to foods
CCI will draw upon the expertise of our CCI–Greenbelt WIC
that support health and healthy growth. Last winter,
Manager, Sidelle Haynes. Haynes is a chef and registered
those years of paying it forward brought a bounty of
dietitian who will educate clinicians on nutrition principles
fresh, delicious food to CCI team members, thanks to the
and cooking techniques, supplementing clinicians’
generosity of Glenstone Museum.
training to include nutrition and food science, so they can
Glenstone’s culinary artists prepared box lunches laden with salads, sandwiches, fresh fruit, sides and a small dessert. Their targeted act of kindness paid homage to their core belief that “meaningful encounters begin with direct engagement.” It also gave us a glimpse of what
become co-facilitators for Food is Medicine workshops. The Food is Medicine Program will also increase our patients’ knowledge of nutrition, its role in their health, and increase their confidence in preparing healthy meals at home.
it feels like to be nurtured through nutrients during
We know that proper nutrition is a powerful tool for
hard times.
reversing the effects of chronic illness. In addition,
CCI’s work against food insecurity has continued to evolve through the years. In 2017, we added nutrition counseling and door delivery of fresh produce and vegetables for
Glenstone reminds us that food serves as a wonderful agent for strengthening bonds, providing comfort and communicating care.
families served by our medical division.
Sonya Bruton, Psy.D., MPA President and CEO CCI Health & Wellness Services
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COVID-19 VACCINATION
CCI selected for Biden-Harris Administration’s Health Center Covid-19 Vaccination Program
CCI Health & Wellness Services has become the first health center in the state of Maryland selected to participate in the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccination Program. The program seeks to ensure equity in COVID-19 vaccine distribution. It is part of
CCI patient receiving her first COVID-19 vaccine dose
the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to ramp up the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to some of the country’s hardest-hit populations. The vaccination program’s initial phase targeted 250 health centers across the country and complemented existing local efforts to
We fully embrace our responsibility to care
vaccinate against COVID-19 equitably. Health centers selected for
for the households within our service area,
the first phase were selected because they serve a large volume
especially those who face added obstacles
of disproportionately affected populations. The effort targets
to stay healthy. This program empowers us
individuals experiencing homelessness or living in public housing
to continue our efforts to end healthcare
and migrant or seasonal agricultural workers, or patients with
disparities and bolster health equity.
limited English proficiency. “We fully embrace our responsibility to care for the households within our service area, especially those who face added obstacles to stay healthy. This program empowers us to continue our efforts to end healthcare disparities and bolster health equity,” said Sonya Bruton, Psy.D., MPA, Chief Executive Officer and President. “Our greatest weapon in primary care is prevention, and it has helped us limit the devastation experienced by the populations we serve most. The Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program supports our efforts to protect and prevent negative outcomes and provide much-needed peace of mind for our patients.”
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Purpose Newsletter — Winter/Spring
Dr. Sonya Bruton CEO of CCI Health & Wellness Services
CCI Health & Wellness Services began 2021 by encouraging
grateful. She’s been a patient for nearly three decades
its staff to lead the way on the COVID-19 vaccine front.
and reminisced about her favorite CCI providers while she
With the rampant misinformation about the vaccine and
waited in the observation area.
skepticism about how quickly it was developed, CCI staff were keenly aware that they needed to show that they too were rolling up their sleeves to get their vaccines. After a long 2020, some staff found themselves overcome with a sense of relief and gratitude to be able to have some protection against the virus.
CCI has continued to steadily vaccinate its patients against COVID-19 and the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program offered the organization more opportunities to make a bigger impact in the fight against the virus. CCI completed a mass vaccination of established patients on April 11th, offering the second dose of the Moderna vaccine to 800
Not long after staff began receiving their vaccines, CCI
individuals over eight hours. As of April, CCI has vaccinated
received its first allotment of vaccines for patients. On
a total of 4,114 individuals against COVID-19.
January 19th, the first CCI patient was vaccinated against COVID-19. Berta, 82 years young, arrived excited and Purpose Newsletter — Winter/Spring
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2020 AT A GLANCE
WHO WE SERVE
Gender
63%
Female
37%
Male
Age Group
39%
Children
57%
Adult 18-64
Ethnicity
67.4%
Hispanic/Latino
Non-Hispanic/ Latino
30%
4%
Older Adults 65+
2.6%
Unreported
1% 1%
5%
4%
9%
4%
5%
17%
31% 67%
PAYOR MIX
Hispanic/Latino
Medicaid
Black/African American
Uninsured
White
Private Insurance
Asian/Pacific Islander
Medicare
55%
66%
Patients best served in a language other than English
More than one race American Indian/Alaska Native Unreported
At A Glance 6
One thing is clear about CCI – even in a pandemic and with restrictions, we can still keep our doors open and meet our patients’ healthcare needs. Just look at our numbers in 2020.
Purpose Newsletter — Winter/Spring
WHERE WE SERVE
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Silver Spring Gaithersburg Germantown
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Greenway Greenbelt
89%
Wheaton
Our breastfeeding initiation rate was
Rockville
THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND
Takoma Park
81,186 Visits
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7
Primary Care & Dental Sites
59,950
30,008
Community Members Served Annually
WIC Sites
All Services
281
Employees
29,942 WIC
VISITS BY SERVICES
Medical
68,186
Dental
6,573 Purpose Newsletter — Winter/Spring
Behavioral Health
4,812
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WINTER CAMPAIGNS
February Campaign With the pandemic still in full swing after nearly a year of isolation, CCI saw an opportunity to remind the community to love themselves. Throughout the month of February, CCI shared messages and images to encourage individuals to extend the kindness, compassion, and love that they show others to themselves by taking care of their physical and mental health, and celebrating all that makes them unique. These stressful and unusual times can make it hard to remember that you have to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others. CCI says, “don’t forget about number one.”
Condom week Valentine’s Day presented an opportunity for CCI to focus some time on Family Planning projects while ushering in Condom Week with educational information about condoms. Through a Condom Week video campaign, patients were reminded that condoms are an effective method for preventing pregnancies and some sexually transmitted infections. The videos highlighted how to appropriately use condoms and internal condoms, as well as why they are helpful. Http://bit.ly/ccicondomweek
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Purpose Newsletter — Winter/Spring
CCI PROGRAMS
Chef Anthony Shows Children How to Make a Healthy Meal Chef and healthy lifestyle advocate, Anthony Thomas, joined kids from CCI’s nutrition program for a healthy cooking demonstration. Chef Anthony published The Little Vegan Chef, a vegan cookbook for children, last year. During the cooking demonstration, the chef showed CCI’s littlest patients how to make healthy, vegan jackfruit tacos.
Act Out Thank you, Glenstone! Glenstone Museum, a contemporary art museum in Potomac, Maryland, reached out to CCI early this year to offer lunch to all of CCI’s medical, dental and WIC sites. Although the museum had been temporarily closed, their talented staff wanted to continue serving the community. They selected multiple community organizations in the region, including CCI, to hand deliver meals to their staff. CCI staff were grateful to have a healthy meal!
Glenstone lunches Purpose Newsletter — Winter/Spring
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Board
BOARD MEMBER HIGHLIGHT
Elizabeth Durham
Board Chair of CCI Health & Wellness Services
Think about all the change you’ve seen in 20 years.
community full of people who don’t have to worry when
The influx of mobile phones, social media, and the
they get sick. To deliver on any mission, the mission
tightening of airport security. Imagine being on the
must have a goal.” Having been a part of the CCI family
board of a health center. Three CEOs later, Beth Durham
for two decades, Durham has seen leadership come and
has seen it all at CCI Health & Wellness Services.
go but, with CCI’s newest CEO, Dr. Sonya Bruton, she
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Ms. Durham was
says it feels different.
recruited to the board by a friend at work, and the rest, as they say is history. Twenty years later, she is now the
“I think Dr. B is absolutely astounding. She really
board-chair and plays a pivotal role in CCI’s success.
understands what to do as a leader. She knows how to
“I just show up, half of life is just showing up, sticking with it,” reflects Durham, on her contributions to
pick good people. She’s got new ideas and she is really in touch with what our community needs,” said Durham.
CCI’s overall goals and mission. Outside of being a CCI
Durham has seen CCI grow from a volunteer
board member and former dental patient, Durham is a
organization to one where anyone can go and get the
metro employee in their IT department, a member of a
health care they need regardless of insurance or ability
philanthropic organization that provides scholarships
to pay. She is proud of how far the organization has
and loans for college, a theatre aficionado, and an
come and their vision for the future. As the nonprofit
avid birdwatcher.
approaches its 50th anniversary next year, it will be a
Durham believes in equal access to health care and
light in the health center community for years to come.
that CCI can be a pioneer in the public health sphere for years to come. “I imagine [CCI] as a power in the community, the state and the nation. I see our
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Purpose Newsletter — Winter/Spring
Member
CCI KITS
KITS #CCICares
CCI Offers Patients Cares Kits
CCI knows that even in a pandemic, individuals need to run errands and work. In a metropolitan area like ours, traveling to work often means using public transportation. We want our community members to stay COVID-19 safe whether they walk, ride the bus, or take metro, so we created CCICares Transportation Kits. Thanks to a grant from the Prince George’s County Health Department, these kits give our patients at our Greenway and Greenbelt locations the tools to help them reduce their risk of catching COVID-19. The kits include masks for adults and children, hand sanitizing wipes, surface wipes, soap sheets and more. We hope they find the items in their CCICares Transportation Kit helpful on their journey.
Along with Transportation Kit, CCI also offers CCICares ER Avoidance Kits. The ER Avoidance Kits were created to keep COVID-19 transmissions down by keeping people out of crowded emergency rooms and supporting efforts to avoid overwhelming local hospitals. The ER Avoidance Kits included a digital thermometer, nasal spray, over-the-counter children’s medications, Pedialyte, chest rub, and more.
Purpose Newsletter — Winter/Spring
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