Community Health Agency Celebrates National Health Center Week
T
he Neighborhood Health Services Corporation (NHSC), one of 20 federally qualified health centers in New Jersey, is dedicated to providing cost-effective primary health care services for the residents of Plainfield, Elizabeth, Newton, Phillipsburg and surrounding communities. National Health Center Week is celebrated annually in August and this year, events took place across the country from August 11–17, 2013. For the third consecutive year, NHSC at the request of the New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA), hosted the Statewide National Health Center Week Kick-Off celebration, which was held on Monday, August 12, 2013 at NHSC’s corporate location in Plainfield, New Jersey. NHSC has celebrated National Health Center Week each year for the past 23 years, hosting community events at four of the six site locations. The Kick-Off and Pediatric Health Fair were held on August 12 and 13 respectively, at NHC-Plainfield. The Health Fair at NHC Elizabeth was held on August 14; at NHC-Newton on August 15; and at Shappell Park in Phillipsburg, NJ on August 17. NHSC was joined by many of its community partners, including Horizon NJ Health, Healthfirst NJ, United Healthcare, Amerigroup, Walgreens and the City of Elizabeth Fire Department. “There are approximately 900,000 NJ residents who currently are uninsured,” explained Rudine Smith, NHSC president and CEO. “When the Affordable Care Act takes effect, these residents will have the opportunity to enroll in a health insurance plan and be able to provide the necessary coverage for their children. NHSC and other federally qualified health centers in the State are preparing to serve these patients through grant-funded initiatives.”
L–R: Paulette Hussey Plainfield Neighborhood Center , Rudine Smith, NHSC President and CEO, Lesley Morris, NJ Primary Care and Joan Atkins
L–R: United Health Care President Scott Waulters and Adrian Council, Jr. TPC L–R: Horizon NJ Health, United Health Care and Amerigroup mascots
L–R: Carissa Lawson of NJN News, Maria Tapia-Burch and Aviva Woog HFNJ Community Outreach Managers Sonia McNaughton (r), director Marketing and Product Innovation, AmeriHealth with colleauge
Photos: Karen Waters
Luz Ramirez, Marino Moronta, La-Kisa Hines, Charlotte Kinsey
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The Positive Community September 2013
Horizon NJ Health team, L–R: Laticia Bailey, Tyesha Pichardo, Dr. Mark Calderon, Evelyn Riccio, Jenny Cruz, Alex Correa, Andre Gammon, and William Mitchell for Horizon NJ Health www.thepositivecommunity.com