Press Releases
DATE: 8 Oct. 2009
RELEASE NO: 09-28
Grace Hill’s CDC expands to second location
Story and photos by Gerald Sonnenberg
ST. LOUIS, Mo. --The Children’s Developmental Center (CDC) at Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc. (GHNHC) is unique to St. Louis’ Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). It offers parents and guardians a place where children in their care can receive help for emotional, behavioral and developmental issues. Children range in age from infancy to high school.
Previously, the CDC has had one location, at GHNHC’s Murphy-O’Fallon Health Center at 1717 Biddle. In August, a second CDC location was opened at GHNHC’s Soulard-Benton Health Center at 2220 Lemp. On Oct. 8, an open house was held at the new location. Representatives from several St. Louis organizations were present for the two-hour event.
Organizations represented included the Washington University Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, St. Louis Public Schools, Saint Louis University School of Law and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, City of St. Louis Lead Safe Program, LAMP, The Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders, and Kingdom House. In addition to the organizational representation, a few families came by to see the facility and meet the staff.
Thomas Vogel, psychologist and director of the CDC, said, “We have expanded to another site to continue to foster a true medical home for families in our service area. At Grace Hill, our patients can obtain the full range of medical, behavioral and dental services.” Dr. Vogel also noted the importance of the CDC’s partnership with the Legal Services of Missouri. “Our clients and families receive needed assistance through this arrangement,” he said.
The CDC Appointment line at the Murphy-O’Fallon Health Center is (314) 814-8634. For the Soulard-Benton Health Center location, calls in English and available Spanish are received at (314) 814-8777. You can also visit our Website in English and Spanish at http://www.gracehill.org/content/child-development-center.php.
(Above) CDC psychologist Dr. Sharon West talks and plays with a child during his CDC appointment.
(Above) Aretha Morris, from HealthCare USA, talks with Dr. Thomas Blondis, a CDC developmental pediatrician.
(Above, left to right) Tasha Barnes from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, talks with GHNHC staff members Yvonne Buhlinger, Angela Ellerson and Betty Jefferson.
(Above) Alba Blondis, wife of Dr. Thomas Blondis, a CDC Developmental Pediatrician, straightens one of the paintings donated by the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. She helped decorate the new CDC and was instrumental in acquiring artwork for the facility. The art was painted by students from the school.
A part of St. Louis for more than 100 years, Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc. (GHHC) is a federally qualified health center and provides low-cost, primary and preventive health care at six locations to primarily low-income and uninsured residents in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. GHHC is accredited through the Joint Commission.
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