Press Releases
DATE: 10 August 2010
RELEASE NO:10-17
DHHS visits to help celebrate
National Community Health Center Week
By Gerald Sonnenberg
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – On Aug. 10, Alan Freeman, GHNHC President/CEO, and Robert Fruend, CEO of the St. Louis Regional Health Commission, were very pleased to host Rima Cohen, Cohen, Counselor to the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and Judy Baker, Regional Director, for DHHS Region VII.
“The second week of every August is set aside to recognize the contributions community health centers make in providing accessible, affordable, high-quality care, especially to those medically vulnerable and underserved populations,” said Mrs. Cohen addressing an audience of health professionals, staff and patients. “Community health centers are both the front line and the safety net...proactively educating patients; doing outreach; and, as the safety net, helping people who fall through the cracks. On behalf of Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, I salute community health centers across Missouri and across the country.”
As part of their visit, Mrs. Cohen and Mrs. Baker toured the state-of-the-art Grace Hill Water Tower Health Center, which opened in May 2010. They also met staff and saw firsthand the quality care and service that GHNHC provides its patients.
For more than 40 years, community health centers have delivered comprehensive, high-quality preventive and primary health care to patients in the communities where they live, regardless of their ability to pay. Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers is a key provider to the thousands in St. Louis who are uninsured.
On behalf of all in St. Louis, Mr. Freeman and Mr. Fruend expressed deepest appreciation to the DHHS for its July 28 decision to approve the “Gateway to Better Health” Section 1115 Waiver Demonstration Project. This critical funding helps to preserve vital services made available to the uninsured and underserved of our city. Counselor Cohen and Director Baker gladly agreed to return this message to Secretary Sebelius.
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PHOTOS AND CUTLINES:
COHEN VISIT 4—Rima Cohen (right) is introduced to Sister Betty Brucker, a Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc. board member, during a visit to the Grace Hill Water Tower Health Center Aug. 10. Looking on are Judy Baker, Regional Director, for HHS Region 7, and Alan Freeman, President and CEO of Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc.
COHEN VISIT 6—Rima Cohen addresses a group of health professionals, staff and patients at the Water Tower Health Center.
COHEN VISIT 1—Rima Cohen (center) and Judy Baker (right) listen while Barbara Bailey, Chief Operating Officer of Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, explains some of the services provided at the health facility during a tour. Photos by Gerald Sonnenberg.
Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc. is a non-profit organization that has been enabling healthy, productive lives in St. Louis for more than 100 years. GHHC is accredited through the prestigious Joint Commission.
