After receiving Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status and $1.2 million in stimulus funds, the Health Center has been able to make significant progress in a small amount of time. In the past two months, we have added three new staff members and are in the process of hiring more. The new funding will also enable us to expedite our goal of providing dental and mental health services to the community. Currently, we are equipping more exam rooms to meet the rapidly growing demand for practitioner visits.

Judging by the community’s response - the number of patient visits this year is projected to triple that of 2008 - the new staff and services are both welcomed and significantly needed. I encourage everyone in the community to take part in this exciting time for the Health Center as a patient, as a volunteer, by making a donation, or by simply spreading the word of our services to your neighbors.