HCH Directory - Connecticut

 printer-friendly version | back

Charter Oak Health Center, Inc.

21 Grand Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 550-7500
Fax: (860) 550-7501
Email: cohc@thecharteroak.org
Web: www.cohc-ct.org
Director: Alfreda D. Turner
HCH Coordinator: Nancy Scanlon
Medical Director: Henry Nusbaum, MD, MBA, MPH
UDS Number: 011830

Project Description

The Charter Oak Health Center's (COHC) Health Care for the Homeless Program provides medical, dental, behavioral health, HIV testing/counseling/education, and case management services to persons who are homeless in Hartford.

The HCH Program provides services through physicians, mid-level providers, registered nurses, a certified nurse-midwife, dentists, licensed clinical social workers, and HIV staff at Charter Oak Health Center and at shelters and soup kitchens throughout Hartford. The HIV staff provides education, counseling, testing, and case management. There are seven licensed primary care locations at shelters: Immaculate Conception Shelter, McKinney Shelter, St. Elizabeth's House, House of Bread, YWCA Shelter, South Park Inn, and Open Hearth Shelter. Except for McKinney Shelter, these locations are also licensed to provide outpatient behavioral health and substance abuse services. Nursing services are provided at Loaves and Fishes Ministries. While a significant number of services are provided on-site at the shelters and soup kitchens, patients are referred to Charter Oak Health Center (or the provider of their choice) for all dental services, complex primary care services, and radiology services.

Specialty services not available at a COHC facility are provided through referral to providers and agencies throughout the Hartford community. Emergency health care and inpatient services are provided by referral to a local hospital. The HCH Program has linkages with a variety of medical sub specialists and two pharmacies. The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) works with homeless teams to provide assessment and intervention to homeless clients in need of mental health and substance abuse services. Crisis intervention is available during the evening and on weekends. The HCH Program collaborates with the City of Hartford Health Department on a TB screening program in shelters.

Statistics

Estimated homeless population: 2,920 Patients served: 1,366

Community Health Center, Inc.- Wherever You Are- Heath Care for the Homeless

635 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
Phone: (860) 224-3642 Ext. 5551
Fax: (860) 893-0801
Email: ericksa@chc1.com
Web: www.chc1.com
Director: Margaret Flinter
HCH Coordinator: Agi Erickson
Medical Director: Susan Hadley, MD
UDS Number: 012080

Project Description

"Wherever you are" is a health care for the homeless team that goes to where clients are located in three cities and in three key location types: homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and street locations. The team includes mobile medical, dental, mental health/psychiatric, and substance abuse/eligibility services.

Medical services include adult, pediatric, and women's health, all in the field with direct links to CHC sites for more extensive care in the areas of HIV, podiatry, obstetrics, and chronic disease management. Dental services include mobile, hygiene, prevention, sealants, and x-rays with referral back to CHC sites for restorative care. Mental health/psychiatric services include mobile assessment, diagnostic, and treatment by a psychiatric APRN with referral to other community organizations as needed. A psychiatrist is available for phone consultation at all times. Pharmacy is a small formulary of pre-filled and pre-labeled scripts for most commonly encountered, noncontrolled substance prescriptions, such as antibiotics, respiratory medications. Eligibility/outreach case management, including on-site/online completion of applications for assistance, is also provided. The program conducts substance abuse case management, making referrals into established systems of care.

Community Health Center has linkages to New Horizons Domestic Violence Program, Prudence Crandall House, Crysallis domestic violence shelter, Eddy Homeless Shelter, Shephard Home Homeless Shelter, Salvation Army Homeless Shelter, Friendship Service Center of New Britain, Inc., and St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter.

Estimated homeless population: 6,172 Patients served: 2,500

Subcontractor(s):

The Connection Incorporated
955 South Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
Contact: Holly Weeks
Phone: (860) 918-2625
Fax: (860) 343-5517
Email: hweeks@theconnectioninc.org

Generations Family Health Center, Inc.

1315 Main Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
Phone: (860) 450-7471
Fax: (860) 450-7458
Email: lduffy@wcmh.org
Web: www.genhealth.org
Director: Arvind Shaw
HCH Coordinator: Leigh Duffy
Medical Director: Morton Glasser, MD
UDS Number: 010220

Project Description

Generations Family Health Center (GFHC) has sites in Danielson (Killingly), Windham, and Norwich.

GFHC provides health care, prevention education, and outreach at community based health centers, dental and medical vans, and community sites. Referrals are made for substance abuse and mental health services.

Generations has linkages with Reliance House, Southeastern Mental Health Authority, Windham Regional Community Council, United Services, Perception Programs, Access Agency, and Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group. Linkages with hospitals, shelters, food banks, and soup kitchens are enhanced by Continuum of Care Teams in Norwich, Willimantic, and Danielson. Social Service agencies and State DSS offices provide entitlement assistance.

Estimated homeless population: 1,800 Patients served: 1,659

Daniel's Pharmacy
42 Reynolds Street
Danielson, CT 06239
Phone: (860) 774-3214

Medical Pharmacy
213 Main Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
Phone: (860) 423-1661

Southeast Area Transit (SEAT)
260 Route 12
Preston, CT 06365
Contact: Sue Harris
Phone: (860) 886-2631

Utley and Jones Pharmacy
112 Lafayette Street Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: (860) 887-2538

W.W. Backus Hospital
330 Washington Street
Norwich, CT 06360
Contact: Linda Bravard
Phone: (860) 889-8331

Cornell Scott Hill Health Center

400 Columbus Avenue
New Haven, CT 06519
Phone: (203) 503-3163
Fax: (203) 503-3133
Email: tharp@hillhealthcenter.com
Web: www.hillhealthcenter.com
Director: Jamesina Henderson
HCH Coordinator: Toni N. Harp
Medical Director: Karen Michels, MD
UDS Number: 010070

Project Description

The Greater New Haven Homeless Health Care Network is operated through the Hill Health Corporation and serves persons who are homeless in the Greater New Haven area.

Through a mobile team, the project provides primary medical care, on-site health screening, psychosocial rehabilitation, case management and referral to individuals who are homeless, homeless and runaway youth, families, and children residing in homeless shelters and those without shelter. It also provides follow-up medical and post-operative care for homeless persons who are released from local hospitals. Primary medical care is provided through satellite clinics located in shelters throughout the city and door-to-door services provided at emergency family shelters, emergency shelter motels, and transitional housing. Referrals are made to Hill Health Center's main site and outreach is conducted at soup kitchens, local parks, and other nontraditional sources of shelter. Through enhanced funding, bilingual culturally sensitive services are provided to homeless individuals at the Grant Street Shelter. The project employs 1.8 FTE mid-level primary care providers, 1 FTE registered nurse, 2 FTE case managers, and 2 FTE social workers.

Linkages occur in three main areas: social/human services, treatment services, and the Greater New Haven Homeless Health Care Advisory Committee, a coalition developed to support the array of services that are available to persons who are homeless. Social services include assistance in obtaining entitlements, housing subsidies, legal services, employment and job training, and child care. Treatment-related linkages exist with Connecticut Valley Hospital Dutcher Hall (a residential treatment and detoxification facility), South Central Rehabilitation Program (a detoxification facility), Grant Street Partnership (a local drug treatment program), APT Foundation (provides outpatient treatment and a methadone maintenance program), and a number of organizations which provide assistance to clients with AIDS. The Connecticut Mental Health Center, a community mental health center, accepts referrals of clients in need of long-term mental health care. Two area hospitals, Yale New Haven Hospital and the Hospital of St. Raphael, provide emergency services and inpatient care to clients who are homeless.

Estimated homeless population: 4,000 Patients served: 2,882

Optimus Health Care, Inc.

982 East Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06608
Phone: (203) 316-8667
Fax: (203) 316-8565
Email: pgallegos@bridgeportchc.org
Web: www.bridgeportchc.org
Director: Ludwig M. Spinelli
HCH Coordinator: Patricia Gallegos, MPA
Medical Director: Richard Torres, MD, FACP
UDS Number: 011270

Project Description

Optimus Health Care is the leading provider of health care services to uninsured, medically indigent, and low income residents in Fairfield County. It provides comprehensive preventive and health care services through 11 facilities in Bridgeport, Stratford and Stamford. The HCH program is operated by the Stamford Community Health Center in lower Fairfield County.

Services include health education, oral health, mental health, and substance abuse. Services are provided at Shelter for the Homeless, Covenant House of Hospitality (soup kitchen), and at health center sites. The team comprises a full-time FNP, LPN, primary care case manager and nutritionist. The program also offers tobacco cessation services to its clients in collaboration with various behavioral health agencies. The HCH program will be implementing an electronic medical record system through out all its services sites in the spring of 2007. Also, the HCH program participates in the 340b Pharmacy program in partnership with Slavin’s Pharmacy.

Linkages include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Greenwich/Stamford Continuum of Care, Shelter for the Homeless, F.S. Dubois Center, Laurel House, Viewpoint Recovery Program, St. Luke's Family Life Works including Stamford Hospital, and the City of Stamford Health Department.

Estimated homeless population: 900 Patients served: 252

Dental Center of Stamford
587 Elm Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Contact: Adele Gordon
Phone: (203) 969-0802
Fax: (203) 326-2990

New Covenant House of Hospitality
90 Fairfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06904
Contact: Al Barber
Phone: (203) 964-8228
Fax: (203) 357-0314
Email: dprice@ccfc-ct.org

Shelter for the Homeless, Inc.
597 South Pacific Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Contact: Justina Uche
Phone: (203) 348-2792
Fax: (203) 348-5813

Slavin's Pharmacy
922 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06901
Phone: (203) 323-2161

Southwest Community Health Center - McKinney Health Care for the Homeless

968 Fairfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06605
Phone: (203) 330-6000
Fax: (203) 576-8444
Email: rdenisco@swchc.org
Web: www.swchc.org
Director: Katherine S. Yacavone
HCH Coordinator: Rick DeNisco, RN
Medical Director: Bashi Chaddha, MD
UDS Number: 010810

Project Description

Southwest Community Health Center (SWCHC) is a nonprofit agency providing comprehensive health care for medically underserved individuals in Southwestern Bridgeport since 1977. In 2008 over 15,746 unduplicated clients were seen and 82,516 visits rendered. McKinney Health Care for the Homeless, which serves the Greater Bridgeport area, has been funded since 1987 and provides a full range of services. In 2008 1150 unduplicated clients were seen and 3088 visits rendered.

The goal of the Health Care for the Homeless Program is to provide a full range of services to medically underserved persons and families in the greater Bridgeport area. The difficulties this population experiences in accessing health care have been greatly exacerbated in the past year by: increasing lack of low rent housing; lack of employment even at minimum wage; increase of undocumented immigrants; release of persons from institutions including hospitals, prisons, drug and alcohol rehabs with no follow up or respite care in place; the very high school drop out rate in Bridgeport has contributed to an unemployable adolescent population; lack of housing has resulted in an adolescent couch surfing homeless population; affordability problems for our elderly in obtaining medications, food, housing, etc secondary to increasing energy, rental, and food costs and increasing numbers of elderly living in homeless shelters awaiting openings in senior housin g. The HCH Program provides primary medical care and/or specialty care services, including behavioral health care, HIV/AIDS outreach, education, counseling/testing, podiatry, dental care, mammography, laboratory services, OB/GYN, pediatrics, HUSKY enrollment, nutrition, I.D. domestic violence, hepatitis C and G.I. treatment. Interagency referrals for orthopedics, cardiology, dermatology, urology, radiology, vision, entitlement. enrollment, etc.

The Homeless Program is based at SWCHCs Marina Village Clinic. Homeless Adult, pediatric, nutrition, and podiatry clients are seen during clinic hours 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday. Homeless clients are also seen during SWCHC's expanded evening and Saturday morning hours at the main 968 Fairfield Avenue SWCHC Clinic. The McKinney Program has licensed outpatient clinic rooms in 3 area shelters, 3 faith based substance abuse programs, and 2 transitional housing programs.

The McKinney Program sees Homeless Clients of other area programs which include the Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Refocus Ministries, the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and the Merton House soup kitchens, Center for women and Families, the Bridge Psychiatric Club House, Bethel Recovery , Salvation Army, Taste and See Ministries, Under the John Street Bridge, Homeless Outreach Treatment Team(H.O.T.T.), International Institute, Isiah House, Mary Magdaline House, The Mercy Learning Center, etc.

How services are provided
The McKinneys diverse Homeless Team consists of 1 full time and 1 part time Family Nurse Practitioner, one Registered Nurse/Coordinator, one Licensed Practical Nurse/Case Manager, one Patient Services Liaison/Case Manager and one bilingual (Spanish/English) CNA

Because of the difficult times and our clients numerous medical, social, and behavioral problems, the increased obstacles to providing their health care is time consuming and difficult. To ensure our clients health needs are met and sustained, along with providing primary health care our team is trained to access community services for our Homeless clients; e.g. housing in area shelters, food, clothing, furniture and appliance resources, legal services, education, family planning, substance abuse programs, faith based programs, transportation, job resources, behavioral health, etc.

The Homeless team also educates and updates other SWCHC Departments and community groups on McKinney services and other area resources. Outreach and health promotions are conducted at area health fairs, schools, parent meetings, elderly housing sites, soup kitchens, parks, The Salvation Army, Bridgeport Transit etc.

Special Events
SWCHC inaugurated and hosts annually a National Homeless Person Memorial Day on the first day of winter December 21. Last year in collaboration with the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. The annual National Homeless Health Awareness Day in 2009 was held in collaboration with the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Soup Kitchen.

The Salvation Army, Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Bridgeport Homeless Outreach Treatment Team, CT State Adult Probation (Bridgeport), Alpha Community Services/Families in Transition, Regional Network of Programs. The Greater Bridgeport Area Continuum of Care, Bridgeport Mental Health Crisis Unit, The National HCH Clinicians Network.

Estimated homeless population: 2,400 Patients served: 1,150

StayWell Health Care, Inc.- Open Arms

80 Phoenix Avenue
Waterbury, CT 06702
Phone: (203) 756-8021 Ext. 3018
Fax: (203) 596-9038
Email: cbianchi@staywellhealth.org
Web: www.staywellhealth.org
Director: Donald J. Thompson, MPS
HCH Coordinator: Christine S. Bianchi, MSW, LCSW
Medical Director: Sunil D'Cunha, MD
UDS Number: 012410

Project Description

StayWell Health Center has formed a Healthcare for the Homeless partnership with two local shelters (St. Vincent DePaul Shelter and Salvation Army), Waterbury Hospital, Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries (G.W.I.M.), and Greater Waterbury Mental Health Authority to design a comprehensive service delivery system to meet the needs of homeless individuals. Bilingual, bicultural providers and translators will be employed for those who do not speak English.

Medical and mental health services are provided at three locations, including shelters and Greater Waterbury Mental Health Authority. Dental hygiene services are provided on-site with the use of mobile equipment. Follow-up treatment visits are scheduled at a nearby dental center. Outreach is coordinated with existing community resources through Continuum of Care members. G.W.I.M.’s Soup Kitchen at St. John’s Church is a primary location for relationship-building and outreach, where providers conduct initial health care screening and provide specialty clinics, such as flu vaccines and blood pressure checks. Substance abuse or dual diagnosis services are referred to the Morris Foundation. All service delivery is provided within close proximity to local shelters.

StayWell Health Care has linkages with Outreach West, Workforce Investment Board, United Way, Waterbury Hospital, New Opportunities, Waterbury Health Access Project, CREDO, Waterbury Development Corporation, Neighborhood Housing Association, St. Vincent DePaul Shelter, St. John’s Soup Kitchen, Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries, Greater Waterbury Mental Health Authority, and Salvation Army Shelter.

Estimated homeless population: 4,700 Patients served: 2,254

Morris Foundation
402 East Main Street
Waterbury, CT 06702
Contact: Joan Pesce
Phone: (203) 755-1447
Email: jpesce@morris4change.org