February 8, 2012
Over the past few months there has been an increase awareness of the impact of poor nutrition and lack of physical fitness on the overall health of the communities of Southeast Los Angeles. A recent L A Times article highlighted this fact with an eye opening comparison of pediatric obesity rates among Manhattan Beach and Bell Gardens youth. Our own Lani Cupchoy contributed to this article, sharing an update of the work being done by the Campaign in collaboration with the Montebello Unified School District. Please feel free to access the articles highlighting the work of the CHBG via the links below.
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LA TIMES link:
“A vast child obesity gap between affluent city, lower-income one” -
EGP News:
“Bell Gardens Elementary Celebrates ‘Our Veggie Place’ Garden” -
Community Greening Review 2011:
“Youth Fight Childhood Obesity & Diabetes Through School-based Gardening & Student-run Farmers Markets
January 25, 2012
FHCCGLA is pleased to announce the opening of its newest facility, the Downey Family Medical Center. This site will mark the third primary care center in the FHCCGLA family, and brings needed health care services to uninsured and low income residents of Downey. We look forward to a bright future for the Downey Family Medical Center, and will work to make this site another opportunity to advance our legacy of compassionate service to all.
January 5, 2012
By EGP News Report
Bell Gardens Elementary School has become the fifth Montebello Unified School District (MUSD) school-based garden, a program headed by the Bell Gardens Intermediate School’s Environmental Garden Club (BGI EGC).
The garden inaugurated last month was funded by Tides and the California Endowment’s Community Clinics Initiative through Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles and the Campaign for a Healthier Bell Gardens.
As part of school-based gardening efforts, the garden will serve as a lab to foster student learning pertaining to nutrition, obesity, and diabetes education and will encourage its garden club to participate in quarterly student-run farmers markets at Bell Gardens Intermediate School where all five garden/environmental clubs vend their produce at low cost to the local community, according to BGI EGC
Friends, Thanksgiving Day is a day where we get together with our loved ones breaking bread and giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives. For FHCCGLA the holiday represents an opportunity to share our blessings with patients and their families. On November 22nd and 23rd, Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles distributed food baskets to help our neediest families celebrate the holidays.
A total of 15 families received food donations made possible by the generosity of staff, community members, and our elected officials. It was thanks to this generous show of support that eleven boxes were distributed at our Bell Gardens facility and four boxes to families at our Hawaiian Gardens clinic. The distribution days were joyous for both recipients and staff, some of whom were overcome with emotion upon hearing that for many families if not for this act of kindness they would not have been able to celebrate a Thanksgiving meal.
FHCCGLA is grateful to our patients who allowed us to be part of their Thanksgiving celebration, and we note here the generous support of our community partners including Congresswomen Lucille Roybal-Allard, Supervisor Gloria Molina, Assemblyman Ricardo Lara, Mario Rivera from Blessed the Children, and Robert Rubio of the Rio Hondo Boys and Girls Club.
For additional information please feel free to contact: Jennifer Racanac Community Outreach Educator Family Health Care Center Of Greater Los Angeles 6501 S Garfield Ave Bell Gardens CA 90201 562-928-9600 ext.3061 562-927-8603 fax jracanac@fhccgla.org
FHCCGLA Receives Proclamation from Bell Gardens City Council
In Recognition of National Health Center Week Activities
September 12, 2011
The Bell Gardens City Council presented staff and board members of FHCCGLA with a proclamation in recognition of the Health Centers efforts at promoting health and well being during this year’s National Health Center Week. Dr. Felix Nuñez, Interim CEO & CMO, accepted the award on behalf of FHCCGLA with staff and board members in attendance. The ongoing need to provide uninsured and indigent residents of the Bell Gardens community with high quality health care services, regardless of insurance status, remains at the core of FHCCGLA. Ongoing partnerships with the City of Bell Gardens and other key community organizations are critical to extending the FHCCGLA mission beyond its four walls. FHCCGLA is thankful for the support provided by Bell Gardens City Council members and looks forward towards a brighter and healthier future.
Grand Opening:The Wildcat Garden at Wilcox Elementary School
Location: City of Montebello
Date: September 7, 2011 at 5:45 pm.
Bell Gardens Intermediate School’s Environmental Garden Club (BGI EGC) welcomed its newest member, Wilcox Elementary School’s Wildcat Garden on September 7, 2011. This garden represents an important step in the ongoing mission to extending school-based gardening beyond Montebello Unified School District (MUSD) schools in the City of Bell Gardens. Funded by Tides and the California Endowment’s Community Clinics Initiative and administered by Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles’ Campaign for a Healthier Bell Gardens, Wilcox Elementary School joins two other garden sites--Garfield Elementary School and Bell Gardens High School.
School-based gardening has become an important tool for enriching the lives of youth, educators, and families by providing a basic understanding of horticulture and perhaps more importantly strengthening knowledge related to the causes of obesity and diabetes. By promoting nutrition education and healthy food access through the expansion of school-based gardening, student run farmers markets, and healthy cooking workshops, this program represents a working model for impacting community health through school-based gardening.
During BGI EGC’s eighteen years in existence under the direction of Eva Cupchoy and John Garza, there have been approximately 1500 MUSD students, 160 parent volunteers, and 600 educators, administrators, and support staff whose lives have been positively affected by these gardening projects. Through collaborative efforts with close to 80 organizations, BGI EGC has advanced a school-based gardening vision with an impact extending beyond the schools in its home district.
For more information contact:
Lani Cupchoy, Ph.D. Candidate
Project Coordinator, Campaign for a Healthier Bell Gardens
lcupchoy@fhccgla.org
BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION AWARDS FAMILY HEALTH CARE CENTERS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES $20,000 TO HELP RESIDENTS IN NEED
Foundation calls Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles (FHCC) ‘a vital part of California’s safety net’
Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF) today announced that it was awarding FHCC $20,000 in general operating support to help provide needed care to uninsured Greater Los Angeles residents. The grant is part of the Foundation’s efforts aimed at strengthening the statewide network of community clinics and health centers and helping them provide high quality health care to millions of vulnerable Californians.
“FHCC is a vital part of California’s safety net,” said Peter Long, Ph.D., president and CEO of BSCF. “The struggling economy and cuts to key public services have made community clinics more important than ever before.”
More than 200 licensed community, free, and tribal clinics provide health services to California’s most vulnerable populations at over 800 sites throughout the state. These clinics provide services to nearly 3 million patients each year, many of whom are uninsured or underinsured. Since 2003, the Foundation has invested more than $52 million in clinics statewide.
Dr. Felix Nuñez, Interim CEO & CMO:
“In the face of growing demand for services, the support of the Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF) could not come at a more fortuitous time. Since our founding over 80 years ago, Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles has relied on the generosity of partners such as BSCF, who time and time again has demonstrated a level of compassion and humanity which should serve as an example to all. We are proud to be a recipient of this grant and look forward to working closely with BSCF for years to come.”
Blue Shield of California Foundation (www.blueshieldcafoundation.org.)is one of the state’s largest healthcare grantmaking organizations. The Foundation was formed by Blue Shield of California, a not-for-profit corporation with more than 3.4 million members, 4,800 employees, and 20 offices throughout California. FCC is a non-profit community health center founded in 1926. As a Federally Qualify Health Center we have a responsibility to provide primary care services to all patients based on their ability to pay using a variety of federal, state, local, and private health care programs, in addition to a sliding fee scale. Our mission is, “To enhance the quality of life for men, women, and children in the Greater Los Angeles through the provision of high quality, accessible, and affordable health care services.”
FHCCGLA Celebrates National Health Center Week with a Health and Fitness Fair, Monday August 8th:
On August 8th, 2011, we celebrated National Health Center Week with a health fair at our Bell Gardens facility (Bell Gardens Family Medical Center).
Our staff worked tirelessly to ensure that the fair was both fun and educational with activities for young and old, including a Zumba dance demonstration, music, child safety, ID fingerprinting, face painting, raffles for attendees, food and refreshments.
Participants included community organizations that have actively promoted health and wellness. We are grateful to the following organizations for their participation;
First 5 LA
Human Services Association
Bell Gardens Women’s Club
Braille Institute
Campaign for a Healthier Bell Gardens and Environmental Garden Club
Children’s Dental Fun Zone
Community Rehabilitation Services
East Los Angeles Women’s Center
Maravilla Foundation
WIC Program
VX Boot Camp
Whittier Health Center-Public Health
Accountable IPA
We were pleased to be joined by Mayor Jennifer Rodriguez who inspired attendees with words of encouragement. Dr. Felix Nuñez (interim CEO & CMO) also addressed the crowd adding his support of healthy eating and physical fitness, in addition he acknowledged the commitment of time of resources on the part of staff as well as the support of the FHCCGLA board of directors, some of whom joined in as volunteers.
We want to thank Super A Foods for their kind donation of food and Bell Gardens Police Officer Vallejo all her support.
National Health Center Week!
On August 8, 2011 we are hosting a health fair for our patients and friends. Come and enjoy FREE fun activities for the whole family! We will have face painting, Zumba, Boot Camp, child fingerprinting, vision screenings, music, raffles, and much more!!
We hope to see you there! If you have any questions please call Ana M. Gutierrez at 562-928-9600.
The City of Bell Gardens Adopts Healthy Vending Policy
On Monday July 25, 2011 Bell Gardens city council unanimously adopted a healthy vending policy to reduce the access of sugar-sweetened beverages available to youth in city facilities after testimony from members of the Los Angeles County RENEW Initiative .
The council heard from several proponents, including city staff and partnering local community-based organizations such as The Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles, Campaign for a Healthier Bell Gardens and California Center for Public Health Advocacy. They also heard expert testimony from the LA County Department of Public Health (sponsors of the RENEW Initiative) in support of health policy changes as a means of improving population health. Local youth also voiced their support for the policy.
The economic costs associated with being overweight or obese, and lack of physical activity cost LA County nearly $12 billion in health care and lost productivity in 2006, and these costs are on the rise. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's RENEW initiative is working with cities like Bell Gardens and Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles to establish policies that will promote health for all residents.
Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles will continue to work with LA County Department of Public Health and the City of Bell Gardens to promote healthy living and eating through workshops for city staff and community members. http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/city-of-bell-gardens-adopts-healthy-vending-policy-1542596.htm
Kaiser Permanente and FHCCGLA partner to provide free surgeries for low income uninsured patients
On Saturday May 28th, as a part of our ongoing partnership with Kaiser Permanente-Downey Medical Center 12 low income and uninsured FHCCGLA patients received free outpatient surgeries. These low income and uninsured patients were identified by FHCCGLA clinical staff as individuals who were in need of outpatient surgical procedures, yet unable to afford the cost of these procedures.
The day brought out Kaiser staff which included surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, housekeeping, as well as members of administration and public affairs. This wonderful all volunteer activity was a demonstration of true compassion and generosity which made a significant impact in the lives of some of uninsured residents. Plans are now in the works for a GI procedure day in August which will provide colonoscopies for patients at high risk of colon cancer.
First Annual FHCCGLA Benefit Dinner.
On June 2nd FHCCGLA hosted its first benefit dinner at El Picante Banquet Hall in the city of Bell Gardens. While the intent of the dinner was to provide a fundraising opportunity for FHCCGLA, the evening also honored two graduating high school seniors from Bell Gardens High School who demonstrated excellence in Math and Science.
This year Mr. Tino Alvarez and Ms. Andreina Zepeda received congratulatory proclamations from the office of Assemblyman Ricardo Lara in addition to $500 scholarships from FHCCGLA.
Through a tremendous outpouring of support from local businesses and community organizations we were able to raise desperately needed funds that will go to continue the mission and work of our community health center. As we reflect back on the success of this dinner we are already looking forward and planning for next year’s event. Please check back for more details in the coming months.
National Community Health Center Day
The second week of August each year is dedicated to recognizing the service and contributions of Community, Migrant, Homeless and Public Housing Health Centers in providing access to affordable, high quality, cost-effective health care to medically vulnerable and underserved people in the U.S. Last year's commemoration was special because 2010 also marked the 45th Anniversary of the creation of the Health Centers Program. America's Health Centers now serve over 20 million people (including 925,000 farm workers and nearly 940,000 people who are homeless) in 7,000 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. Each year FHCCGLA participates in and organizes activities commemorating this important week. Please check back for more information on upcoming activities, in the mean time we invite you to go to www.healthcenterweek.org for additional information.