Locations

Kaplan Family Pavilion

147 Lake Street Newburgh, NY 12550 845-563-8000

Blooming Grove Turnpike

91 Blooming Grove Turnpike New Windsor, NY 12553 845-561-2257

Lipman Family Dental (on Broadway)

100 Broadway Newburgh, NY 12550 845-569-8412

Center for Recovery

3 Commercial Place Newburgh, NY 12550 845-220-2146

Introducing the New GHVFHC Newsletter!

Thank you for signing up for The Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center newsletter, Community Connection. We hope that you enjoy our new and improved publication! Each month we will provide you with recent news, upcoming events, and other updates regarding you, our patients, and your Family Health Center. As always, thank you for choosing GHVFHC where you can meet all of your health care needs under one roof!

Harper Health for Individuals & Families in Transition

290 Broadway, Suites 2 & 3 Newburgh, NY 12550 845-561-3759

Highland Falls (coming soon)

127 Main Street Highland Falls, NY 10928 845-446-4076

In This Issue...
Fit For Life
Our program to promote healthy lives and healthy attitudes in Newburgh!

Harper Health Advocacy Day Radiology

A look into our new location and how it will help the community. GHVFHC sends staff and volunteers to stick up for health care in Albany. Take a moment to learn more about our radiology department!

April 2013

Community Connection
For More Info Call 845.563.8000 x 1260

April 2013
Managing Your Health Six Wednesday, starting April 3 - May 8 Disease Self Management Smoking Cessation Four Tuesdays, starting April 2 - April 23 Help to Quit Smoking! Wellness Mondays Mondays, April 1 - 29 Reduce Stress and Increase Strenth! Fit For Life Wednesdays, April 24 - May 29 Childhood Weight Control Advancing Youth Development Four Fridays, April 26 - May 17

GHVFHC Staff and Volunteers Head to Albany for Advocacy

As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), GHVFHC relies heavily on government support to fund our programs. So when the state government announces changes that would make it difficult, if not impossible, to receive the support we need to provide quality health care to our patients, we make our voices heard. That is why 70 of our staff and friends traveled to Albany on Monday, March 4, to advocate on behalf of community health centers as a part of the 2013 Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) Advocacy Day. During Advocacy Day, our advocates spoke with local politicians in order to express the needs of our health center and its importance in the community. Dr. Avi Silber, GHVFHCs Medical Director, and Dr. Tracy Lucas, Chief of Ambulatory Pediatrics, both shared personal accounts of their experiences to the group. Senator William Larkin, Assemblyman Frank Skartados, and Assemblyman James Skoufis were present to lend their ear and pledge their support for GHVFHC. The advocates also listened to an array of speakers, including our own President and CEO, Linda S. Muller, among many other leaders and health care experts. Advocacy Day was one day out of many that we will continue to advocate for our patients, their families, and the places that provide them care. To learn more about how you can join in our efforts, visit www.ghvfhc.org/advocacy.

Now Open! Harper Health - GHVFHCs Newest Site

GHVFHC is proud to announce the opening of our new site located at 290 Broadway in Newburgh! The site, called Harper Health at The Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center (or Harper Health for short), will provide medical attention to our patients without homes or in transition. With the opening of Harper Health, the Health Center will be able to offer the same quality care that we already strive to provide with an emphasis on assisting those who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness. GHVFHC will be working closely with various organizations located at the Neighborhood Business and Resource Center, which offers community and social services to individuals in need. The Resource Center is conveniently located next door to Harper Health at 280 Broadway allowing GHVHFC to work collaboratively when referring patients. This partnership will create the stability and continuity of care that these patients truly need. DID YOU KNOW: Harper Health is named after John Harper, of HONORehg, who has worked his entire life to provide care and stability to this population. The Health Center hopes to capture his compassion, as well as that of the numerous other organizations at the Resource Center, in helping those at Harper Health. GHVHFC believes that this site will help further the message that health care is a right and not a privilege, and that everyone deserves quality health care regardless of who they are or their ability to pay. To learn more about Harper Health, visit http://www.ghvfhc.org.

Upcoming Events

Community Connection

April 2013
Fort Montgomery Elementary School Receives Dental Visit
This past February, The Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center sent its Mobile Health Van to Fort Montgomery Elementary School to perform free dental exams for their students. A visit to the dentistan often traumatic experience for young childrenwas far from the minds of these excited kids. Along with a thorough dental check that looked for cavities and other common issues, the students were given a Dental Hygiene Report Card to bring home to their parents and guardians as well as a fun activity book of coloring pages and fun facts pertaining to a healthy smile. This event was part of the Health Centers greater efforts to promote dental hygiene to members of the community. All too often, we find that healthy mouths take a back seat to other persistent health conditions. Good dental hygiene is more than just brushing your teeth two to three times a day and flossing. The Health Center believes that educating young people about the need for healthy smiles is a good first step in ensuring a lifetime of good dental hygiene. To brighten your smile, visit our dental practice today!

Health Education Spotlight: Fit For Life

This month is National Nutrition Month and with spring right around the corner it is time to be active and get fit for life! The Family Health Center offers a program called Fit for Life designed for children (ages 7-12) who are patients of the health center and their parents to help them make better food and exercise choices. During the session, health educators and a registered dietitian teach children and caregivers nutrition awareness and the importance of being active. Each child is seen by a physician, nurse practitioner or dietitian in conjunction with a 30 to 45-minute exercise program. The children who participate in the program are active the entire time, whether it is playing with other children while waiting to be seen by the doctor or participating in group activities, like red rover, tag, zumba, hip hop dance, or yoga, said Jesse Sarubbi, GHVFHC Health Education Coordinator. The Health Literacy and Patient Education Center becomes their playground and the kids really love that. To emphasize National Nutrition Month, the program will continue to offer healthy snacks and discuss healthy eating options during each session. The program also addresses the constraints within society that may impact a familys ability to choose healthier options. In some cases our patients may not play outside as often as they would like because they do not have a safe place to do so. Parents may have to purchase food from convenience stores because they do not have transportation to get to the grocery store for healthier options. These barriers certainly affect a childs health and growth, said Jesse. Fit for Life is the most comprehensive obesity prevention program in the area that can help children and their families overcome these barriers and lead a healthier life. GHVFHC has seen a great change in the knowledge and behavior of the patients who participate in the program. The improvement in nutrition knowledge, physical activity, as well as a reduction in the amount of time watching television, and using video games or computers, has been absolute, said Jesse. Health educators also focus on helping families understand the importance of portion size, reducing intake of sugar, and overall weight control. To meet the needs of our patient base, the classes are offered in both English and Spanish. Health Educator Lesly Retamozo and translator Carla Castillo work to personalize each session by interacting with Spanish-speaking patients in their native language. Also, physical activities are often led by local certified instructors who, at times, have already gotten to know the children if they have worked with them before at other community locations. To see families and their children so ecstatic about the program and to share knowledge with parents through a program that will help the community is very fulfilling, said Jesse. The next session begins Wednesday, April 24, and runs for six weeks. Each child receives giveaways and certificates of completion and are invited back to participate in future sessions. GHVHFC is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of its patients, during National Nutrition Month and every other day! For more information and to register, call (845) 563-8000 ext. 1260.