Care Coordination Team Continues to Combat Black Maternal and Infant Mortality


Chronic Disease Coordinator Yoammy Pozo and Director of Clinical Support Services and Community Engagement Destiny Wood join New Jersey’s First Lady Tammy Murphy at the Family Festival in Atlantic City. On Saturday, September 7, SJFMC took part in First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Family Festival in Atlantic City. The event is a part of Murphy’s Nurture NJ awareness campaign, aimed at combating the maternal and infant health crisis in New Jersey, where black women are five times more likely than white women to die from childbirth-related complications. Director of Clinical Support Services and Community Engagement Destiny Wood said, “The first lady recognizes the issue that plagues our patient population. It’s a major push of ours and she is doing her part to make a difference across the state. We are here to support the mission and improve the lives of local families.” During the event, SJFMC connected about 850 mothers, fathers, grandparents and others involved in taking care of children with information on much-needed services including prenatal care, pediatric services and mental health.

SJFMC in the Community (Spring/Summer 2019)


April 30, 2019 SJFMC AND THE AC LINKS TEAM UP TO PUT FRESH PRODUCE ON LOCAL PLATES Sweet potatoes, mushrooms, collard greens and kale were just a few healthy favorites given out in sacks and bunches during our farm stand in April at the Merle Pavilion. The event, in collaboration with the Atlantic City chapter of the Links Inc., is part of the SJFMC Farmacy program, making fresh produce the medicine for a healthy soul. About 150 families received bags full of fresh produce at the event. The program, aimed at improving health outcomes through healthy eating, will continue at SJFMC next harvest season. May 22 SJFMC participated in the Atlantic City Regional Stand Down event, held at the All Wars Memorial Museum in Atlantic City, NJ. Our staff distributed much-needed health information to homeless veterans’ households. June 14 SJFMC staff participated in Wear BLUE Day as part of the year-round Wear BLUE awareness campaign created by the Men’s Health Network to raise awareness about the importance of male health and to encourage men to live longer and healthier lives. The event also aimed to get women involved to encourage men to do so.

June 14

The Outreach Team hit the streets of Burlington, stopping in barbershops to distribute goodie bags to local men. The push, in partnership with the Burlington Department of Health, was part of Men’s Health Awareness Month. June 14 Check out this smiling face, Patient Engagement Manager Stephanie Weaver, at the Atlantic City Board of Education’s Health and Wellness Expo. The event at O’Donnell Park connected community members with valuable health information to protect their families. August 23  Burlington County seniors received blood pressure screenings and valuable health information at the Doreatha Campbell Senior Complex in Willingboro.

SJFMC Celebrates National Health Center Week 2019


SJFMC observed National Health Center Week August 4-10 with a series of successful community events. With the theme of “America’s Health Centers: Rooted in Communities,” the week was an opportunity for SJFMC to celebrate its own health center heroes with luncheons at our eight centers. At these “Honoring Health Center Heroes” events, we applauded the staff winners, nominated by their peers through state-wide elections, who demonstrate the values of our organization. Check out our page for a list of winners. We also held four community health fairs to celebrate National Health Center Week. The fairs included free immunizations, dental screenings, blood pressure and glucose testing, entertainment, community partners, back-to-school book bag giveaways, food and much more in all three of the counties we serve: Burlington, Atlantic and Salem. Our SJFMC Pleasantville event at the Merle Pavilion attracted 150 people  and our event in Salem attracted about 100 residents. We culminated the week with two health fairs in both Burlington and Atlantic Counties. Elected officials showed their support for our mission at our  Burlington City Center event that attracted more than 200 patients and community partners. Our Atlantic City sites hosted more than 250 attendees. Thanks to all our managed care organizations, Aetna, Horizon NJ Health, United Healthcare, WellCare and Amerigroup, for providing monetary donations and outreach services. We also appreciate all of our community partners and SJFMC employees and Health Center Heroes who supported our efforts. Go TEAM!

Congratulations to our 2019 Health Center Heroes!


This year’s finalists are being honored for their commitment to our mission of providing quality health care to our patients. They all are dedicated to the Community Health Center Movement and deserve to be recognized. Here are our 2019 Heroes and Sheroes!!!!! AC1: Dr. Robert Hill, Dentist AC2: Milagros Centeno-Cooper, Front Desk Manager Burlington: Esther Kwofie, Certified Medical Assistant   Buttonwood: Dr. Wayne Shaw, Internal Medicine English Creek: Narda Bernal-Castaneda, Financial Counselor Hammonton: Desiree Washington, Patient Service Specialist Merle Pavilion: Alisia Charles, Certified Medical Assistant Migrant Outreach: Ashley Dasny, Migrant Outreach Coordinator Salem: Evette Washington, Patient Service Specialist  We Are Proud to Announce This Year’s Super Hero Dr. Robert Hill!  Dr. Hill is our Super Hero this year due to his tireless commitment to our patients. Our Super Hero Dentist, who has worked for SJFMC for more than 30 years, said, “I give back to the community I grew up in. It makes my day to be able to help people who come in need of jobs but are compromised in their smiles. Because of our mission, I am able to help them and give them back their confidence, and that makes me smile.” Thanks to all of our Health Center Heroes and our Super Hero. Because of the support from these committed staff members, our health centers bring incredible value to the most vulnerable populations. We thank each employee for being rooted in communities and serving as examples of stellar service. All of our heroes will be honored at our Holiday Awards Breakfast in December.

SJFMC Provider Day 2019


Pictured, left to right in front row: SJFMC CFO Ron Kaplan, President/CEO Linda Y. Flake, COO Esther Carpenter, PI/Director of Compliance Tarena Rivera. Back row: SJFMC Providers. Photo Credits: Tracie Van Auken. Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers recognized the contributions of its provider staff on March 15 during Provider Day. The event, which honors Doctors, Dentists, Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Physician Assistants and Dental Hygienists, was held at Paris Caterers. In addition to breakfast and presentations from SJFMC leaders, nine clinical team members received productivity and quality awards and incentives for their hard work. CEO Linda Flake said, “It is our way of saying thanks to our providers for their commitment to our mission. They work every day to keep the patients and the community healthy.” The SJFMC Board has signed a resolution marking the third Friday in March as Provider Day every year. Next year’s celebration will be held on March 20, 2020. 2019 Provider Day Honorees

SJFMC Encourages All to get Free HIV Testing at one of its Eight Health Centers in Honor of World AIDS Day


In recognition of World AIDS Day on December 1, Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center committed to providing quality health care to the underserved and uninsured, encourages all southern Jersey residents to get tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In the United States, about 1 in 7 people who have HIV don’t know it. While SJFMC offers free HIV testing every day at all eight of its health centers, health leaders are urging the public to take part in free walk-in testing on Thursday, November 29 and Friday, November 30 ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1, 2018. The only way to know for sure whether or not you have HIV is to get tested. You could have HIV and still feel healthy. Everyone ages 15 to 65 needs to get tested at least once. Some people may need to get tested more often. HIV is passed from one person to another by:
Around the world, about 37 million people are living with HIV. In the United States, about 38,500 people get infected with HIV every year. World AIDS Day is a global initiative to raise awareness, fight prejudice and improve education about HIV and AIDS.

SJFMC Celebrates National Rural Health Day With Farmworker Video


Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, Inc. (SJFMC) celebrated National Rural Health Day on November 15 by distributing a new video that highlighted the contributions of New Jersey farmworkers in the rural communities they serve. The video documentary of SJFMC’s “From Our Hands To Yours” Photography Exhibit chronicles the lives of farmworkers and their commitment to providing nutritious food to our communities. The video also showcases the dedication of Federally Qualified Health Centers like SJFMC that serve farmworkers with quality health care. Watch video below:

Atlantic City Community Baby Shower Offers Support, Education To Moms


By: Nicole Leonard Atlantic City Press, Staff Writer ATLANTIC CITY — Mothers with their babies, children, parents, partners and friends sat at round tables adorned with pink and blue balloons as they waited to hear their raffle tickets called to win onesies, feeding supplies, car seats, strollers and other necessities for newborn babies. The free community baby shower, put on by Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers and held Thursday at the All Wars Memorial Building, gave families living in and near the city a chance to access maternal and infant health services, support and education they may have otherwise lacked. Organizers from Southern Jersey Family, a health network with locations in Atlantic, Burlington and Salem counties, said they were focused on families of color and increasing awareness of racial disparities in infant and maternal deaths. “There are many factors, but one cannot ignore the role racism plays in these disparities,” said Linda Flake, president and CEO of Southern Jersey Family. “Societal stressors that are a part of life for an African-American woman have a detrimental impact on their lives and the lives of their infants.” Infant mortality in New Jersey for black babies, at 9.7 per 1,000 live births, is more than three times the rate among white babies, state data show. In some areas of the state, like Atlantic City, that rate is even higher at about 20 black infant deaths per 1,000 live births during the most recent five-year period. About 40 families and representatives from 15 state and local organizations ate lunch, played baby shower games and participated in educational workshops as the day went on. Destiny Wood, director of women’s health services and patient engagement, said although medical advancements have tremendously improved birth outcomes across the board, the disparity in infant and maternal deaths among white and black families has grown. “I was a labor and delivery nurse for 10 years, and I myself am a mother, so I’ve been on both sides,” she said. “It may be hard to admit, but racism has a lot to do with it. It’s the kind of institutionalized racism, the biases, that affect families, and we need to advocate as black women.” Flake said early and consistent prenatal care is crucial to decreasing infant mortality rates in Atlantic County, as well as having postpartum care. In addition to events like the free baby showers, Wood said the provider network will soon launch its own pilot doula, or birth coach, program to focus on mothers and families of color. State Department of Health officials announced earlier this year they also were launching a pilot doula program with $4.7 million and six state community-based organizations. Link to Article: https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/wellness/womens_health/atlantic-city-community-baby-shower-offers-support-education-to-moms/article_a0ba4c13-76cc-559d-8657-a739935c653c.html

SJFMC Recognized as “Best Physician Group” in Salem County


Southern Jersey Family Health Centers (SJFMC) Salem site was awarded the “Best Physician Group” in Salem County. The award was provided by the Salem County Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations to our Salem Center for the amazing work you do for the residents of Salem County. You are valued and appreciated!

SJFMC Enrolls Residents in Insurance Plans During the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period


In support of the “Get Covered New Jersey” campaign in partnership with NJ Citizen Action and other state organizations, SJFMC will sign up residents for Marketplace plans during the Affordable Care Act’s 2019 open enrollment period,  November 1 – December 15, 2018. The program promotes health coverage options available to residents through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace and off the Marketplace in the individual insurance market during open enrollment, as well as through the state’s NJ FamilyCare program year-round. The goal is to work together to ensure that all eligible NJ resident enroll in quality, affordable health care coverage. The great thing about this campaign is that SJFMC Financial Counselors are available to help residents access financial assistance and coverage.