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.

SJFMC Staff Raises Awareness on Domestic Violence for #PurpleThursday


In support of victims of domestic violence, SJFMC staff joined together to wear purple and raise funds on Thursday, October 18. Proceeds benefited the AVANZAR (formerly The Women’s Center of Atlantic County), The Providence House in Burlington County and Salem County Women’s Services. The campaign raised awareness about domestic, spousal and teen dating violence. Women are the primary victims of domestic violence, but remember both men and women can fall victim. In fact, one in three women and one in four men will experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetimes.

SJFMC Re-certified as a Patient-Centered Medical Home for all six of its Eligible Sites


Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers was recertified by the National Committee of Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, Level 3, the highest level attainable at all six of its eligible sites. SJFMC has a total of eight health centers across three South Jersey counties.

SJFMC Participates in Train Up Day to Highlight Reasons to Work for an FQHC


Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers (SJFMC) shared inspirational stories from employees in an informative flyer to show that there are no glass ceilings at federally qualified health centers. Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers employs 220 employees at eight sites in southern Jersey. SJFMC careers include nurses, physician assistants, doctors, medical assistants, lab technicians/phlebotomists, dentists, social workers, behavioral health counselors, security guards, information technology experts, human resource directors, chief operating officers, billers and community health workers. Statewide, FQHCs employ 3,170 individuals, including 1,858 medical professionals, according to the New Jersey Primary Care Association. New Jersey’s FQHCs provide comprehensive, culturally sensitive, high-quality primary medical, dental and behavioral health services for all ages. There are currently 24 FQHCs in New Jersey. These centers and their 134 satellite sites provide health care services to over 500,000 people in New Jersey. A variety of career opportunities exists at FQHCs. FQHCs are in every state across the nation. FQHCs are authorized under Section 330(A) of the Public Health Services Act to provide healthcare to the medically underserved. Many health centers and their sites are specially designated to serve the needs of special populations including homeless populations, public housing residents, migrant and seasonal farm workers, veterans and school-aged children. For more information about the HRSA Health Center Program, please click here.