SJFMC Hosts Free Community Baby Showers in Atlantic and Burlington Counties

Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers is hosting a free community baby shower open to all pregnant women/families and parents of young infants. Enjoy free gifts and food, plus valuable health information from SJFMC and community partners! There will be two events: Atlantic County Thursday, November 8, 2018 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. All Wars Memorial Building 1510 Adriatic Ave. Atlantic City, NJ 08401 RSVP at 609-348-0066 ext. 2125 or email: Stephanie.Weaver@sjfmc.org Burlington County Friday, November 2, 2018 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tabernacle Baptist Church 150 E 2nd Street Burlington, NJ 08016 RSVP at 609-481-3041 or email: Michael.Bortnowski@sjfmc.org

SJFMC Recognizes Farmworkers at Burlington City Art Exhibit Unveiling During NJ Rural Health Weeks

Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers (SJFMC) unveiled a photography exhibit called “From Our Hands to Yours” to recognize the contributions of local farmworkers. The event was held to celebrate the two weeks at the end of September that are dedicated to addressing health challenges in rural communities and increasing awareness of rural health-related issues in New Jersey. At the event, SJFMC displayed over 20 photos that chronicle the lives of local farmworkers in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties. The farmworkers in the photos are also SJFMC patients. Some of the farmworkers featured in the exhibit assist the Health Center as “Health Promoters,” also known as Promotores. The health promoters spread health education to agricultural workers about diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other health topics. They also assist farmworkers in scheduling the appointments they need at SJFMC. “Due to the many extreme conditions and challenges agricultural workers encounter, many farmworkers suffer poorer than average health. Without the help of the SJFMC Migrant Outreach team, our providers, clinical support staff and health center, our local farmworkers would lack access to healthcare, health education and other services. At SJFMC, we are committed to helping farmworkers in any way we can. Our mission is to enhance their lives by providing them with compassionate health care and empowering them through health education and promotion,” said Linda Y. Flake, President/CEO of SJFMC. At the event, SJFMC presented farmworkers with gifts, including portraits of themselves in appreciation of their efforts. The New Jersey Primary Care Association attended the event along with New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) dignitaries, Assistant Commissioner for Community Health Services, Nashon Hornsby, and Rural Health Project Officer, Roslyn Council.

SJFMC Gives Out Free Fresh Produce Through Farmacy Program in Burlington County

In celebration of NJ Rural Health Weeks and in collaboration with the SJFMC Farmacy Program, Burlington County residents received free local produce at our Burlington City Health Center. The program, all about improving health outcomes through healthy eating, will expand to provide more produce to residents in neighborhoods that lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables across South Jersey in 2019.

SJFMC Wins National Health Center Week Photo Contest

On September 24, Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, Inc. (SJFMC) was announced as the Grand Prize Winner in the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) National Health Center Week photo contest. The contest was part of NACHC’s Health Center Advocacy Network. Advocates from across the nation cast nearly 8,000 votes for their favorite pictures and videos. Votes were cast on Facebook, YouTube and on an online form. Congratulations to Superman Jared Kidd (pictured above) and all the SJFMC team members for this special recognition. In 2017, SJFMC was a runner-up in the photo contest. To see more 2018 picture and video contest winners and runners-up, please visit here .

2018 SJFMC Health Center Hero Finalists

This year, the theme of National Health Center Week was Celebrating Health Centers: Home of America’s Health Care Heroes. These are individuals whose work and passion for improving health outcomes in communities have made a lasting, positive impact on our more than 50,000 patients. According to SJFMC President/CEO, Linda Flake, “Health centers are about people: our patients, providers, nurses, medical and dental assistants, care managers, front desk staff, translators, outreach staff, health educators, management teams, and voluntary board members and staff that go above and beyond to make lives better. Our health center heroes!” Thanks to the hard work and commitment of the heroes featured above, non-profit community health centers like SJFMC, the third largest in New Jersey, are a community “safety net” for vulnerable populations. They provide primary health care, including medical, dental, and mental health services; regardless of ability to pay. Our more than 41-year legacy of eliminating barriers to care would not be possible without the contributions of our Health Center Heroes, who work hard to improve lives every day. We salute you for your service and your commitment to our communities! Our 2018 Super Hero finalists: Connie Moreno and Randy Pruden

SJFMC HOLDS OPEN HOUSE AT NEWEST LOCATION IN ENGLISH CREEK

Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, Inc. (SJFMC) celebrated its newest location at English Creek in Egg Harbor Twp. with an open house during National Health Center Week. The celebration included tours of the 15,000-square-foot facility with 18 exam rooms for pediatric, family medicine and women’s health appointments. The site also includes a behavioral health suite. The event was well attended by SJFMC employees, community partners and Atlantic County Elected Officials, who continuously show their support for SJFMC’s mission of providing quality health care to underserved and uninsured residents in southern Jersey. The site began operation on October 20, 2017.

SJFMC Celebrates National Health Center Week 2018

National Health Center Week celebrations were scheduled from August 12-18 with a series of community events. This year’s theme was, “Celebrating Health Centers: Home of America’s Health Care Heroes.” The week kicked off with our “Honoring Health Center Heroes” luncheon at all eight of our health center sites. Our heroes were revealed and celebrated at the lunch after being nominated by their peers through site-wide elections. The top winner with the most votes became our 2018 Super Hero. This year ended with a two-way tie between two motivated employees. The excitement continued throughout the week with four health fairs, complete with 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 Salem City event, in collaboration with the community development organization Stand Up For Salem, attracted more than 200 residents. The next day about 250 people filled the parking lot of our Merle Pavilion Health Fair in Pleasantville for our annual event. We culminated the week with two health fairs in both Burlington and Atlantic Counties. Our Burlington City Center attracted more than 300 patients and community partners and our Atlantic City sites hosted more than 500 attendees. Health Center Heroes showed their superpowers while sporting their costumes at all of our events, creating quite an experience for all in attendance. Thanks to all our managed care organizations, 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! SJFMC also held an open house celebration with distinguished guests at our newest center, Southern Jersey at English Creek in Egg Harbor Township.

SJFMC COO Educates Burlington County Health Consumers on 53rd Medicaid Anniversary

SJMFC COO Esther Carpenter was a panelist at the New Jersey Citizen’s Action “Medicare/Medicaid: Are They At Risk?” event held at the Burlington County Public Library on the 53rd anniversary of these critically important public health programs. Panelists addressed the impact the programs have had, the state of these programs in New Jersey, the people they serve and what’s at risk (for individuals, our health care system and our state budget) should budget cuts and other proposals in Congress be enacted.

SJFMC’s Free Community Baby Shower Connects Pregnant and New Moms with Resources and Gifts for Their New Additions

By: Jenny Wagner Burlington County Times, Staff Writer Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers hosts the free event to provide pregnant women and moms of newborns with access to quality care, and to ensure they have information and resources “all babies have an equal chance to live and thrive,” officials said. BURLINGTON CITY — At just 1 month old, Ares Morris is an eater and a sleeper and has already put himself on a schedule, according to his mom, Amani Morris. The Burlington City resident said her doctor provided her with great care and lots of information during her pregnancy and after her son was born. But she was excited to learn more to pass along to her husband and other new moms during a community baby shower Friday at Tabernacle Baptist Church. “It’s very helpful,” she said. “There’s a lot of people who are not fortunate enough to have clinics like this, and to come out and to get information.” Morris was referring to Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, which hosts the free event to provide pregnant women and moms of newborns with access to quality care, and to ensure they have information and resources they need so “all babies have an equal chance to live and thrive,” officials said. “It’s truly a one-stop shop for local resources, and it’s also a fun event to celebrate the new life they are bringing into the world,” said Linda Flake, president and CEO of SJFMC. The shower featured speakers from SJFMC’s women’s health services, UnitedHealthcare and the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department’s car seat safety program, and information tables where women could connect with local organizations and agencies. Women also had a chance to win baby gear including strollers, car seats, clothes and more. “I think it’s nice that Burlington County or pregnant women have the chance to get the help and care they need,” said Jeanie Rossi, of Lumberton, whose daughter, Olivia, is due to arrive in two weeks. “I think it’s nice that there’s people here trying to help us.” Funding for the event came from the Improving Pregnancy Outcomes grant through the New Jersey Department of Health, which also recently announced it will award $4.3 million to up to 12 grantees statewide to intensify efforts to reduce disparities in birth outcomes and black infant mortality. State data shows the mortality rate for black infants is more than three times that of white infants. “We want to try a different approach because key maternal and child health indicators have not improved over decades in the state, and significant racial and ethnic disparities persist,” health department Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said in an announcement about the funding. Flake said SJFMC is working to reduce the disparities by ensuring women have early access to prenatal care that includes information and resources like those offered at the shower, as well as postpartum care, which soon will follow new recommendations that women visit their OB/GYN within the first three weeks after delivery, rather than six. “It is a very difficult question to answer,” Flake said when asked about what is contributing to the disparity. “There are many factors, but one cannot ignore the role racism plays in these disparities. 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.” Link to original article: http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/news/20180511/community-baby-shower-aims-to-provide-pregnant-women-new-moms-with-resources

Longtime SJFMC President/CEO Linda Y. Flake Receives NAACP Health Award

The Atlantic City Branch of the NAACP honored Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers’ (SJFMC) President/CEO Linda Y. Flake during the 46th Annual Freedom Fund Breakfast. Flake received the Health Award in recognition of her tireless dedication to eliminating disparities in health care. Five other individuals received awards for their work in the fields of business, education, environmental protection and community service. The theme, “We Will Not Be Silent,” called for community members to support and encourage one another in their respective fields. Congratulations to Ms. Flake for this well-deserved honor. We appreciate all you have done to carry on the mission of FQHCs in New Jersey and across the country! To read the Atlantic City Press article about the awards ceremony, please visit here.