The Cliff is Fixed! Congress Passes Bipartisan Budget Package With Health Center Funding

Congress passed a bipartisan spending package that included an additional two years of funding for Community Health Centers, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program. To add to the good news, we’re also happy to report that health center funding will increase by $600 million over the two-year period; specifically, the Community Health Center Fund will increase from $3.6 billion per year to $3.8 billion in FY18 and $4.0 billion in FY19. For a more in-depth look at what was included in the spending package, please click here.

SJFMC Advocates for the 24 Million who rely on Health Centers During Red Alert – A National Day of Demonstration in Washington

By: Toni Granato, New Jersey Primary Care Association Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) patients, doctors, nurses and other advocates will be in Washington, D.C. for a national press conference to discuss the urgent need to reinstate FQHC funding. The “Day of Demonstration -Red Alert for Community Health Centers” Fly-In press conference was held on Tuesday, February 6 at 10:30 AM. The press conference took place at the Capitol Triangle (outside the Capitol Building). Since 1965, FQHCs (also known as Community Health Centers) have served our communities by providing the medically underserved quality, cost-effective and efficient primary health care. The primary goal of the Fly-In Day is to ensure that Congress keeps Health Center funding at the top of their “must-do” priority list as part of their work to keep the government open past February 8. FQHCs from New Jersey are meeting with their representatives today to ensure funding is reinstated. “We are talking about our neighbors. Over 200,000 New Jerseyans stand to lose their ability to get care if funding is not renewed,” says New Jersey Primary Care Association President and CEO Jillian Hudspeth. “Community Health Centers provide preventative and primary care to over 500,000 people in our state, keeping people healthy every day. Without funding from the federal government, Health Centers will have to cut staff, shorten hours and even cut services. People who do not have access to primary care will be forced to go to the emergency room for their health care needs at taxpayers’ expense.” Although Community Health Centers have existed for over 50 years, the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) was recently established in the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and was extended in 2015 for an additional two years. Congress failed to reauthorize the fund before its expiration on September 30, 2017, leaving Community Health Centers in limbo for the past several months as the Centers wait for Congress to extend the more than 70 percent of federal grant funding that Health Centers rely on. If funding is not restored, Community Health Centers in New Jersey stand to lose over $56 million in federal funding in 2018. The estimated number of patients not able to receive care would be 213,000 people, according to the National Association of Community Health Centers. A brief issued by George Washington University and RCHN Community Health Center stated that without funding, New Jersey would lose between $212 million and $453 million. New Jersey would lose between 2,000 and 4,000 jobs. “Neglecting to provide funding for Community Health Centers will have a disastrous impact upon our Health Center,” says Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers President/CEO Linda Flake. “If the cliff is not fixed, services that are vital to the communities we serve may be cut by at least 20 percent! I am talking about primary medical, dental and behavioral health care that is provided to the most vulnerable populations. Patients will be forced to seek treatment at hospital emergency rooms, at best, a much costlier alternative. There will be drastic cuts in staff as well! Health Centers are required by regulation to establish a budget at the beginning of the fiscal year. How can we responsibly handle our operations with this uncertainty that impacts significantly upon our future stability as a safety net provider? The simple answer is, we can’t. The cliff must be fixed.”

SJFMC Celebrates 40 years of Commitment, Compassion and Care with Fundraising Gala in Atlantic City

Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers celebrated its rich 40-year legacy during the Ruby Gala/Fundraiser on November 11, 2017 at One Atlantic in Atlantic City. Supporters from across the state and beyond joined forces to recognize SJFMC’S 40 years of “Commitment, Compassion, and Care for South Jersey Families.” Honored at the event were Past President, Kathy Rigby, for 25 years of voluntary board service and President/CEO, Linda Y. Flake for 25 years of unwavering leadership and dedication as the chief executive leader. Flake said, “While many things have changed over time, the most important things have not! SJFMC has remained steadfast in our belief in our mission and our unwavering commitment to remove barriers to care and provide quality care to the underserved and migrant/seasonal farmworkers regardless of ability to pay. The proceeds generated by the gracious generosity of donors will be used to purchase medications for our uninsured patients and for this, we are sincerely grateful.” The monumental occasion was hosted by Dr. Michael Cirigliano, FOX29 “Good Day Philadelphia” Medical Contributor and practicing Internist at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

In Farm’s Way: Garden Gives Burlington City Students a Taste of Healthy, Helpful Harvest

By: Todd McHale Burlington County Times, Staff Writer BURLINGTON CITY — After weeks of nurturing crops, the city’s high school students joined state and local dignitaries to celebrate the first harvest of the South Jersey Family Medical Center’s community/learning garden. Following a dedication ceremony, a dozen students showed off the bounty grown in the back of the center on High Street, and then got to work cultivating, with the help of guests. The garden is part of the center’s new “Farmacy Program,” designed to educate students about nutrition and the farm-to-table system, as well as supply produce to the community. “I’m really excited about it,” said Linda Flake, CEO of the medical center. “What it means is that we’re a place that the community is comfortable with working with us and we’re comfortable with our community.” The program, which combines food justice, youth-driven social entrepreneurship and civic leadership, is one of many that the center offers to encourage a healthy lifestyle. The center teamed with the high school to put on the program to give students a better understanding of where their food comes from, to discover the importance of adding fresh vegetables to their diet, and to learn about the science and economics behind the food industry. Junior Kaseem Edwards said he jumped at the chance to participate. “It’s been a fun experience, not only to be hands-on in the garden, but get along with people that I hadn’t known and make new friends,” Kaseem said. He was surprised to see how well the parsley, spinach, broccoli, lettuce and other vegetables grew. Ninth-graders Ansley Morrison and Alexis Goodman enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about gardening and help out the community at the same time. “We’re always running around somewhere, and this is a good experience to slow down and garden and relax a bit,” Alexis said. Senior Breyonna Edwards liked the idea of helping people get healthy food and learning different techniques for growing vegetables, no matter the season. The Horizon Foundation provided a grant to support the program. Chef Harold Villarosa, of the Insurgo Project in New York City, set up the curriculum and taught the students about gardening over the last few weeks. Founded in Uptown Manhattan to address local food insecurity, Insurgo is a community collective committed to nurturing the farm-to-table movement in low-income neighborhoods nationwide. In December, Villarosa will return to join with the students to cook a lunch that will include some of the vegetables grown in the garden. Click here for original article

SJFMC Wins Runner-up Award in NACHC’s 2017 NHCW Picture Contest

Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers was one of 12 winners in this year’s NACHC picture contest. The annual showcase honors the best of Community Health Centers across the United States. The Picture Contest Grand Prize Winner received a $500 NACHC sponsorship for National Health Center Week 2018, a canvas print-out of their submission, a copy of the 2018 Health Centers Calendar with their picture featured on the cover and a 2017 NHCW t-shirt. The 11 picture runners-up will receive a canvas print-out of their submission and a copy of the 2018 Health Centers Calendar with the picture featured in one month of the calendar.

Why We #ValueSJFMC!

Listen to patients and medical staff explain why they value SJFMC.

Honor SJFMC’s 40th Birthday During NHCW

Join us as we celebrate 40 Years of Commitment, Compassion and Care during National Health Center Week, August 13th to the 19th . (Click the slide show for a list of events)

Senator Cory Booker Visits SJFMC

Senator Cory Booker tours SJFMC’s Burlington City Center and holds round table discussion with patients. After hearing their emotional stories,  Senator Booker promised to preserve their right to quality and affordable healthcare.

SJFMC launches Farmacy Program and Community Garden

The first “Farmacy,” a learning garden at our Burlington City Health Center, launched in August 2017. In collaboration with the Insurgo Project and Burlington City High School, the garden program fuses food justice, social entrepreneurialism and civic leadership under an educational philosophy that highlights SJFMC’s deep history and agricultural roots. SJFMC’s Farmacy program aims at decreasing the rates of chronic disease and promotes healthy lifestyles through nutritious eating. By becoming a part of this exciting movement, students and patients gain a stronger connection to the source of their food, ultimately leading to a healthier and more environmentally conscious lifestyle. They will also understand the science and economics behind the food industry, thus cracking the door to a wealth of innovative and socially oriented careers. SJFMC is planting seeds and nurturing growth so that students of all ages and backgrounds learn the science behind the origins of food and reestablish the relationship between planet and plate. Our program reduces food insecurity and improves dietary intake, which leads to healthier ways of life, ultimately combatting the prevalence of preventable chronic diseases. The program has already been awarded a coveted Garden Grant from the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and has been visited by various congressional leaders, state representatives and local elected officials. In partnership with the Burlington City School District and the Insurgo Project, we are thankful for the community contributions that have been made thus far. We welcome you to donate to our Farmacy program and help sprout the future. For more information on the Farmacy Program, call 609-481-3075.

Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers Dedicates Pleasantville Health Center to Longtime Physician Nancy Merle, MD

SJFMC honored longtime public servant for patients, Dr. Nancy Merle, MD with a dedication ceremony during National Health Center Week 2017. Political parties united while vowing to protect Americans in search of quality health care as our Pleasantville Health Center officially became the Merle Pavilion. Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo (D) said, “SJFMC saves lives and our community would be in bad shape without your help. I am just doing my job fighting for what is right in Trenton but Dr. Merle, I love your fire power and I thank you for your commitment to this organization.” Assembly Chris Brown (R) said, “There shouldn’t be barriers to health care, shouldn’t be barriers to get the basic needs we all deserve and require. With this Pavilion, and Dr. Merle’s name on it, I know that your continued mission of breaking down barriers will be a success.” SJFMC Board Members were also honored and presented with plaques and certificates during the service. The night ended with a huge Health Fair Block Party outside of our Pleasantville Health Center. Hundreds of people attended and enjoyed free food, health screenings, dancing and giveaways.