The Denver Harbor/Port Houston Super Neighborhood Community Health Report was published in May 2003. In the following months, efforts were made to develop a collaborative from among the members of the Denver Harbor Civic Club, Super Neighborhood Council, local schools, the library, community leaders and residents. Initial membership in the fledgling collaborative was small. While the group was able to meet at the multi-service center, it was not able to garner support from the few existing organizations.
Activities
In January 2004, Daniel Montez, CEO of Denver Harbor’s Houston Community Health Clinics, Inc., assumed leadership of the collaborative and invited the group to meet at the clinic’s temporary home, La Roca Church in Denver Harbor.
Under his leadership, the collaborative grew from 5 to over 13 members and includes the McReynolds Middle School principal, the Wheatley High School nurse, Communities in Schools, pastors of local churches, the local librarian, clinic staff and community leaders. They decided to pursue a three point agenda:
- Assist the clinic in bringing dental care to the community.
- Improve options for mental health care in the community.
- Develop a plan to address the needs of adolescents in the community (adolescent health).
The collaborative, energized by leadership and direction, agreed to meet once a month and invite guest speakers who could help address the concerns. City Councilman Adrian Garcia has met with the group and learned about the community’s needs and the clinic’s progress.
With SLEHC help, UT School of Dentistry and The Rose provided dental and mammography services in the community.
Further Work
The collaborative will continue to address each of the three concerns and thereby improve the community’s access to healthcare. They will also provide community support for the clinic as it works to achieve Federally Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC) status.
More Information:
To learn more about the Denver Harbor Collaborative, please contact us.
