Media Advisory
September 20, 2004
East End Healthy Children’s Collaborative Celebrates First Alternate Site Approval in Houston in 10 Years
Who: East End Healthy Children’s Collaborative
What: First Federally Qualified Health Center Alternate Site Approval in Houston in 10 Years
Where: El Centro Eastwood Clinic, 4500 Polk, Houston 77023
Date: Tuesday, September 21 Time: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Photo Op: Community Leaders with residents of the East End Neighborhood
Speakers:
- David Fine, President & CEO of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System
- Carla Cooper, CEO, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities
- Mayor Bill White
- Mr. Jay Guerrero (Regional Director for Sen. John Cornyn)
- Mrs. Melissa Noriega (wife of Texas State Rep. Rick Noriega, District 145, who is currently serving in Afghanistan)
- Vicki Brentin, The Rotary Club of Houston
- Rick Jaramillo, Bank of America
Background:
This designation of El Centro Eastwood Clinic as a an alternate site of a Federally Qualified Health Center is a major milestone in addressing the healthcare needs of the East End community. All this was made possible only through the dedication and commitment of the Board and staff of El Centro de Corazon, The East End Healthy Children’s Collaborative (EEHCC) and many local and state officials. With a total population of 50,000, 89 percent of the East End community is Hispanic and 34 percent of the households have incomes of less that $15,000. Nine out of ten children are economically disadvantaged.
In addition, old and new partnerships will continue service capacity to the community. The continued partnership with Bank of America will enable the Cathedral Health Ministries mobile health clinic – Espiritu de Salud - to continue to serve thousands of area children at schools and social service agencies. And, the new public-private partnership with Houston Area Rotaries has already enabled over 1,000 students to be school-ready and receive more than 1,900+ “back-to-school” immunizations this summer.
This celebration recognizes these accomplishments.
The EEHCC is a collaboration of eight agencies working to improve the well being of underserved children 0-18 who live in the predominantly Hispanic East End Community of Houston. The eight agencies are:
- St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities
- Cathedral Health Ministries
- Communities in Schools
- Community Family Center
- El Centro de Corazon – Eastwood Location
- The Institute of Health & Religion
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
- Rusk School Health Promotion Project
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