October 27, 2011 - Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Springfield’s Director of the Division of Health and Human Services Helen R. Caulton-Harris today announced the opening of a new Health Center for children, youth, and their families experiencing homelessness in Springfield and the greater Springfield area.
The new Health Center is located on the second floor of the BMC Neighborhood Health Center at 11 Wilbraham Road in Mason Square. The Adolescent Health Center is a strong partnership between the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services and Baystate Medical Center. The Springfield Department of Health and Human Services is the clinic administrator.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated “I am very appreciative for the collaboration between city officials, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Baystate Health Systems. This news Health Center is vitally important for many children and their families in need of services.”
“This Health Center fills a gap in our health care delivery system for under-served adolescents in the Greater Springfield Area,” said Helen R. Caulton Harris, Director of the Division of Health and Human Services. “A system of care designed specifically for the adolescent population will begin to address health disparities among some of our most vulnerable young people,” she added.
The newly constructed, fully equipped and furnished Health Center has nearly 2,700 square feet of clinic space for primary health care services and a 2-operatory dental clinic. The Adolescent Health Center medical team includes a physician, nurse practitioner and registered nurse.
The Adolescent Center will focus on young people between the ages of 12-22 who are living in emergency or transitional homeless shelters with or without parents; living with their families, friends or relatives due to economic hardships; or having no shelter at all and living in parks and empty buildings.
The center was made possible through funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Baystate Medical Center and the City of Springfield.
The Adolescent Health Center’s mission is to ensure that young people, particularly those that are low income, minority, and at-risk of becoming or are homeless have a medical home including--access to comprehensive services that meet their unique needs by providing primary healthcare and oral health services, promoting wellness, providing preventive health services and health education, making referrals for medical specialties, arranging and collaborating with community partners for critical mental health, substance abuse, and other supportive services.