Contract Supports Partnership to Fill Gap in Addiction Treatment Services

Dover, NH, September 1, 2010 – Today, Avis Goodwin Community Health Center (AGCHC) and Southeastern New Hampshire Services (SENHS) announced a partnership based on providing alcohol and drug addiction treatment services to local Mothers struggling with the disease of addiction.

The partnership is a result of a contract received from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services. Through this contract, SENHS and AGCHC have collaboratively developed an Intensive Outpatient Program which provides patients with both group and individual counseling while allowing the patient to participate in their daily affairs, such as work and family life.

The new services are available immediately to any woman in the community who are either pregnant or have children under the age of 18 and are injection and substance abusers.

“I can’t begin to stress how wonderful this is for both AGCHC patients and women in the community who need it. The contract has made it possible for us to offer this program free of charge to qualifying patients and also offer childcare and transportation included at no cost, if necessary,” said Erin Ross, Service Expansion Director for AGCHC. “Not only will a much needed service be provided but we have removed some the barriers for our patients getting the assistance they need.”

The patients will progress between three phases of the program which include a regime of standard activities that include educational, experiential and didactic lectures on substance abuse, as well as individual and group therapy. The first two phases will be provided at SENHS while the third phase will be provided at AGCHC. Below is a brief summary of the phases:

Phase 1 @ SENHS: Group therapy sessions are four days a week for 6 weeks and are three hours in length. Individual therapy sessions are one hour in length.

Phase 2 @ SENHS: Group therapy sessions are two days a week for 6 weeks and are three hours in length. Individual therapy sessions are one hour in length.
Phase 3 @ AGCHC: Weekly group therapy sessions and bi-weekly individual sessions for approximately 8 weeks.

“These Services are filling a major gap in treatment services for women in this Region,” said Ray McGarty, SENHS Executive Director.

The program is available now. For more information contact Erin Ross at (603)516-2549 or eross@agchc.org.

Avis Goodwin Community Health Center is the only non-profit community health center in Strafford County, New Hampshire that focuses on providing high-quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health services for all, based on the ability to pay. For more information visit www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org.

Southeastern New Hampshire Services is a private, non-profit agency located in Dover, NH and is dedicated to helping people recover from the illness of alcohol and drug addiction. SENHS provides detoxification, addiction treatment, evaluation, intervention, counseling, education and prevention services. Specifically, SENHS runs a residential in-patient detoxification program, in-patient treatment programs which vary in intensity, outpatient counseling services and an Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Drug Court Treatment Program. Treatment programs at SENHS are primarily funded by the NH DHHS / Division of Community Based Care Services, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services. To learn more call (603) 516-8160.

Dover, NH – July 31, 2010 – Avis Goodwin Community Health Center’s(AGCHC) Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Staff is inviting the public to a World Breast Feeding Week celebration at the Rochester Commons in Rochester, New Hampshire on Friday, August 6th from 11:00am to 1:00pm. This event includes free information, breastfeeding education, fun, food and prizes. All past, present and future breastfeeding parents, as well as breastfeeding enthusiasts, professionals and the community at large, are encouraged to stop by to celebrate and call attention to this important cause.

Avis Goodwin Community Health Center’s WIC program provides services and support that make breastfeeding an easy choice for local women. The organization aims to inform the public of the role of breastfeeding for children’s development and lifelong health and the health of mothers.

Through the AGCHC WIC program, new mother’s gain access to breastfeeding information and supplies like manual breast pumps, double electric pumps to women returning to work that wish to continue offering their breast-milk; and pumps for women and infants experiencing medical issues, like allergies. Participants also get to interact with WIC breastfeeding peer counselors. WIC Councilors have a minimum of eighteen hours of training in order to aide women with breast feeding efforts. Many WIC staff are also certified as lactation consultants requiring an additional forty hours of training.

From August 1-7, 2010, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 170 countries worldwide will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week for the 19th year with the theme “Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way”.

Research shows the best feeding option globally is the initiation of breastfeeding within the first half hour of life, exclusive breastfeeding for a full six months and continued breastfeeding through the second year or beyond. Breastfeeding improves short and long term maternal and child health. Globally this effort significantly reduces child mortality and improves maternal health.

UNICEF recently noted that the reduction of child deaths from 13 million globally in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008 is partly due to the adoption of basic health interventions such as early and exclusive breastfeeding.

More information about World Breastfeeding Week can be found at http://www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org/.

Avis Goodwin Community Health Center is the only non-profit community health center in Strafford County that focuses on providing high quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health services for all, based on the ability to pay. For more information visit www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org. For more information about WIC or the World Breast Feeding event on Friday, August 6th in Rochester, contact Deni Lozier, 603.994.6363 or dlozier@agchc.org.

Dover, NH, July 26, 2010 – Avis Goodwin Community Health Center, today announced that its Medications Assistance Program (MAP) achieved a major milestone in having distributed over three million dollars in free medications to the community.

MAP helps existing Avis Goodwin Community Health Center patients, who are at or below 200 percent of poverty level, receive medications at little or no cost. In addition to the financial benefit, the program minimizes the paperwork-intensive process required by pharmaceutical companies and arranges for prescriptions to be delivered directly to Avis Goodwin’s medical sites.

“Through MAP those in the community living significantly below poverty level are still able to gain access to medications that help them prevent and control health concerns like chronic disease and mental illness,” says Linda Jewell, Avis Goodwin Community Health Center’s MAP Coordinator. “When the health of this population is being properly cared for, the economic and wellness benefits extend to the whole community.”

Jewell added,” We are really proud that despite a tough economy, when people need assistance the most, we have been able to grow the MAP program to this level.”

Additionally, Avis Goodwin Community Health Center has purchased many frequently prescribed medications at a bulk discount. The medications are then sold to their patients at the same cost plus a $7.00 dispensing fee which is paid directly to Care Pharmacy for storing and dispensing the prescriptions. All Avis Goodwin Community Health Center primary-care patients who meet the economic criteria are eligible to for this 340B Medications Program, even those with prescription coverage.

Avis Goodwin Community Health Center is the only non-profit community health center in Strafford County, New Hampshire that focuses on providing high-quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health services for all, based on ability to pay. For more information visit www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org. For more information about the Medications Assistance Program at AGCHC call Linda Jewell at 603-994-6352 or ljewellagchc.org. For more information about any of AGCHC’s services, visit www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org.

Dover, NH, July15, 2010 – Today, Avis Goodwin Community Health Center(AGCHC) received a twenty thousand dollar grant from the Piscataqua Region of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The grant was awarded to support operations of primary care services to Strafford County families through AGCHC.

As outlined in the AGCHC Grant application, Strafford County residents need greater access to quality, cost effective care. This is evident by recent County Health Rankings that place Strafford County the third lowest in the state of New Hampshire for health outcomes. Health outcomes represent how healthy a county is based on how long people live and how healthy people feel while alive. Contributing factors include a low ratio of primary care providers to the population and the fact that Strafford County’s primary care provider rate is half of what the target goal is.

The generosity of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Piscataqua region, will in part, make it possible for AGCHC to reach its goal next year of hiring two new primary care providers and serve an additional 3,000 medical patients per year.

In 2009, Avis Goodwin Community Health Center received a similar grant targeted at supporting the agencies efforts to integrate health, dental, and mental health for its patients.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation serves communities throughout New Hampshire, southeastern Maine, and eastern Vermont. The Charitable Foundation manages a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families, and corporations, and awarded more than $34 million in grants and scholarships in 2008. The Charitable Foundation is non-partisan, frequently playing the role of convener and catalyst on a broad spectrum of issues. Based in Concord, the Charitable Foundation roots itself in the communities through seven regional advisory boards. More information is available at www.nhcf.org, or by calling 603-225-6641.

Avis Goodwin Community Health Center is the only non-profit community health center in Strafford County, New Hampshire that focuses on providing high-quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health services for all, regardless of the ability to pay. For more information visit www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org.

Dover, NH, May 25, 2010 – This Father’s Day, Sunday, June 20, 2010, runners and walkers will lace-up their sneakers and head to Margarita’s and Homewood Suites of Dover, for the first annual Father’s Day 5k.

This June event celebrates Men’s Health Month and invites the public to run and walk for the Dad’s, brothers and sons who touch their lives. Proceeds will help local families struggling without insurance to gain access to quality healthcare through Avis Goodwin Community Health Center.

Margaritas and Homewood Suites will set the stage for this one of a kind family friendly 5k featuring Margarita’s style food, fun, goody bags and prizes for all! Top Male and Female runner will win a one-hundred twenty-five dollar gift certificate to Runners Alley. Twenty-five dollar gift certificates to Philbricks Sports to the top male and female in each of the ten age divisions: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-59, and 60+. Kickoff time is 8:30am.

“It’s a party with a purpose and a whole new way to celebrate Father’s Day,” says Eric Vets, Manager of Margarita’s. “We hope to make this an annual event that makes a big impact on the health and wellness of many, many local families.”

“Access and affordability make it very difficult for many local families to keep up with regular visits to doctors, dentists and social workers. Avis Goodwin helps bridge the gap to make routine and preventative health care for many people who might otherwise fall through the cracks,” says Renee Allen, Special Events Manager for Avis Goodwin Community Health Center. “We hope this race will attract from the local running community as well as first time runners and walkers drawn in by the cause.”

Beginner and seasoned runners/walkers can visit http://www.avisgoodwinchc.org or stop by Margarita’s or Philbricks Sports of Dover to pick up Registration forms. Registration forms can be completed online, mailed in or dropped-off at Margarita’s of Dover. Day of registration is twenty-five dollars but advanced registration is only twenty dollars and just five dollars for children under twelve.

Additional sponsors include Federal Savings Bank; Gray Construction of Rye, NH; Dover Women’s Health; Philbricks Sports General Electric of Somersworth; Mr. Electric; Northeast Credit Union; Connect with Classifieds & Morning News, Measured Progress, Shipyard Brew and Pub and Care Pharmacy. Great prizes have been donated by Portsmouth Tea Company, Runners Alley, Sherman Williams, The Tutor Doctor, The Common Man Restaurant, Cabot Creamery Cooperative and more!

Avis Goodwin Community Health Center is the only non-profit community health center in Strafford County, New Hampshire that focuses on providing high-quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health services for all, regardless of the ability to pay. For more information visit www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org. For additional details about the race, or to become a sponsor, contact Renee Allen at 603.516.2566 or rallen@agchc.org.

Dover, NH, April 8, 2010 – Today, Avis Goodwin Community Health Center (AGCHC) announces it will join the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in launching the text4baby initiative as an outreach partner. Text4baby is a free mobile information service that provides timely health information to pregnant women and new mothers from pregnancy through a baby’s first year. If you are pregnant or have a child under the age of one you can sign up by texting BABY (or BEBE to receive messages in Spanish) to 511411.

Along with four other community programs across the State, AGCHC will hang text4baby posters and hand out flyers to participants in their Dover, Rochester locations and encourage women to sign up beginning today. Mothers who sign up for the service receive three free text messages each week timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including breastfeeding, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, smoking cessation, oral health, and safe sleep. Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services.

“We are excited to team up with DHHS on this coalition and help distribute text4baby posters and flyers,” said Carol Garlough, AGCHC Operations Director. “We provide many services to young pregnant women and new mothers at Avis Goodwin Community Health Center. Using the latest technology, like texting, will help us provide critical health information to young woman. “Avis Goodwin is proud to be an outreach partner of text4baby, which promotes healthy pregnancies and healthy babies for New Hampshire families.”

Text4baby is an educational program of National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB). There are currently over 25,000 recipients in the U.S. registered for the free health text messages. Although the messages are specifically targeted for pregnant and new moms aged 18-25, older women and dads are welcome to subscribe. There is no cost to the subscriber, regardless of their individual wireless phone plan.

To join the coalition in New Hampshire, send an email to text4baby@dhhs.state.nh.us. For more information about the program visit www.text4baby.org.

AGCHC is the only non-profit community health center in Strafford County, New Hampshire that focuses on providing high-quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health services for all, regardless of the ability to pay. For more information about Avis Goodwin Community Health Center visit us on the web at www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org or call 603.953-0065.

HEALTH CENTER SEEKS TO EXPAND ITS ‘STRAFFORDCARE PROGRAM’

March 23, 2010 — Dover, NH – Avis Goodwin Community Health Center (AGCHC) is aiming to grow its StraffordCare Program by significantly expanding the list of healthcare specialists willing to make contributions of care for Strafford County residents in need. StraffordCare connects uninsured patients in Strafford County to a network of specialty doctors willing to offer services at discounted rates.

“In this time of high unemployment and economic downturn, the demand for affordable, quality healthcare services is skyrocketing,” says Erin Ross, AGCHC’s Service Expansion Director. “We are off to a great start in developing a network of area Specialists who are willing to offer their services at reduced rates but we need to significantly increase both the breadth and depth of specialty services available to meet these needs.”

StraffordCare participants work with a care coordinator who connects them to needed services such as ophthalmology, chiropractor care, gastroenterology, holistic services, etc. It is a highly flexible and customizable program. Doctors and Specialists determine the resources they have available and they individually set the number of patients and percentage of rate reductions that their practices can afford.

Ross also points out, “Getting more and more specialty healthcare practices involved allows us to connect uninsured patients with much needed services. Additional services help stabilize Strafford County’s healthcare safety net and results in more area healthcare practices sharing in AGCHC’s vision that everyone deserves quality healthcare regardless of their ability to pay.”

Current StraffordCare Providers include:

DC Chiropractic – Durham NH
Dr. William Ready – Chiropractor in Dover NH
Gastroenterology, PA – Somersworth NH
Jordan Family Eye Care – Rochester NH
Dr. John Dinella – Podiatrist in Rochester NH
Jane Kavanaugh – Life Coach in Dover NH
Marilynn Carter – Master Reiki Professional in Dover NH
Rennie Evans – Massage Therapist in Strafford NH
Roxanne Roy – Massage Therapist in Dover NH
Pamella Sollenberger – Certified Grief Counselor in Exeter NH
Back To Roots, Chiropractic and Nutrition- Rochester, NH

To qualify for StraffordCare, patients must live in Strafford County, NH, be under the age of 64, be below 250% of poverty, and have an established primary care physician. If patients do not have a primary care practitioner, a new patient appointment will be scheduled for them. Patients must not be eligible for existing services such as NH Medicaid or Medicare. StraffordCare does not replace existing programs in the community, it compliments those programs.

If you are a local practitioner who would like to learn more about StraffordCare and how you can become involved, please contact Care Coordinator- Jessica Garlough at 516-2551 or e-mail jgarlough@agchc.org.

AGCHC is the only non-profit community health center in Strafford County, New Hampshire that focuses on providing high-quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health services for all, regardless of the ability to pay. To learn more about AGCHC, visit www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org

LOGICAL INNOVATIONS LLC UTILIZES TAX CREDIT PROGRAM TO MAKE $20,000 DONATION TO AVIS GOODWIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

Dover, NH, February 4, 2010 — Avis Goodwin Community Health Center (AGCHC) today announced it recently received a $20,000 donation from Logical Innovations LLC. This is the first large donation to make use of the organizations new Tax Credit Program which will give companies like Logical Innovations a seventy-five percent or in this case, a $15,000 state tax credit on the donation.
“This was a decision that made excellent business sense for our company and also allowed us to make sure that our tax dollars are used to promote a cause we strongly believe in— providing quality health care for the uninsured and underinsured population in our community,” said Michael Thompson MD. “We would strongly encourage other businesses or individuals to make a contribution. If you pay New Hampshire taxes, the tax credit allows you to essentially direct your taxes towards better healthcare within your own community.”
In October 2009, the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) awarded Avis Goodwin Community Health Center $600,000 in tax credits to consolidate its four locations into a new 28,500 square foot facility to be constructed in Somersworth with easy access to public transportation. With the additional square footage they will be able to hire two additional medical providers, add a sixth dental operatory, and add 48 hours of mental health specialist staff time. As a result they will be able to provide medical care for an additional 3,000 patients and dental care for 500 new patients, many of whom are un- or under-insured.
The nonprofits that are awarded state tax credits are responsible for raising donations in the amount of their tax credit award from for-profit businesses that have a New Hampshire state tax liability. The Tax Credit Program enables businesses to invest cash, securities, or real property to fund CDFA-approved projects in exchange for a 75% state tax credit that can be applied against the New Hampshire business profits, business enterprise, and insurance premium taxes. For instance, a business donating $10,000 to CDFA on behalf of an approved project will receive a tax credit in the amount of $7,500. The donation is also eligible for treatment as a federal charitable contribution.
Logical Innovations, LLC is a company which is dedicated to helping physicians, nurses and medical support staff using electronic medical records (EMR) to provide superior patient care. They develop and market software to customize content for Centrictiy® EMR marketed by GE Healthcare. They also provide consulting services related to development of forms for the EMR that can enhance patient care by providing decision support for physicians as they see patients. They have users throughout the United States and also in Canada. Logical Innovations, LLC is owned by Michael Thompson, MD and Ker Thompson. Michael Thompson, who developed the Visual Form Editor software program, is also a family physician practicing at Avis Goodwin Community Health Center.
To find out more about making a donation to AGCHC through the Tax Credit Program, contact Renee Allen, 603.516.2566, rallen@agchc.org.
CDFA, created by legislation in 1983, is a nonprofit public instrumentality of the State of New Hampshire. CDFA administers over $30 million in funding resources, which includes a combination of state tax credits, CDBG, and Neighborhood Stabilization funding. CDFA supports affordable housing and economic development activities that benefit low- and moderate-income citizens. For more information about CDFA and its programs visit www.nhcdfa.org or call 603-226-2170.
AGCHC is the only non-profit community health center in Strafford County, New Hampshire that focuses on providing high-quality, affordable medical, dental and mental health services for all, regardless of the ability to pay. AGCHC is gearing up for its largest fundraiser of the year – THE BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL World Tour!! Back for it’s 14th year! A unique adrenaline-pumping evening that attracts hundreds of outdoor and extreme sports enthusiasts, as well as nature, adventure and travel lovers. February 17th the Whittemore Center, UNH. Tickets are $20 and on sale at Ticketmaster, the Whittemore Center Box Office or at 603-516-2566. To learn more about AGCHC, visit www.AvisGoodwinCHC.org

See President Obama talk about AGCHC as he awards $4.9 million grant to help fund the new AGCHC headquarters.
Avis Goodwin Community Health Center (AGCHC) has been serving the health care needs of Strafford County and surrounding communities for forty years. The agency started providing prenatal care to women in 1969 and since then has expanded and now provides fully integrated medical, mental and oral health care to all in our community. As the need has increased, so have AGCHC’s facilities. Currently in four locations (23,300 square feet), three clinical and one administrative are all within 12 miles of each other.

All of the locations are at capacity and despite the growing need in the community; AGCHC cannot add any additional providers at their current locations. Three of the eight medical providers are no longer accepting new patients. Bathrooms have been converted into medication closets and medication closets into offices. The most recent and final conversion of space was combining an office and a bathroom in order to make room for an additional mental health provider.

AGCHC is in the process of obtaining approvals for a 29,000 square foot building, centrally located and on the public bus route in Somersworth. Not only will this allow the agency to hire two additional medical providers and add a sixth operatory accommodating approximately 3,000 new patients, but by consolidating the four locations into one, AGCHC will save over $200,000 annually.

As true for most Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), AGCHC has patched together various sources of funding to accomplish this goal. A large part of the funding could potentially come from the Facilities Improvement Program established through ARRA funding. The grant submitted requested $4.97 million or almost 80% of the total project costs. AGCHC was fortunate enough to receive appropriations money two years ago that has supported the design, engineering and site work for the project.

Read about it in Fosters Daily Democrat

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Watch President Obama talk about Avis Goodwin CHC on YouTube

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Avis Goodwin Community Health Center is proud to announce the launch of our newly designed and developed web site.  We are very excited about our updated look and functionality and would like to offer our sincere thanks to Boldwerks for donating their time and talents to create this new site. AGCHC was awarded the donation through Boldwerks’ nonprofit donation Goodwerks project. Boldwerks is a creative services agency based in Portsmouth.