Miami, Florida – Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) achieved gold status as a “Health Center Quality Leader,” a prestigious national award given by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). CHI received this award in recognition of ranking among the top 10% of health centers for best overall clinical performance.

“This award shows that we are making progress in reducing health disparities,” said Brodes H. Hartley Jr., President/CEO at CHI. “Our team managed to exceed national quality benchmarks and achieved top tier results providing greater access to high-quality care and we continue to address critical issues such as improvements in cancer reduction and the increasing need for behavioral health services in our community.”

HRSA awarded CHI based on a comparison of CHI’s clinical quality measures to more than 1,400 other health centers throughout the United States.

HRSA recognized CHI as one of the highest performing health centers nationwide linked to significant quality improvements from the previous years. CHI increased access to comprehensive care and made strides in pediatric immunizations, cervical cancer screening and coronary artery disease prevention.

Since 1971, CHI has been a beacon of hope providing access to high quality healthcare for all regardless of insurance status, income level or background. The non-profit federally qualified health center offers comprehensive healthcare services including primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dental, urgent care, behavioral health, vision, radiology, pharmacy, transportation and more. CHI has 11 health centers and 35 school-based sites. CHI is a recipient of the Florida Governor’s Sterling Award. It is accredited by the Joint Commission and is also designated as a patient centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. CHI is also designated as a behavioral health medical home. In addition, CHI is home to the Brodes H. Hartley Jr., Teaching Health Center, providing residency training for the next generation of doctors in the specialties of Family medicine and Psychiatry. CHI recently broke ground on the first Children’s Crisis Center in southern Miami-Dade County this month. It will service kids with severe behavioral health problems from Monroe and Miami-Dade Counties.

Miami, FL - Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) will hold a news conference on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 10am at Loren Roberts Park, 627 NW 6^th Ave., Florida City, Florida to announce the first drive through Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing to come to both Florida City and Homestead. CHI will be providing drive-through COVID-19 testing at Loren Roberts Park in Florida City on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm. In addition, starting Monday April13^th CHI will conduct drive through COVID-19 testing at its Martin Luther King Jr. /Clinica Campesina Health Center, 810 W. Mowry Dr. in Homestead on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm. Plus, April 8^th from 9am to noon will be the last day for COVID19 testing at the Doris Ison Health Center 10300 SW 216 St. Miami FL 33190. CHI is scaling back its Doris Ison COVID19 operation due to the new testing location down the street at the South Dade Government Center.

“I am so proud of our teams, they are giving their all to make sure that people have access to this critical test,” said Brodes H. Hartley Jr., President and CEO of CHI. “We have done so at no cost to those in need and ensured that our testing is for everyone, regardless of age or profession.”

Unlike some other testing locations throughout South Florida, CHI’s testing operations are completely free. 

“Thank you, Colonel Hartley, for being so responsive and meeting the tremendous need in the deep South Dade area,” said Florida City Mayor Otis T. Wallace.

Those looking to get tested need to meet the following criteria: They have recently traveled to any of the high-risk countries or have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. In addition, they might be experiencing the following symptoms: fever, cough or shortness of breath. 

Drive through testing for CHI’s three locations is as follows:

Doris Ison Health Center 10300 SW 216 St. Miami, FL 33190; last day of testing here on April 8, 2020. (No need to call first for this testing location and no appointment necessary)

Loren Roberts Park, 627 NW 6^th Ave., Florida City, Florida every Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 1pm. (No need to call first for this testing location and no appointment necessary)

Martin Luther King Jr. /Clinica Campesina Health Center, 810 W. Mowry Dr. in Homestead on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm starting April 13^th.  (No need to call first for this testing location and no appointment necessary)

CHI Marathon Health Center 2805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050every Saturday from 11am to 12:30pm BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Must be a resident of Monroe County and meet testing criteria. Call first (305)216-2107 or email [email protected]

CHI has also integrated behavioral health staff into its COVID-19 testing operations. This team of therapists and mental health technicians helps to ease anxiety and stress related to the Coronavirus pandemic.

CHI’s health centers remain open during this time as patients are being screened at the entrance for COVID-19 as a precaution for safeguarding the general patient population. Those with symptoms are not allowed inside so that primary care, behavioral health, dental, OB/GYN, pharmacy, vision, radiology and urgent care visits can continue. (only emergency dental visits will occur at this time) In addition, CHI is now offering telehealth visits for primary care, pediatrics, behavioral health for adults and children, OB/GYN and dental to improve continuity of care. Most insurances cover telehealth and CHI offers a sliding fee scale based on income for the uninsured. 

(Miami, FL) – Community Health of South Florida Inc. (CHI) is celebrating National Health Center Week with several free events Aug. 11-18, 2018. The events highlight the resources provided by community health centers like CHI and help to get children physically and emotionally ready for the start of school.

This year, the theme is “Celebrating Health Centers:  Home of America’s Health Care Heroes.” As such, doctors, nurses and other staff will be donning colorfully decorated capes over their uniforms to raise awareness for the theme and encourage participation in the events.

In addition to the numerous health fairs that offer free medical, dental and behavioral health screenings, CHI will also host two events to honor law enforcement officials and religious leaders.

“We are all in it together. The success of community health centers like CHI is because of key partnerships,” said Brodes H. Hartley Jr., President/CEO of CHI. Our police have the delicate and difficult job of bringing Baker Act cases to our facility and religious leaders are also charged with a challenge to encourage their congregations to care for the entire person: including spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of health.”

CHI’s National Health Center Week free events include:

• Monroe County School Physical Day—August 4^th. Even before National Health Center week begins, CHI will hold a pre-event at its Marathon and Tavernier Health Centers to include School Physicals for just $25, free immunizations, hot dogs, giveaways and more. Tavernier Health Center, 91200 Overseas Highway, #17 Tavernier, FL 33070; 8:30am-12:30pm. Marathon Health Center, 2855 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050; 10am-2pm. Bring your child’s immunization records.

   

• Back to School Health Fair —August 11^th from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at CHI’s Doris Ison Health Center, 10300 SW 216th St., Miami FL 33190. Free health screenings, entertainment, live music, lunch, backpacks, school supplies and educational resources for the entire family.

• Religious Leaders Dinner-- August 13^th CHI will honor its religious leaders with a special invitation only dinner.

• Migrant Health Fair-- August 15 at Everglades Housing Community Center, 19308 SW 380th St., Florida City, FL 33034. Free health and dental screenings, educational resources, food and fun for the whole family: geared to our seasonal farm workers and migrants.

• Law Enforcement Officers Luncheon—August 16^thCHI will honor law enforcement officers with a special invitation only luncheon.

• Chapman Partnership for the Homeless Health Fair—August 17^th CHI will host a fair at Chapman complete with lunch, free health screenings, back packs, school supplies entertainment and more. (The event is closed to the public.)

• School Physical Day for Miami-Dade County— From 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at  8 Miami Dade County CHI health centers. School physicals for just $25 and free immunizations. Bring your child’s immunization records.

   For more information, call (786)272-2100 or go to www.chisouthfl.org for a list of locations and events.

Community Health of South Florida Inc. is a non-profit health center with 11 health centers and 35 school-based health centers. It provides primary care, pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, OB/GYN, radiology, vision, pharmacy, laboratory services, urgent care and much more. CHI is a recipient of the Governor’s Sterling Award, it is accredited by the Joint Commission and is also accredited as a Level 3 patient centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (the highest level attainable). CHI is also only the second federally qualified health center in the nation to be designated as a behavioral health medical home. In addition, CHI is home to the Brodes H. Hartley Jr. Teaching Health Center, training the next generation of doctors in family medicine, psychiatry and OB/GYN.

Miami, FL – October 30, 2017 – The Fifth Annual Pumps, Pearls & Politics presented by the Connection Committee of the Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority switches its signature event to a community conversation format with the hot topic of Obamacare taking center stage.

In an increasingly polarized political environment, health care reform has been caught in the cross fire of the partisan struggle, making it difficult to separate fact from fiction. Special guest, health-care attorney and author Daniel E. Dawes, will present the truth on the secret backstory of the Affordable Care Act, shedding light on the creation and implementation of the greatest and most sweeping equalizer in the history of American health care. His eye-opening and authoritative narrative written from an insider’s perspective, 150 Years of ObamaCare, debunks contemporary understandings of health care reform. It also provides a comprehensive and unprecedented review of the health equity movement and the little-known leadership efforts that were crucial to passing public policies and laws reforming mental health, minority health, and universal health.

If You Go:
What: Pumps, Pearls & Politics 2017: The Truth About the Affordable Care Act
When: Sunday, November 5, 2017, 4:00 PM
Where: Allen Chapel AME Church, 1201 NW 111 Street, Miami, Florida 33167
Admission: FREE (Register at http://pumpspearlspolitics2017.eventbrite.com.)

For more information email Natasha Hines, Connection Chair at [email protected].

Enjoy a free, fun-filled day of Health at HEART HEALTH EXPO-2 presented by Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, 10am - 2pm, Saturday, 02/27/2016, Walmart, 3791 NW 167th Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33055. Bring your family and friends! To RSVP and for additional information, email [email protected].

Six years after the devastating January, 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the community of Leveque has emerged as one of the most successful resettlement communities in the country and a beacon of transformation.  

The once barren land where Leveque now sits was granted to Mission of Hope, Haiti (MOH) by the Interim Haiti Relief Commission after the earthquake as a place to rebuild homes for those who lost everything. Over the last six years, MOH built more than 600 block homes in Leveque through its Blue to Block program, enabling families to move out of the blue temporary tarp huts that were erected following the quake and live in a truly thriving community with a church, school, clean water, and sustainable farming. Over 150 hearing-impaired families have been integrated into the community as well.  

"These people not only have a new home, they have a new life. They have hope again," says Brad Johnson, President of MOH. "And it could not have happened without the collaborative effort of many partners, including New Story, International Deaf Emergency, Water Missions Intl and many others."

The cost of each home built through MOH is $6,000 and includes 3 rooms, a small plot of land for farming, a detached bathroom, and fruit trees.  The overall objective of Blue to Block is to build a community, not just a housing project. This has been accomplished by establishing a school, a church, clean water solutions, and agricultural training in Leveque. 

"Our mission is not just to change a village, but to change a nation. We want to empower Haitians to transform Haiti," says Johnson.

Mission of Hope currently works with over 420 indigenous organizations in Haiti and is committed to seeing the nation transformed through sustainable growth. To reach that goal, MOH trains and supports over 3,000 local farmers in sustainable farming techniques, feeds over 90,000 children a day, and hopes to have 100% of the food used in its food distribution program to be grown by Haitian farmers by 2020.  MOH also educates over 6,500 students and is currently building a technical school that will provide further education and job training.

April 10, 2015 (Hollywood, FL) – According to the World Health Organization (WHO), despite the severe need and higher health risk, people with intellectual disabilities are denied health services, community interventions, and there is a lack of targeted interventions and programs for the population. Special Olympics is the world’s largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities, providing access to free health services for a population with significant, unmet health needs.

On Saturday, May 9, 2015 Special Olympics Florida Healthy Community- South Florida and Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities will host a free health fair, for individuals of all ages with intellectual disabilities. The health fair, taking place at A.D. “Doug” Barnes Park in Miami, FL, will serve as a way to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by helping to provide equal access to health screening services. Free health screenings will be on-going in the following areas: Healthy Hearing (audiology), Special Smiles (dental), Health Promotion and Fit Feet (podiatry). In addition to the screening events, participants and their families/caregivers will be able to obtain information about the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.

To be eligible to partake in the free health screenings, participants must have an intellectual or developmental disability. Registration is available at the event.

WHAT: SOFLHC and APD Community Health Fair “Spring Into Wellness”

WHEN: Saturday, May 9th, 2015, 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Leisure Access Center at A.D. “Doug” Barnes Park, 3401 SW 72nd Ave, Miami, FL 33155