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. 

 FMU Congratulates Roscoe Warren

^{The Honorable Roscoe Warren, Former Homestead Mayor} 

MIAMI GARDENS, FL  – Homestead residents recently celebrated the grand opening of Mayor Roscoe Warren Park. The park, named after former Mayor Roscoe Warren, is located at 1400 E. Palm Drive. It offers a variety of fields for sports, pavilions, a playground, and will soon hold two dog parks. The park is a milestone in Homestead’s Park Master Plan.

Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Homestead Campus and the School of Education invite the community to celebrate the Day of the Young Child from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, on the campus’s central lawn in Homestead.

The Day of the Young Child is a family event that is fun, informational and interactive. It celebrates young children and all those who make a difference in the lives of children and families. Families will enjoy a variety of educational and creative activities, including music and movement, face painting, a “fantabulous” marching parade, storytelling, creative art experiences and much more.

The event will kick off the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Week of the Young Child (April 10-16, 2011) and is a time to recognize the importance of early learning and early literacy, as well as to celebrate the teachers and policies that bring early childhood education to young children.

“We are proud to be hosting the tenth annual Day of the Young Child at MDC’s Homestead Campus and spreading awareness of the importance of early childhood education. It is vital to preparing children for success in school and in the community,” said Dr. Jeanne F. Jacobs, president, MDC Homestead Campus.

“The early childhood education program at Miami Dade College provides an excellent education to meet the needs of our diverse community.” 

The event is free and open to the public. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

WHAT:   Day of the Young Child Event Hosted by MDC’s Homestead Campus and the School of Education

WHEN:   Saturday, April 9

             11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE:  Miami Dade College Homestead Campus, Central Lawn, 500 College Terrace, Homestead

COST:     Free admission

For more information, please contact Beverly Tate, professor of early childhood education, at 305-237-5123 or [email protected].

Homestead, FL -- In response to thethreat of Arizona-style racial profiling legislation in Florida, WeCount! isorganizing a series of activities from March 19 - 24, 2011 to show a unitedcommunity front against anti-immigrant laws and educate the community about the legislation being considered in Tallahassee.

The week of events kicks off on Saturday, March 19 with a “Women’s and Children’s March” at 5: 00 pm, leaving from the First Methodist Church, located at 622 North Krome Avenue, Homestead, FL. The March ends atLosner Park, 104 North Krome Avenue, Homestead, FL, with a “Cultural Night” at 6:30 pm.

"We Are Homestead" is part of a statewide campaign by the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), "We Are Florida" to stop Arizona copycat immigration bills.  FLIC is organizing a demonstration against Arizona-style legislation in Tallahassee on Thursday, March 17.

"These bills would have the same or worse effect as SB 1070 of Arizona," said Jonathan Fried, executive director of WeCount!.  "They would force police to act as immigration agents and increase the profiling of persons because of their race, appearance or accent," he added.  "They would also impose a great economic burden on our local governments with no support from the state."

Other events include:

Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 pm: “We are One: One Faith, One God, One Cry" -  an Interfaith Service outside the First Methodist Church of Homestead, located at 622 North KromeAvenue, Homestead, FL.

Thursday, March 24 at 7:00 pm: Town Hall Meeting on "Civil Rights and the Threat of Anti-Immigrant Legislation," co-sponsored by the Greater Miami ACLU, at the Everglades Village Community Center, 19308 SW 380th Street, Florida City, FL.  Panelists will include John De Leon, President of the Greater Miami ACLU; Maria Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, and one of the "Trail of Dreams" youth who walked from Miami to Washington, DC, in 2010.

For more information about these events, contact Jonathan Fried at: 305-281-9377 or via email at [email protected]

New Beginnings International, Inc. seeks after-school teachers/tutors to provide academic support to at-risk youth in the Homestead/Florida City area from 2-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Candidates must have experience working with youth, preferably certified. For more information, call (305) 254-3403 or email [email protected]. To download an application, click here.

Experience a new way to contribute to the academic success of the children in your community through a new PTA® initiative that offers a variety of parent/caregiver engagement tools and strategies to ensure opportunity and equity for students in urban communities.

PTA’s Urban Family Engagement Initiative in partnership with Miami Dade County PTA/PTSA, Miami Dade County Public Schools & La Familia Inc. invites you to

Family Institute Day Mini Conference

Workshops offered:”Parents Rights and Responsibilities”, “Building Relationships that Support Student Success” & “Structure and Function of the School Site and School District”

Saturday, October 9, 2010
8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning Center

955 SW18th Avenue

Homestead, FL 33035

Childcare, Meals & Conference Materials Will Be Provided

The trash-talking is in full effect as the undefeated FAMU Rattlers come to town to challenge the nationally-ranked University of Miami Hurricanes Saturday night at LandShark Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The home of the original orange and green and the swagger masters are ready for the challenge and the Marching 100 will surely be crowd favorites with their post game performances at LandShark and on Sunday at Harris Field in Homestead.

Here's a schedule of activities with more to follow.

The Miami-Dade Chapter

of the

Florida A&M University National Alumni Association

and the

City of Miami Gardens

Present

“Rattlers in the Gardens Weekend”

FRIDAY

OCTOBER 9

Rattler Meetup and Welcome Reception

Legends Lounge – 9^th floor

El Palacio Sports Hotel & Conference Center

21485 NW 27^th Avenue

Miami, Florida  33056

5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Admission: FREE

FREE Hors d’oeuvres

SATURDAY

OCTOBER 10

Scholarship Breakfast

Honoring Dr. Julian White and the

Incomparable Marching 100 Alumni

El Palacio Sports Hotel & Conference Center

21485 N.W. 27^th Avenue

Miami, Florida  33056

8:00 a.m. – 11:00a.m.

$25 each or $250 for a table of 10

SATURDAY

OCTOBER 10

FAMU Rattlers vs University of Miami Hurricanes

Land Shark Stadium

Miami Gardens, Florida

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Rattler Victory Meetup

Legends Lounge – 9^TH floor

El Palacio Sports Hotel & Conference Center

21485 N.W.  27^th Avenue

Miami, Florida  33056

After the game…. until

SUNDAY

OCTOBER 11

Clash of the Titans

FAMU Marching 100 and

South Florida’s Best High School Marching Bands

Harris Field – 3:00 p.m.

1034 N.E. 8^th Street

Homestead, Florida

Tickets: $15.00 - 305-835-0321

Contact: Romania Wilson – [email protected]   or

954-612-5671

www.miamidaderattlers.org

The Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP, under the leadership of Bishop Victor T. Curry, President has remains relentless regarding the display of the Confederate Flag during the 2008 Homestead Veterans’ Day Parade.

The NAACP and the coalition of organizations and concerned Americans does not desire the cancellation of the Parade but rather a Parade that will truly honor U.S. Veterans and not insult significant numbers of citizens. The NAACP is appalled by the actions of the Florida City/Homestead Chamber of Commerce in their failure to conclude US Department of Justice mediation in good faith and releasing statements to the media implying that they had banned Confederate Flags when in fact they had not done so. Until the Chamber bans the display of ALL Confederate flags and symbols in any future parades the issue is not resolved.  Banning one version of the Confederate Flag is subterfuge for a “rose by any other name is still a rose.” 

The NAACP commends the Florida City Commission, Community Health Centers Inc., the Red Cross, the Boy Scouts and several school bands that decided not to participate in the parade and support such display of the Confederacy. 

Confederate symbols are symbols of support for white supremacy, resistance to desegregation and fighting to maintaining slavery.  They are as offensive as the NAZI Swat sticker.

“The NAACP calls on members of the Chamber such as Miami-Dade County, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami-Dade College and others to use their influence to have the Chamber adopt a no Confederate symbols policy. Homestead has giving a bad name to Chambers of Commerce throughout the county. The Sons of the Confederate Veterans organization and the confederate flag have no place in a Chamber of Commerce sponsored and taxpayer supported event” said Bishop Victor T. Curry, President of the Miami-Dade Branch NAACP.