CHRC Celebrates 20 Years of Service
CHRC celebrates 20 years of providing services to the community
by Susan Haikalis, LCSW, Executive Director
As the Community Health Resource Center (CHRC)celebrates 20 years of providing services to the community, the range and diversity of programs offered expands. A sample of educational topics includes cholesterol education, adult diabetes, adult/pediatric asthma, osteoporosis, arthritis, and special heart disease seminars. In conjunction with the classes or on an individual basis, we also offer low-fee or free screenings for cholesterol, osteoporosis, body fat, and glucose levels. The health education and screenings are also offered at YMCAs, Senior Centers, Community Center's Food Pantries and classrooms throughout San Francisco.
CHRC provides monthly perinatal lectures, regular pediatric nutrition talks, twice monthly senior “Brown Bag” lectures, and special health topics. They also offer half-day seminars such as the Memory Summit, More Than Skin Deep, and HIV+ and Healthy Men’s Health Events. In recognition of American Heart Month in February, CHRC in collaboration with Sutter Pacific Heart Centers coordinates special events focusing on heart health themes in addition to co-hosting free Heart Health Fairs.
Health information and referrals are provided to over 17,000 people annually. Over 600 health information searches are made yearly by people from our waiting room computer, and nearly 2,000 patient contacts are made in our office or through our contracts with Radiation Oncology, Visiting Nurses and Hospice, and Cardiac Rehabilitation. Support groups continue, with ongoing groups for people concerning a wide variety of health issies. The Joseph H. Friend Laparoscopy Center was established at CHRC in 2000 through a grant from Mr. Friend, for whom the center was named, to help people understand laparoscopic surgery techniques.
The Needs Expand
The funding needs for CHRC have dramatically increased parallel to the requests for additional services. Currently funding requirements are approximately $500,000 annually. In 2005, they received grants from 16 charitable Foundations and Trusts and with a generous gift, from the Women’s Board of the California Pacific Medical Center Foundation, they launched an innovative program called SENIOR CARE. Working with primary care physicians, SENIOR CARE has seen over 200 clients and/or caregivers to date. This service focuses on promising alternatives or safe ways for seniors to stay in their own homes.
Their dynamic program has evolved constantly over the past 20 years and they proudly celebrate these accomplishments. CHRC has come a long way in meeting their mission to provide health and wellness care to the people of San Francisco and look forward to our next 20 years!