Available Positions

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION:  The Eleventh Street Family Health Services of Drexel University is a nurse-managed Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) whose mission it to provide quality, comprehensive health services to all the people it services with special attention to vulnerable people and residents of  public housing communities, as well as provide an exemplary model of nurse managed, community based care.  The Center is located in Lower North Philadelphia in a population area of 19,642 predominately African Americans (85%), that the federal government has designed as “medically underserved.”  Nurse practitioners and other clinical staff served over 6000 unduplicated patients last year with Primary Care, Dental and Behavioral Health Services without regard to their ability to pay.  In addition to primary and preventive services, the health center provides diagnostic testing and screening; HIV-testing and counseling; family planning, pre-natal, obstetric and midwifery services; hearing and vision testing: nutrition and diabetes education and support groups; social work services. Podiatry; physical therapy; and fitness training.  We have an active social service department helping patients with insurance, benefits counseling, arranging transportation, providing advocacy and referrals to community agencies.  Because of the numerous health promotion and social service programs offered to our patients we rely heavily on volunteers, student interns and community residents to help in program development and implementation.  Central to our volunteer base is the AmeriCorps members.  As the center continues to strengthen its roots in the community and identify community needs we are always seeking new ways to serve our patients.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The AmeriCorps member will work closely with patients in the Primary Care Department. The Health Center has many Health Education programs the member may be given the opportunity to work closely with the Health Educators on a limited basis.

COMMUNITY NEED: Approximately 20% of the patients in our Primary Care Department are uninsured.  We attempt to assess each uninsured patient and assist them with applying for insurance if they are eligible. We know that without insurance patients have limited access to the medical care they and their families need.   If patients are not eligible for insurance then efforts are made to help them apply for prescription assistance or to access low cost medications.  68 % of our patients have Medical Assistance and need support and advocacy to negotiate a difficult and challenging system.  Even our patients on Medicare may need help to access benefits they are eligible for but do not receive.  Patients also need referrals and connections to necessary community agencies and services.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION: The Family Practice and Counseling Network (FPCN) is a program of Resources for Human Development, Inc. whose mission is to promote long-term health by providing quality, compassionate, preventative, and affordable primary, dental, and behavioral health care to all of its patients with special focus on residents of public housing. The public housing population served has significant socio-economic and cultural barriers to adequate health care, and lack in culturally appropriate services relevant to this population. The entire service is designated as “medically underserved” within an area sort in medical and dental professionals.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  

The member will conduct insurance assessments and assist patients in applying for medical assistance, CHIP and other Department of Public Welfare programs using the PA Compass system.  They will complete applications for prescription assistance as needed.  They may aide patients with Medicare to apply for programs such as Low Income Assistance with Part D, or the Part B Buy in programs that the patient is unaware of.  They may serve as advocates for the patient in dealing with the Department of Public Welfare.  They may occasionally assist a patient in organizing appointments, arranging transportation or providing other case management services under the direction of the Social Worker or Clinical Nurse. They will work with the Health Education Department on some of their activities in areas that meet the Members learning goals and support that programming.  That may mean leading a cooking class, or a health education program. The Member will be fully a part of the Center staff in creating a welcoming place for our patients and the community. 

COMMUNITY NEED: The primary population served by Abbottsford/Falls FPCN encompasses East Falls, Abbottsford, and Lower Germantown community. The median income range for this community is from $27,463 to $33,191 per year. Ninety percent of the community is described by the government as “medically underserved”. At Abbortsford/Falls, we provide FQHC services, providing support and educational programs focusing on youth, individuals, and families living with cancer, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and in need of smoking cessation resources. FPCN is one of the only two FQHC’s in the city licensed by the state to provide behavioral health services. These services are fully integrated with the primary care department. The member will work closely with the social worker and outreach staff to address the medical and social needs of patients within the community at large.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION:

The Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative includes Philadelphia’s three refugee resettlement agencies [HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) Pennsylvania, Lutheran Children and Family Service (LCFS), and Nationalities Service Center (NSC)], and their affiliated refugee health clinics [at Jefferson Family Medicine Associates (JFMA), Nemours Pediatrics, Penn Center for Primary Care, Fairmount Primary Care Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Drexel Women’s Care Center].  The core goal of the Collaborative is to create an equitable system of refugee health care in the Philadelphia region that ensures a consistently high standard of care for all newly arrived refugees. The primary aims of the Collaborative are: (1) To ensure that refugees resettled in the Philadelphia area have timely access to a network of primary and specialist care providers with the capacity to effectively address their complex physical and mental health needs; and (2) Improve health outcomes among refugee populations by developing and implementing a community health education program and ensuring access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health education materials.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

HIAS Pennsylvania and LCFS provide comprehensive resettlement services to newly arrived refugees to help them to achieve self-sufficiency.  Intensive case management services address a wide variety of needs including housing, employment, acculturation, and health care.  All newly arrived refugees to the US must receive a domestic health screening and orientation to the US health care system within 30 days of arrival. As part of the Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative, the resettlement programs provide the following health services to newly arrived refugees: orientation to the US health care system and the domestic health screening process; enrollment in Refugee Medical Assistance or other MA program; scheduling and escorting to initial screening appointment; scheduling of follow-up testing and specialist appointments as needed and escorting to initial appointment; assistance accessing dental care;  intensive medical support services for clients with significant medical conditions. 

COMMUNITY NEED:

Since the mid-1970s, large numbers of refugees have been resettled in Philadelphia. Currently, three local resettlement agencies – NSC, LCFS and HIAS Pennsylvania– are resettling approximately 800 refugees to the region each year. This number is growing. In the last six years, NSC’s arrival numbers have increased tenfold, from 45 to 450 per year. HIAS Pennsylvania's resettlement program has grown from 25 to 134 in just three years.

Refugees come from many years of living in refugee camps or urban slums with limited access to health care, food, clean water, and basic hygiene. Many refugees arrive with unmanaged, chronic health conditions and/or infectious diseases. Refugees also experience emotional trauma resulting from war, displacement and loss of loved ones and status, and are frequently diagnosed with PTSD and other mental health conditions. Eager to begin anew, but struggling with limited English proficiency, refugees need help navigating the health care system.

Over the past few years, to ensure that newly arrived refugees have access to timely medical care, the resettlement agencies in Philadelphia have established close partnerships with family and pediatric medical practices housed in the region’s major university health systems. The Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative is working to develop these partnerships into an integrated system of care that will ensure high quality health services for all newly arrived refugees.

This member must begin this position by June 30^th, 2011

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION:   The Eleventh Street Family Health Services of Drexel University is a nurse-managed Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) whose mission it to provide quality, comprehensive health services to all the people it services with special attention to vulnerable people and residents of  public housing communities, as well as provide an exemplary model of nurse managed, community based care.  The Center is located in Lower North Philadelphia in a population area of 19,642 predominately African Americans (85%), that the federal government has designed as “medically underserved.”  Nurse practitioners and other clinical staff served over 6000 unduplicated patients last year with Primary Care, Dental and Behavioral Health Services without regard to their ability to pay.  In addition to primary and preventive services, the health center provides diagnostic testing and screening; HIV-testing and counseling; family planning, pre-natal, obstetric and midwifery services; hearing and vision testing: nutrition and diabetes education and support groups; social work services. Podiatry; physical therapy; and fitness training.  We have an active social service department helping patients with insurance, benefits counseling, arranging transportation, providing advocacy and referrals to community agencies.  Because of the numerous health promotion and social service programs offered to our patients we rely heavily on volunteers, student interns and community residents to help in program development and implementation.  Central to our volunteer base is the AmeriCorps members.  As the center continues to strengthen its roots in the community and identify community needs we are always seeking new ways to serve our patients.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The primary goal of the Health Education and Outreach Associate Member is to address the lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, and other poor lifestyle choices that lead to obesity, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, disability, and premature death.  We address this through providing education through group programming, cooking classes, grocery store tours, diabetes classes, free mammograms for our uninsured patients, smoking cessation classes, group prenatal care classes, instruction on exercise and healthy nutrition. We focus on children and adults of all ages.

COMMUNITY NEED: The AmeriCorps member will address the health and wellness needs, specifically with regards to health, fitness and nutrition, of a health center patient population of over 3,000 and growing predominately (90%) African American individuals that are designated as “Medically Underserved” by the federal government.  More specifically, this individual will address the concern of hypertension and diabetes, and obesity in this community, which are diseases that occur predominately as a result of poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.  An investigation by the CDC found that the prevalence of obesity is 51% greater in African American Populations when compared to Caucasian populations.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION:  The Eleventh Street Family Health Services of Drexel University is a nurse-managed Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) whose mission it to provide quality, comprehensive health services to all the people it services with special attention to vulnerable people and residents of  public housing communities, as well as provide an exemplary model of nurse managed, community based care.  The Center is located in Lower North Philadelphia in a population area of 19,642 predominately African Americans (85%), that the federal government has designed as “medically underserved.”  Nurse practitioners and other clinical staff served over 6000 unduplicated patients last year with Primary Care, Dental and Behavioral Health Services without regard to their ability to pay.  In addition to primary and preventive services, the health center provides diagnostic testing and screening; HIV-testing and counseling; family planning, pre-natal, obstetric and midwifery services; hearing and vision testing: nutrition and diabetes education and support groups; social work services. Podiatry; physical therapy; and fitness training.  We have an active social service department helping patients with insurance, benefits counseling, arranging transportation, providing advocacy and referrals to community agencies.  Because of the numerous health promotion and social service programs offered to our patients we rely heavily on volunteers, student interns and community residents to help in program development and implementation.  Central to our volunteer base is the AmeriCorps members.  As the center continues to strengthen its roots in the community and identify community needs we are always seeking new ways to serve our patients.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The AmeriCorps member will work closely with patients in the Primary Care Department. The Health Center has many Health Education programs the member may be given the opportunity to work closely with the Health Educators on a limited basis.

COMMUNITY NEED: Approximately 20% of the patients in our Primary Care Department are uninsured.  We attempt to assess each uninsured patient and assist them with applying for insurance if they are eligible. We know that without insurance patients have limited access to the medical care they and their families need.   If patients are not eligible for insurance then efforts are made to help them apply for prescription assistance or to access low cost medications.  68 % of our patients have Medical Assistance and need support and advocacy to negotiate a difficult and challenging system.  Even our patients on Medicare may need help to access benefits they are eligible for but do not receive.  Patients also need referrals and connections to necessary community agencies and services.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION: The Family Practice and Counseling Network (FPCN) is a program of Resources for Human Development, Inc. whose mission is to promote long-term health by providing quality, compassionate, preventative, and affordable primary, dental, and behavioral health care to all of its patients with special focus on residents of public housing. The public housing population served has significant socio-economic and cultural barriers to adequate health care, and lack in culturally appropriate services relevant to this population. The entire service is designated as “medically underserved” within an area sort in medical and dental professionals.

 PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  

The member will conduct insurance assessments and assist patients in applying for medical assistance, CHIP and other Department of Public Welfare programs using the PA Compass system.  They will complete applications for prescription assistance as needed.  They may aide patients with Medicare to apply for programs such as Low Income Assistance with Part D, or the Part B Buy in programs that the patient is unaware of.  They may serve as advocates for the patient in dealing with the Department of Public Welfare.  They may occasionally assist a patient in organizing appointments, arranging transportation or providing other case management services under the direction of the Social Worker or Clinical Nurse. They will work with the Health Education Department on some of their activities in areas that meet the Members learning goals and support that programming.  That may mean leading a cooking class, or a health education program. The Member will be fully a part of the Center staff in creating a welcoming place for our patients and the community. 

COMMUNITY NEED: The primary population served by Abbottsford/Falls FPCN encompasses East Falls, Abbottsford, and Lower Germantown community. The median income range for this community is from $27,463 to $33,191 per year. Ninety percent of the community is described by the government as “medically underserved”. At Abbortsford/Falls, we provide FQHC services, providing support and educational programs focusing on youth, individuals, and families living with cancer, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and in need of smoking cessation resources. FPCN is one of the only two FQHC’s in the city licensed by the state to provide behavioral health services. These services are fully integrated with the primary care department. The member will work closely with the social worker and outreach staff to address the medical and social needs of patients within the community at large.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION: The Health Annex is one of three health centers part of the Family Practice and Counseling Network, whose umbrella organization is Resources for Human Development. The Health Annex is a nurse-managed Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) whose mission is to provide quality, comprehensive health services to all the people it serves with special attention to vulnerable people and residents of public housing communities, as well as provide an exemplary model of nurse managed, community based care for the education of health professions students and for faculty practice.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The AmeriCorps member will work with patients primarily from our Primary Care Department, but will have opportunities to assist patients from Dental and Behavioral Health. The Member will conduct insurance assessments and assist patients in applying for health insurance, such as Medicaid, Medicaid for Pregnancy, Select Plan for Women and CHIP for children.  If not eligible for Medical Assistance they will aid the patient in applying for prescription assistance or other health benefit programs.   Another public benefit members will assist patients in applying for using the PA Compass System is SNAP benefits.  The Members will be given the opportunity to explore other programs and services, such as prenatal health education, nutrition education, and/or family planning education at the Center and, if appropriate, has some involvement.

COMMUNITY NEED: The AmeriCorps member will work closely with the social worker in connecting patients to resources and assessing patients for health insurance. Approximately 20% of the patient population in the Primary Care Department is uninsured.  We attempt to assess each uninsured patient and assist them with applying for insurance if they are eligible. Without insurance patients have limited access to the medical care they and their families need.   If patients are not eligible for insurance, then efforts are made to help them apply for prescription assistance or to access low cost medications.  68 % of our patients have Medical Assistance and need support and advocacy to negotiate a difficult and challenging system.  Even our patients on Medicare may need help to access benefits they are eligible for but do not receive.  Patients also need referrals and connections to necessary community agencies and services.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION:

Mission
Through the development and implementation of exemplary public health programs including health promotion, health education and disease prevention services, the La Salle Neighborhood Nursing Center supports and enhances the teaching, learning, and service mission of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Vision
The School of Nursing and Health Sciences and its Neighborhood Nursing Center will be positioned as a recognized provider of quality educational and public health programs serving urban and suburban populations.

Purpose
the organization's purpose is to provide access to public health, educational and community services to under-served populations residing in a multicultural, diverse urban community. Emphasis is placed on health promotion, injury prevention, screening, and referral.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The AmeriCorps member will be involved with all facets of the nursing center, but particularly assigned to the Nursing Center at the Backstretch of Philadelphia Parx Racetrack.  This program provides health promotion, disease prevention and health education to the Backstretch workers.  The AmeriCorps member engages the men and women horse workers to utilize the twice-a-week clinic staffed by the nurses and graduate and undergraduate student nurses and to promote healthy activities that may include topics of healthy nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, or immunizations.  In addition, the AmeriCorps member provides organizational support for the influenza and other immunization clinics. 

Additionally, the AmeriCorps member provides support to families whose children have special health care needs. The AmeriCorps member provides environmental assessments, connects families with community resources including health access, assists clients at medical visits, and other activities needed by the HIP for Families team members.

Lastly, the AmeriCorps member will be involved with all field services provided by La Salle Neighborhood Nursing Center.  These services include assessment, screening, education, skill building, community engagement, and health fairs at community sites.

COMMUNITY NEED: One thousand people work at the Backstretch and nearly 200 people live at the track dormitories.  Most are male, Latino, ages 18 to 70 years old with a mean age of 40.  These are migrant workers who travel with the horses to various racing venues throughout the United States.  La Salle Neighborhood Nursing Center provides a health drop-in center on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The Health Intervention Program for Families provides services to children with health problems and their at-risk families. Services such as family and environmental home assessment, educational visits and referrals to community agencies are tailored to the needs of each family. Families are encouraged and assisted to use services already in place as well as discover new resources.  La Salle Neighborhood Nursing Center engages over 150 families each year to collaborate on community and self-help skills.

Field services include health education and health promotion activities in community sites not funded by designated grants to La Salle Neighborhood Nursing Center. These activities are responses to community needs for health education, health promotion, and screening that included 36 events during this past year. These were child care health consultation, health education, screening, and immunizations, particularly at the Bucks County Disaster Drill and Influenza Immunization Drive.

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, under Ambulatory Health Services has a total of 8 Health Care Centers which provides comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities. We served a total of 65,274 individuals (served for fiscal year July 2005- March 2006) specifically under the Family Medical Care Program.

To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health care services to residents. To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose the Health Care Centers. To promote the Health Care Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Service Activities/Responsibilities: This position helps uninsured, health center patients apply for free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. The position assists people apply for two different types of PAP programs. The programs are similar to each other but, vary in the way eligibility is determined and medications are received. One is done on site, through the PAP advocate and the pharmacy and the second is done VIA the mail and the pharmaceutical company. In addition, this position assists eligible patients begin the process for health insurance enrollment.

ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF MISSION: The Penrose School is dedicated to improving the academic and health status of our children through health and fitness programs and involvement of families in the health care of their children. The school has fitness programs after-school five days a week and also in school programs to improve the health of our children. Penrose School is dedicated to academic achievement and good health for the school and community.

CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEED(S) TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH MEMBER SERVICE:

The most critical need of this community is to improve the health status of the children so they can take full advantage of the public school system they are part of. We do this by providing health screenings and preventative health care guidance, follow up care, fitness and sports activities for our children, faculty, and community members including parents and families. We also break down barriers to health care by working with community health providers, social service agencies, hospitals, Section Eight Housing Complexes, and even health insurance providers. We provide meaningful health interventions that work, and fitness and health activities to develop our students as well rounded citizens.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Member will work with school staff, including the nurse, teachers, Physical Education teachers, and others to provide a School Health Program for 600 students, staff and the community. This program includes identifying and working with our students with obesity in before, during, and after-school fitness programs. The program also includes health screening for all students and designing interventions for students with identified health needs. In addition the Member will work with students individually coordinating a fitness and nutrition program for overweight students. The member will also be part of the team, which implements the Socialized Recess program at the school. The Members will also work with special needs students in a fitness program called We Can Bee Fit Too, which the Members will plan and implement. The Members will also coordinate and plan the After-school fitness programs including, Students Run Philly Style, a distance-running program, Yoga, Hip Hop Jump Rope, and other programs. The Members will be encouraged to develop and implement new programs that will involve more students in fitness and nutrition activities. The Members will be expected to take responsibility for the planning and implementation of these programs, building on what previous AmeriCorps Members have accomplished over the past ten years at Penrose.

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, under Ambulatory Health Services has a total of 8 Health Care Centers which provides comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities. We served a total of 65,274 individuals (served for fiscal year July 2005- March 2006) specifically under the Family Medical Care Program.

To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health care services to residents. To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose the Health Care Centers. To promote the Health Care Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Service Activities/Responsibilities: This position helps uninsured, health center patients apply for free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. The position assists people apply for two different types of PAP programs. The programs are similar to each other but, vary in the way eligibility is determined and medications are received. One is done on site, through the PAP advocate and the pharmacy and the second is done VIA the mail and the pharmaceutical company. In addition, this position assists eligible patients begin the process for health insurance enrollment.

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, under Ambulatory Health Services has a total of 8 Health Care Centers which provides comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities. We served a total of 65,274 individuals (served for fiscal year July 2005- March 2006) specifically under the Family Medical Care Program.

To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health care services to residents. To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose the Health Care Centers. To promote the Health Care Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Service Activities/Responsibilities: This position helps uninsured, health center patients apply for free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. The position assists people apply for two different types of PAP programs. The programs are similar to each other but, vary in the way eligibility is determined and medications are received. One is done on site, through the PAP advocate and the pharmacy and the second is done VIA the mail and the pharmaceutical company. In addition, this position assists eligible patients begin the process for health insurance enrollment.

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, under Ambulatory Health Services has a total of 8 Health Care Centers which provides comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities. We served a total of 65,274 individuals (served for fiscal year July 2005- March 2006) specifically under the Family Medical Care Program.

To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health care services to residents. To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose the Health Care Centers. To promote the Health Care Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Service Activities/Responsibilities: This position helps uninsured, health center patients apply for free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. The position assists people apply for two different types of PAP programs. The programs are similar to each other but, vary in the way eligibility is determined and medications are received. One is done on site, through the PAP advocate and the pharmacy and the second is done VIA the mail and the pharmaceutical company. In addition, this position assists eligible patients begin the process for health insurance enrollment.

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, under Ambulatory Health Services has a total of 8 Health Care Centers which provides comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities. We served a total of 65,274 individuals (served for fiscal year July 2005- March 2006) specifically under the Family Medical Care Program.

To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health care services to residents. To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose the Health Care Centers. To promote the Health Care Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Service Activities/Responsibilities: This position helps uninsured, health center patients apply for free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. The position assists people apply for two different types of PAP programs. The programs are similar to each other but, vary in the way eligibility is determined and medications are received. One is done on site, through the PAP advocate and the pharmacy and the second is done VIA the mail and the pharmaceutical company. In addition, this position assists eligible patients begin the process for health insurance enrollment.

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, under Ambulatory Health Services has a total of 8 Health Care Centers which provides comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities. We served a total of 65,274 individuals (served for fiscal year July 2005- March 2006) specifically under the Family Medical Care Program.

To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health care services to residents. To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose the Health Care Centers. To promote the Health Care Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Service Activities/Responsibilities: This position helps uninsured, health center patients apply for free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. The position assists people apply for two different types of PAP programs. The programs are similar to each other but, vary in the way eligibility is determined and medications are received. One is done on site, through the PAP advocate and the pharmacy and the second is done VIA the mail and the pharmaceutical company. In addition, this position assists eligible patients begin the process for health insurance enrollment.

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, under Ambulatory Health Services has a total of 8 Health Care Centers which provides comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities. We served a total of 65,274 individuals (served for fiscal year July 2005- March 2006) specifically under the Family Medical Care Program.

To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health care services to residents. To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose the Health Care Centers. To promote the Health Care Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Service Activities/Responsibilities: This position helps uninsured, health center patients apply for free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. The position assists people apply for two different types of PAP programs. The programs are similar to each other but, vary in the way eligibility is determined and medications are received. One is done on site, through the PAP advocate and the pharmacy and the second is done VIA the mail and the pharmaceutical company. In addition, this position assists eligible patients begin the process for health insurance enrollment.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION:

The Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative includes Philadelphia’s three refugee resettlement agencies [HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) Pennsylvania, Lutheran Children and Family Service (LCFS), and Nationalities Service Center (NSC)], and their affiliated refugee health clinics [at Jefferson Family Medicine Associates (JFMA), Nemours Pediatrics, Penn Center for Primary Care, Fairmount Primary Care Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Drexel Women’s Care Center].  The core goal of the Collaborative is to create an equitable system of refugee health care in the Philadelphia region that ensures a consistently high standard of care for all newly arrived refugees. The project is funded by the Barra Foundation and the Innovative Partnerships Prize of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The primary aims of the Collaborative are: (1) To ensure that refugees resettled in the Philadelphia area have timely access to a network of primary and specialist care providers with the capacity to effectively address their complex physical and mental health needs; and (2) Improve health outcomes among refugee populations by developing and implementing a community health education program and ensuring access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health education materials.  

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

NSC provides comprehensive resettlement services to newly arrived refugees to help them to achieve self-sufficiency.  Intensive case management services address a wide variety of needs including housing, employment, acculturation, and health care.  All newly arrived refugees to the US must receive a domestic health screening and orientation to the US health care system within 30 days of arrival. As part of the Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative,  NSC’s resettlement program provides the following health services to newly arrived refugees: orientation to the US health care system and the domestic health screening process; enrollment in Refugee Medical Assistance or other MA program; scheduling and escorting to initial screening appointment; scheduling of follow-up testing and specialist appointments as needed and escorting to initial appointment; assistance accessing dental care;  intensive medical support services for clients with significant medical conditions. 

COMMUNITY NEED:

Since the mid-1970s, large numbers of refugees have been resettled in Philadelphia. Currently, three local resettlement agencies – NSC, LCFS and HIAS Pennsylvania– are resettling approximately 800 refugees to the region each year. This number is growing. In the last six years, NSC’s arrival numbers have increased tenfold, from 45 to 450 per year.  HIAS Pennsylvania's resettlement program has grown from 25 to 134 in just three years.

Refugees come from many years of living in refugee camps or urban slums with limited access to health care, food, clean water, and basic hygiene. Many refugees arrive with unmanaged, chronic health conditions and/or infectious diseases. Refugees also experience emotional trauma resulting from war, displacement and loss of loved ones and status, and are frequently diagnosed with PTSD and other mental health conditions. Eager to begin anew, but struggling with limited English proficiency, refugees need help navigating the health care system.

Over the past few years, to ensure that newly arrived refugees have access to timely medical care, the resettlement agencies in Philadelphia have established close partnerships with family and pediatric medical practices housed in the region’s major university health systems. The Philadelphia Refugee Health Collaborative is working to develop these partnerships into an integrated system of care that will ensure high quality health services for all newly arrived refugees.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION & MISSION: Maternity Care Coalition (MCC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1980 by professionals and lay people concerned with the appalling rate of infant mortality and morbidity in Philadelphia and other communities in southeastern Pennsylvania.  MCC’s mission is to improve maternal and child health and well being through the collaborative efforts of individuals, families, providers and communities.  MCC works to reduce infant mortality and improve maternal and child health and well being through outreach in high risk communities to identify pregnant women and support them and their families with prenatal, well baby and other needed services. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:   MCC’s Cribs for Kids program supplies cribs and safe sleep education to families in the Philadelphia area to help reduce deaths due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and improper sleep environment.  Cribs for Kids provides comprehensive education on proper sleep position and sleep environment.  All families enrolled in the program participate in community workshops or receive home visits with trained team members.  Staff and volunteers discuss goals for decreasing risks associated with SIDS, including putting the infant to sleep on his/her back and reducing/eliminating the infant’s exposure to tobacco smoke.  MCC encourages breastfeeding and demonstrates how to create a safe sleep environment by preventing overheating and reducing the risk of overlaying and suffocation.  MCC’s Cribs for Kids program also plays a significant role in assisting families to become connected to other community resources.  MCC’s Cribs for Kids program also offers training on safe sleep to healthcare, human service, and childcare providers and to the general public through educational workshops and community health fairs. 

COMMUNITY NEED:   MCC’s Cribs for Kids has a goal of serving 2,500 infants each year by giving their families a crib and safe sleep education.  Our client families are from across the City of Philadelphia.  More than 82% of Cribs for Kids clients are unemployed and the overwhelming majority receives public assistance.   During FY11 a large portion of the mothers we served received Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, (46%), Food Stamps (77%), Medical Assistance (88%) or Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Assistance (86%). Only 11% of clients were employed.   MCC’s Cribs for Kids program also serves clients from diverse ethnic and racial background.  The member will specifically be serving clients who are referred to our program through other social service agencies throughout Philadelphia. 

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, Division of Ambulatory Health Services operates 8 Health Centers that provide comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities.  In FY10, more than 350,000 visits were made to the centers.

MISSION:

·         To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health services to residents of Philadelphia

·         To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose Primary Care Providers at the City Health Centers.

·         To promote the Health Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Organization Description and Mission:

The Department of Public Health, Division of Ambulatory Health Services operates 8 Health Centers that provide comprehensive primary medical care and preventive services to underserved communities.  In FY10, more than 350,000 visits were made to the centers.

MISSION:

·         To ensure the availability and accessibility of primary and public health services to residents of Philadelphia

·         To maintain and or improve the provision of high quality health care to those individuals who choose Primary Care Providers at the City Health Centers.

·         To promote the Health Centers which offer ‘one stop services’ including the integration of traditional public health services such as immunizations, TB testing, STD services, HIV services and Women’s services (family planning and prenatal). 

Service Activities/Responsibilities:

The Patient Assistance Program (PAP) Liaison will perform the duties of the Patient Assistance Program Advocate and, in addition, the PAP Liaison will work with the Patient Assistance Program Coordinator on an array of other projects related to the Patient Assistance Program and Ambulatory Health Services.

The PAP Liaison will rotate through the eight health centers on an ongoing, as needed basis to assist PAP Advocates with helping uninsured patients apply for free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. The PAP Liaison will work with PAP Advocates to collect appropriate documentation from patients and physicians for enrollment, assist PAP Advocates with providing follow up through phone calls and direct mail to patients whose medication has arrived, patients needing prescription renewals and those in need of additional documentation to enroll in a program. In addition, the PAP Liaison will assist the PAP Advocates in tracking applications through the enrollment process, place refills, enter information into the RxAssist database and assist in any other program functions as necessary.