Institute for Family Health Receives City Council Funding for Bronx Health Center Renovation

The Institute for Family Health was delighted to learn it would receive $534,000 to help furnish and equip the Stevenson Family Health Center, located at 731 White Plains Road in the Bronx. The award was announced by New York City Councilmember Annabel Palma at a press conference on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, attended by Bronx Councilmembers Andy King, Fernando Cabrera and Vanessa Gibson, as well as a number of other award recipients.

Ms. Palma represents District 18, where the Stevenson center is located. She opened the conference by stating, “As Chair of the Bronx delegation, I am thrilled that this year’s budget truly delivers and meets the many needs of Bronx residents.” Ms. Palma added that she was proud to help restore much-needed health services to the residents of the Soundview community.

Maxine Golub, Sr. VP of the Institute for Family Health, which operates the Stevenson Center, said, “Though we are currently operating out of only one third of the available space, we are open from 8am to 8pm six days per week to serve the community, which has no hospital or emergency services. We provided 28,000 medical, dental and mental health visits last year. When completed, the newly renovated center will include 30 medical exam rooms, six behavioral health counseling offices, and seven dental operatories, and will provide 85,000 visits per year.”

Each of the Bronx City Council members spoke about the importance of working together to ensure that the Bronx received its fair share of City dollars. Councilmember Andy King, who co-chairs the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, stated he was “…particularly proud that we were able to advocate for a budget that prioritizes seniors, youth, public safety, employment opportunities, education, health and infrastructure.” Councilmember Fernando Cabrera added, “It continues to be my goal as a member of the Bronx Delegation to increase the quality of life for our residents by making the Bronx a greater place to live.”

The Institute’s award was made through the City Council’s annual process for allocating capital funding to non-city organizations. In addition to the City Council Bronx Delegation’s support for the funding, the Institute received letters of support from Community Board 9, where the Stevenson Family Health Center is located, as well as State Assembly members Marcos Crespo (District 85) and Luis Sepulveda (District 87).

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Founded in 1983, the Institute for Family Health is a federally qualified community health center (FQHC) network that operates 27 health center sites in historically underserved communities in New York City and the Mid-Hudson Valley. The Institute’s health centers and other programs currently serve over 100,000 people annually. For more information about the Institute for Family Health, visit www.institute2000.org.