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PARTNERS | HEALTHY CITY | HOW HEALTHY | VISION | SUMMIT | PRIORITIES | FUNCTIONS | CITY OF FALL RIVER |
HealthFirst Family Care Center
was awarded a three-year grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield
Foundation to provide care coordination services to homeless individuals
in Fall River. Center CEO Julie Almond introduced Family Nurse
Practitioner
Julie Hetherington
on February 3,
2009 to members of the community advisory committee, including
representatives of the First Step Inn shelter for the homeless, the
Homeless Service Providers Coalition and the
Community Development Agency. Other agencies involved in the project
include Catholic Social Services,
the Homeless Connections,
the LOFT transitional program,
Project Assert, and People
Incorporated's Project New Beginnings. Ms.
Hetherington,
who also has a Masters in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, will be
available to do on-site evaluations and referrals of homeless
individuals and to arrange rapid referrals for treatment to appropriate
agencies. Medical appointments can be arranged directly with
HealthFirst, including transportation by taxi to the initial
appointment. "This program answers many of the concerns we have had in
this community about providing treatment to the homeless population,"
stated Ms. Almond.
"HealthFirst is honored
by the trust place in us by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation", she
added. For
more information services offered by HealthFirst, contact Director of
Community Relations and
Development
Paula Harrison at
774-627-1204. |
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(Top row, left and right) HealthFirst Family Care Center CEO Julie Almond introduces Julie Heatherton, NP, to Center staff and representatives of the homeless services providers network. (Middle row, left) Ms. Hetherington describes her experience in working with a variety of populations, including mentally ill and dually-diagnosed clients in her role as Director of Nursing at the Westwood Lodge as Lisa Alves of the WIC program listens. (Middle row, right) Mary Camara of the Community Development Agency listens as Linda Hennessey of HealthFirst suggests some of the locations where Ms. Hetherington could identify homeless individuals in the City. (Bottom row) Ms. Hetherington will be connecting with homeless persons at Homeless Connections, the First Step Inn and the Family Resource Center, as well as other locations in the Greater Fall River Area in order to provide care coordination. |
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