Alive with balloons and lots of visitors, the Health Annex of the Family Practice and Counseling Network (FPCN) assembled representatives of two dozen health care and community service organization at the Woodland Avenue Plaza at 60th Street on Saturday, September 28.
Overseeing the gathering were members of the leadership team from the Health Annex, Jenny D. Price, center director, Aaron Clavis, FPCN director of operations, and ChrisAnne Smith, Community Engagement Specialist. The Health Annex offices in the main Plaza building are directly above the cordoned off area in the parking lot where the tables of the various organizations were arrayed.
The Health Annex is named for its original Southwest location in the first-floor annex of Myers Recreation Center on 58th Street. From there it has expanded to provide comprehensive health services which include primary care, integrated behavioral health counseling, dental care, social work, diabetes and nutrition education, an on-site pharmacy and a fitness center. The site also has a community room and kitchen that are often used by local groups interested in partnering with Health Annex to host events or educational activities for local residents.
The Health Annex staff provided blood pressure checks and diabetes blood tests monitoring and other health counseling. Said local resident Angelica Clarkson, a longtime Post Office employee, “I have a job that keeps me active, but I think it is important to have regular checkups, particularly for the condition of my heart and the risk of diabetes – which have occurred in my family.“
Among the presenters around the Fair area AFAHO, AFRICOM, Catholic Social Services, Divine Insurance Group, Focus On Fathers, Nova Care, Neighborhoods United Against Drugs, ParentChild+Program, Healthy Start Program, Project LYFT, Southwest CDC/Paschallville Partnership, Senior Advocate Outreach Program, Solutions Financial Group, and the 12th Police District.
The Health Annex can be contacted at 215-727-4721 or by visiting its website www.fpcn.com/health-annex
Photos and article by Ted Behr
