Westside Family Healthcare

Back-to-school season is here, and we’ve got you covered with quick and healthy meal ideas! 🥪🍎 Whether you’re packing lunches or planning dinners, these easy, nutritious tips and meal ideas will keep your family fueled for the busy days ahead.

Let’s make this school year a healthy one:https://www.westsidehealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Sept-Newsletter-Nutrition-.pdf

Still need to register to vote or not sure where your polling location is? The Delaware Department of Elections put together this helpful site to make sure you are ready for this year's elections! https://bit.ly/3AXbzmY

Thank you to BeeBe, WSFS and Arthur Hall Insurance for their generous support as a Gold and Silver sponsors for our Farm to Fork: Nourishing Delaware’s Communities event on September 20 at Loblolly Acres. Tickets are still available at https://bit.ly/4eiYMtt.

Want to sponsor our Farm to Fork event? All proceeds will support our agricultural worker patients through our Rural Health Outreach Program. View our 2024 Sponsorship Packet for more information: https://bit.ly/3V8Fikh

A huge thanks to United Way of Delaware for an outstanding back-to-school event! We're proud to have contributed to your Book Bag Drives and Teachers Support Squad Initiative. Don’t miss the highlights—check out this video from the event 📚✨

UWDE - Back to School 2024 United Way of Delaware supports students, teachers and families during back to school. We recently launched the Teacher Support Squad, and hosted backpack gi...

Thank you so very much Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester for your continued support of Westside's mission to improve the health of our communities by providing equal access to quality healthcare, regardless of ability to pay.

Senator Tom Carper, U.S. Senator Chris C***s, & I have secured $1.5 million for Westside Family Healthcare to support their Navigator program.

As we approach open enrollment season, this funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could not be more important to get Delawareans the affordable health care they need.

🌟 Exciting news! Westside has been awarded $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support their Health Insurance Navigator Program!

This funding will help connect more underserved Delawareans to affordable health insurance options through free, personalized assistance. Thank you to Senator Tom Carper, U.S. Senator Chris C***s, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester for securing this funding to ensure every Delawarean can access the care they need.

“After the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Westside Family Healthcare’s health insurance navigators were a strong partner in enrolling Delawareans in affordable health insurance and helping families in every community, regardless of income, and I’m proud that this important work continues today,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper, who helped author the Affordable Care Act.

National Association of Community Health Centers

📚 Westside is proud to support our community as we gear up for back-to-school! Over the past month, we’ve distributed 1,064 backpacks— to our patients and to the broader community—across 7 fantastic events. A big shoutout to United Way of Delaware, Wilmington Public Library, Las Américas ASPIRA Academy, EastSide Charter School, Lewis Elementary, Children's Beach House, and Stubbs Early Education Center for inviting us to be a part of these events. Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead! 🌟✏️

🌟 Sending a huge thank you to Delaware's leaders, Governor John Carney Senator Darius Brown Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, and many more for prioritizing access to healthy, fresh foods through the Delaware Grocery Initiative which was just signed into law!

At Westside, we've long recognized the vital link between food access and health outcomes. We're proud to partner with Planting to Feed Inc. on our community fridge initiative and other food as medicine programs, ensuring our neighbors have access to the nutritious and vital food they deserve. 🍎🥦

Read more about the Delaware Grocery Initiative here:

Delaware Grocery Initiative signed into law As prices continue to increase, state leaders have stepped up to address food insecurity while providing relief through the Delaware Grocery Initiative.

Our offices will be closed today in observance of the Labor Day holiday. If you need medical assistance during that time, please call 302-655-5822 and leave a message for our on-call physician. Please call 911 for any emergencies.

🎉 We wrapped up the end of August with a summer social at our Northeast Wilmington location. With exciting games, fantastic prizes, and delicious snacks, it was a fun-filled day!

✅ Early voting is now open in Delaware for the Primary Election

Delaware recently passed the option for Delawareans to vote early in the primary and national elections. All registered voters are allowed to vote early in the Primary Election (September 10, 2024) and on Election Day (November 5, 2024).

View places where you can vote early in Delaware here: https://elections.delaware.gov/elections/votinglocations.shtml

For additional resources on how to register to vote in Delaware and across the nation, visit: www.vote411.org

Voting Locations Department of Elections State of Delaware State of Delaware Department of Elections Voting Locations

👋 This week is National Community Health Worker Appreciation week and we're excited to introduce you to a few of Westside's amazing Community Health Workers. 🌟

Read about why their roles are so critical for the health of our communities.

Thank you to Bayhealth for their generous support as a Platinum sponsor for our Farm to Fork: Nourishing Delaware’s Communities event on September 20 at Loblolly Acres. Tickets are still available at https://bit.ly/4eiYMtt.

Want to sponsor our Farm to Fork event? All proceeds will support our agricultural worker patients through our Rural Health Outreach Program. View our 2024 Sponsorship Packet for more information: https://bit.ly/3V8Fikh

👶 New research shows that using a breast pump can help extend breastfeeding by an average of 21 weeks and can be a game-changer for new moms! The study also highlights the potential of breast pumps to reduce racial disparities in breastfeeding rates. 💪🍼

For more details, check out the full article here: https://bit.ly/4dYjDlp

Breast Pumps Greatly Extend the Time a Mom Breastfeeds MONDAY, Aug. 5, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Women who use a breast pump to store milk for their infant tend to breastfeed 21 weeks longer, on average, compared to

📚🚀 Captain Westside is Here! 🚀📚

We’re thrilled to announce that Captain Westside and The Health Heroes is now available! 🎉 With a $12 donation, you’ll receive one book and also donate a book to one of our youngest patients. It’s a great way to spread joy and support children’s health!

📖✨ Bonus: Captain Westside is hitting the road! Sign up at www.westsidehealth.org/captainwestside to bring Captain Westside to your school or library. Don’t miss out on this exciting tour!

Join us in making a difference—get your copy today and help us share the magic of reading and health! 🌟💚

This month, we’re all about supporting our young families and building vibrant communities! 🚗👶🍑

Here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to:

👉 Partnered with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and Delaware Parents as Teachers for a car seat safety event.
👉 Joined ChristianaCare Latch On event to kick off National Breastfeeding Month and attended the Buy Buy Baby Community Baby Shower. 🤱💕
👉 We also had a blast at the Middletown Peach Festival and Community Health Fair, where we handed out valuable resources to all attendees.

But that’s not all! Stay tuned as we hit the ground running at various Back to School events to help families prepare for the new school year. 📚🎒

📆 Get your tickets today! Only one month until our Farm to Fork: Nourishing Delaware’s Communities event on Friday, September 20, 2024 at Loblolly Acres.

🌽 🍅 🍑 Experience the freshest ingredients straight from the farm to your plate prepared by Delaware's own, Robbie Jester. This is a great opportunity to support Westside's Rural Health Outreach Program.

Don't miss out on this unique dining experience and register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/farm-to-fork-nourishing-delawares-communities-tickets-949246019397

🌟 Welcome to the Team, Maricarmen! 🌟

We’re thrilled to introduce our newest team member, María del Carmen Martínez-Martínez, LPCMH—better known as Maricarmen! 🎉 Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Maricarmen has called Delaware home for nearly 30 years.

She’s a proud Wilmington University alumna and has a diverse background including a Master’s in Organizational Management. After a distinguished 27-year career with the federal government, including six years dedicated to assisting victims of crime, she’s excited to continue making a difference with us.

Join us in welcoming Maricarmen to our Westside Family! 🤝💙

Last Thursday’s Reed's Way Summer Social was a splash of joy on a rainy afternoon! 🌧️🎉 From games and fun prizes to tasty bites from the food truck, we made the most of every moment. 🎶🍔🎁

Over the past four years, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program has achieved significant milestones, including a record 31 million patients served in 2023, a 69% surge in school-based care, and a 62% increase in HIV testing. Additionally, there were major improvements in cancer screenings and mental health services. These accomplishments underscore Community Health Center's growing impact on public health and community well-being.

Check out the full list of achievements here: https://bit.ly/3WMSJGf

Four Years of Health Center Outcomes: Top 10 Achievements | Bureau of Primary Health Care 1. Record patient growth In 2023, health centers served a record number of patients, over 31 million patients, representing 9% growth (+2.7 million patients) since 2020. 2. School-based care surge In 2023, health centers served 1.1 million school-based service site patients - that's 454,000 addition...

August is — a time to showcase the link between voting and health and celebrate efforts that ensure each and every voter has the opportunity to support their community’s health at the ballot box.

In the months ahead, Westside is partnering with Vot-ER and National Association of Community Health Centers to help spread the word about the importance of voting in the upcoming election.

To register to vote in Delaware, click here: https://bit.ly/4crbHrP

A big shoutout to Lakeside Farms for their generous watermelon donations! 🍉

Thanks to their support, our community fridge is fully stocked, and their sweet watermelons brought smiles to everyone at events like the National Night Out in Dover. Together, we're making a difference! 🌟

🏫 Looking for a copy of your child's current immunizations for back to school? You can now retrieve records directly from DelVax, a platform hosted by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)

Request records for yourself or your children via email or text by clicking here: https://bit.ly/45PqqK1.

☕ What's The Tea? Join us this Thursday for a virtual support group for parents to share parenting tips, advice, and inspiring stories!

Held every third Thursday of the month, we offer an English speaking event from 11-12pm and a Spanish speaking event from 10-11am.

Please register in advance at the links below:
English speaking classes: https://bit.ly/3M01AiO
Spanish speaking classes: https://bit.ly/4fJ1EBm

For more information, please contact a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor:
Andrea Barlow: 302-836-2864 ext: 1304 or Nancy Duran: 302-655-5822 ext: 1893

😃 During , Westside handed out free backpacks filled with back-to-school supplies to every pediatric patient. Westside offers pediatric medical, dental, and support services. From routine immunizations to tooth extractions to car seat safety classes.

Learn more about the pediatric services Westside has to offer at www.westsidehealth.org/pediatrichealth

📚 Did you hear? Westside released our first children's book "Captain Westside and the Health Heroes: Caring for Delaware's Families". The book will be at every health center's book nook for patients to read! Learn more about the book at www.westsidehealth.org/captainwestside

National Association of Community Health Centers

A special thank you and appreciation is needed for our Westside staff who are deeply committed to our mission to improve the health of our communities by providing equal access to quality healthcare, regardless of ability to pay. Our impact could not be possible without their dedication.

Join us in keeping our communities healthy by visiting
www.westsidehealth.org/careers

All the amazing work Westside is able to do is not possible without our community partners. We hosted a Community Partner Appreciation event today to thank our community partners for helping us help the community.

Want to get involved? Visit https://www.westsidehealth.org/getinvolved/

National Association of Community Health Centers

At Westside, we understand that health and wellness extend beyond just medical care. We address the social, emotional, and economic factors impacting our 28,000 patients. That’s why advocating for Community Health Centers is crucial to us. Voting is a key social determinant of health, with research linking voter participation to better health outcomes. Join us in advocating for health centers by registering to vote at https://ivote.de.gov/VoterView

National Association of Community Health Centers

We have partnered with the YMCA of Delaware to enroll Westside's Dover patients who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program. There is typically a fee for this program, but Westside patients will be able to participate at no cost thanks to the Potter Trust grant funds. Before developing the disease, patients can reduce body weight by 7% and increase physical activity to 150 minutes per week over the course of 16 weeks in order to prevent diabetes. This pilot at the Dover health center will lead to referring all at-risk Westside patients to the program.

For more information, call us at (302) 678-4622