[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 130 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE FAIR HAVEN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 1996

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, September 20, 1996 the Fair 
Haven Community Health Center will hold an Open House to dedicate its 
new building and to celebrate 25 years of service to the Fair Haven 
area.
  The Fair Haven Community Health Center has been a fixture on Grand 
Avenue for the past 25 years. During that time, it has been a part of 
the community people could always rely upon. The Center has undergone 
considerable change through the years. When it opened for two nights a 
week in 1971, it was housed in Columbus School with a storefront office 
and had a staff of five, including two VISTA volunteers. That year the 
Center was visited 500 times. By 1982, the Center had begun a prenatal 
and midwifery program and purchased, renovated, and added on the 
property at 374 Grand Avenue. The Center also opened the ``Body Shop,'' 
a school based clinic, at Wilbur Cross High School.
  Today, the Fair Haven Center has purchased, renovated and connected 
property at 362 Grand Avenue. The complete facility now has 24 exam 
rooms, a new laboratory, waiting area, health education and social 
service rooms. The Center has a staff of 80 including 10 physicians, 8 
nurse practitioners, and 6 nurse midwives. The facilities include three 
buildings and three satellite clinics which received a total of 48,000 
visits this past year. These new renovations and additions mean that 
the Center can continue to do what it does best, caring for people.
  Throughout its history, the Fair Haven Community Health Center has 
remained committed to the ideal of providing health care for all those 
who need it, regardless of their ability to pay. While medicine today 
is increasingly cost-conscious, Fair Haven practices medicine which 
puts the patient's well-being first. By combining preventive care and 
education with a range of services from prenatal care to geriatric 
medicine, the Center ensures that all its patient's needs are met. This 
holistic, integrated approach is what defines the Center and makes it 
so valuable to New Haven. Center Director, Katrina Clark said, ``We 
have always felt that we were part of the community, and I think that 
is why we've been so successful in meeting the health care needs of the 
people we serve. At a time when many people are alienated and rejected 
by the health care system, Fair Haven stands as a beacon of caring for 
our patients and providing excellent service.''
  I am proud to rise today to congratulate the Fair Haven Community 
Health Center. The newly renovated facilities will enable the Center to 
provide even better health services and preventive care to the people 
of Fair Haven.

                          ____________________