Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC) recently hosted a special back-to-school clinic event for families and children in South Minneapolis in celebration of National Health Center Week. CUHCC staff provided general health check-ups and vaccinations, including 24 medical visits and 14 dental visits. CUHCC also partnered with the University’s Mobile Health Initiative to provide 14 free vision screenings for patients. CUHCC staff distributed 50 backpacks, donated by Abbott Labs, that were filled with hundreds of school supplies donated by CUHCC staff. As part of CUHCC's VOT_ER initiative, medical resident Ashwini Arumugam promoted voter registration. CUHCC partners, CAPI and Franklin Library, and a volunteer from Optum Health, also assisted.
CUHCC hosts this event every year to bring together patients and their families, and inform community members of the importance of immunization, well-child checks, dental care and mental health services, all of which are available to them at CUHCC. It also gives CUHCC staff an opportunity to talk with family members about the importance of reading to children; the connection between health, voting and advocacy; health and safety; and the importance of continuity of care.
“It is important to host these types of events to bridge the gaps between health care and diverse communities in a fun and educational environment. Community health is the collective wellbeing of community members,” said Roli Dwivedi, MD, CUHCC's chief clinical officer and interim CEO. “It is important to interact and know the communities that our clinic serves. Hosting an event like this gives us an opportunity to get to know our patients, understand issues that matter to them, and engage in care decisions together.”
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