From humble beginnings, the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center celebrates its 50th anniversary.

 

 

WORCESTER — Patti Parker couldn’t believe her eyes.  

She recently toured the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center at 19 Tacoma St., where she witnessed doctors, nurses and staff treating patients with a wide variety of health needs.  

“I’m in awe of what’s been done here,” Parker said.  

It’s a far cry from Parker’s childhood. Fifty years ago, she was one of the center’s first patients.  

In those days the center was called the Great Brook Valley Health Center – the name was changed to the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in 2010. 

Fifty years ago, the center was located in tight quarters across the street inside the Great Brook Valley public housing development. Parker lived in GBV with her mother and remembered access to health care for GBV residents as “barely existent.” 

From those humble beginnings, the center grew to serve more than 28,000 patients annually, employ more than 300 people and has an operating budget in fiscal 2023 in excess of $47 million. 

Trust science, not unfounded beliefs, assumptions or worse

America250 Launches 11 Advisory Councils

Advisory Councils expand the reach and resources of America250 to engage all Americans in the most inclusive commemoration in U.S. history

Washington, D.C. –America250, the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 led by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, has established 11 Advisory Councils across a variety of industries and specialties to increase inclusiveness, expand America250’s capacity and connection to partners and stakeholders, and facilitate program development, implementation, and social impact.

“We are excited to introduce our 11 Advisory Councils as we seek to connect with millions of Americans on our journey to 2026,” said Dr. Carleen Carey, Director of Public Outreach and Inclusion at America250. “Each council is composed of industry luminaries and leading experts in their respective fields who are empowered by America250’s mission and values. We look forward to the thoughtful contributions they will bring to this commemoration to ensure we are capturing the many voices of Americans.”

The current roster of Advisory Councils includes: Arts & Culture; Health & Wellness; History Education; Hospitality & Tourism; Innovation, Science & Entrepreneurship; International; Parks, Preservation & Public Spaces; Sports & Entertainment; Veterans, Military & Family Members; Youth Engagement; and Young Leaders. As America250 continues planning and preparations, additional Advisory Councils will be created.

Health & Wellness Advisory Council
The Health & Wellness Advisory Council will bring together America’s experts in each area of health and wellness, covering topics of physical health, mental health, social well-being, and environmental health. Experts will inform the Foundation on the historic developments of health and wellness in America while also exploring the advancements and challenges of the present and future, enabling America250 to explore programs and partnerships that contribute to the overall health of our nation and its people.

Members:
● Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO, National Council on Aging (NCOA)
● Dr. Alicia Bazzano, Chief Health Officer, Special Olympics
● Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association
● Stacy Bohlen, Chief Executive Officer, National Indian Health Board
● Dr. Jane Delgado, President and CEO, National Alliance for Hispanic Health (Co-Chair)
● Dr. Victor Dzau, President, National Academy of Medicine
● Dr. Judy Heumann, President, Judith Heumann LLC (Co-Chair)
● Dr. Sara Newman, Director, National Park Service, Office of Public Health (Ex-Officio)
● Stephen Kerrigan, President and CEO, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
● Dr. Oluwaferanmi Okanlami, Director, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan and UCLA
● Amit Paley, CEO & Executive Director, The Trevor Project
● Dr. Cheri Blauwet, Sports Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School

About America250
America250 is a multiyear effort to commemorate the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the United States. The purpose of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, created by Congress, and the corresponding America250 Foundation, is to catalyze a more perfect union by designing and leading the most comprehensive and inclusive celebration in our country’s history. America250 represents a coalition of public and private partners all working to create initiatives and programs that honor our first 250 years
and inspire Americans to imagine our next 250. The commemoration period began in 2020, culminates on July 4, 2026, and officially concludes in 2027. For more information, visit www.america250.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact:
Rebecca Devine, rdevine@mavenagency.com

Will be built across the street from existing facility

MILFORD — After operating a small health care center on Cape Road for the past seven years, the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center plans to increase its reach by building a bigger office across the street. 

The Kennedy Health Center, which was founded in a Worcester housing project in 1972, opened its Milford office at 42 Cape Road to increase access to primary care services and to lessen the pressure put on Milford Regional Medical Center’s emergency room. 

The 5,000-square-foot health center in the Cape Road Plaza provides Milford residents with primary and preventative medical care, access to mental health professionals, case management, care coordination, lab service and help with obtaining benefits. 

“We’ve been in Milford for quite some time with a good number of patients,” said Steve Kerrigan, president and CEO of Kennedy Community Health. “When I took this role two years ago, it became very clear that there was a need in the community for more primary care services but the space we’re currently operating within now won’t allow for an expansion.” 

About two years ago, the company began looking for a new space to open a Milford center and decided earlier this year on a piece of land directly across the street from its current building.  

The new office — 41 Cape Road — is expected to be three times larger than its current center, said Kerrigan, or about 15,000 square feet. 

The company is in the process of finalizing designs for the buildout and estimates the cost to build and equip the inside of the new building to be around $4.5 million. 

Milford isn’t the only place where Kennedy Health is expanding. This past summer, it announced a $6.5 million investment in a new, 30,000-square-foot office on Lincoln Street in Worcester.

The new Milford center will be built on an undeveloped plot of land next to a Milford Regional Urgent Care center. Not only will it allow the company to expand its primary care services, but to add on-site dental and behavioral practices, an optometrist and a pharmacy, according to Kerrigan. 

The center plans to serve thousands more patients for primary care, said Kerrigan, adding that including dental care is critically important to make it more accessible for those in the area. The new pharmacy program will allow patients to access low-cost prescription drugs closer to home, as some patients still travel as far as Framingham to get medications filled, said Kerrigan.  

The new center is slated to open a year from now, said Kerrigan, which will help it mark its 50th anniversary. 

“Next year will be a big year for us,” he said. 

Site work has already begun to prepare for construction, said Kerrigan. While Kennedy Health will build the new structure, it will lease from a landlord — the same landlord with whom it has a lease at Cape Road Plaza.  

“This is a site that’s been small but mighty, and they’ve done incredible work there,” Kerrigan said of Kennedy Health’s current location.  

There are 37 staff members employed at the Milford health center, serving 4,639 patients totaling 13,555 visits during fiscal 2020, said Bridget Perry, a communications representative for Kennedy Health.

In Massachusetts, more than 1 million residents rely on community health centers as their primary care provider, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Kennedy Community Health Center is one of 52 federally qualified community health centers in the state. 

“Especially during the pandemic, there was a lot of difficulties in the health care space and challenges with health care delivery services and we were no different than that,” said Kerrigan.  

In nearly 50 years of operation, Kennedy Health — originally founded as Great Brook Valley Health Center Inc. — expanded its services form Worcester to Framingham and Milford. It has seven school-based health center sites. 

Kennedy Health’s Milford office, the first community health center in town, was built with funding from both the MetroWest Health Foundation and The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. 

Lauren Young writes about business and pop culture. Reach her at 774-804-1499 or lyoung@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurenwhy__. 

https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/2021/10/20/milford-ma-bigger-office-space-edward-m-kennedy-community-health-center-cape-road-plaza/6033803001/

Congressman Jim McGovern, Ismael Rivera and the Program RISE to Receive 2021 Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Award

Two critical champions of community health will be honored for their work through the COVID-19 pandemic with the 2021 Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Awards at Polar Park in Worcester on October 7.  The annual event, hosted by Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy Community Health), is sponsored this year by LabCorp, United Healthcare, Harvard Pilgrim, AAFCPAs, Promoting Good, LLC, Kelleher & Sadowsky, Reliant Medical Group, Advocates, and Open Sky Community Services. 

Congressman Jim McGovern and Ismael Rivera, Director of Prevention Services at JRI Health, of the Program RISE will be honored for their vital support of the Worcester, Framingham and Milford areas.

“Through the harrowing months of this pandemic and long before, Congressman McGovern and Ismael Rivera of the Program RISE have shown an unparalleled commitment to the health needs in our communities,” said Kennedy Community Health President and CEO Stephen J. Kerrigan. “We are truly grateful to have both as partners in providing accessible, equitable healthcare to our patients and residents of Central and MetroWest Massachusetts.”

What: The 2021 Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Awards

When: Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. — 9:30 a.m.

Where: Polar Park, Hanover Deck, 100 Madison St, Worcester, MA 01608

The event is free to attend, but advanced registration is required.  Please email us at RSVP@kennedychc.org

Awardee Profiles

Ismael “Izzy” Rivera has dedicated his career to connecting those who need sexual health services in the MetroWest area with HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment, and education, with particular attention in reaching historically underserved and minority populations. Originally from Puerto Rico, Izzy grew up in the Worcester area, where he worked as a health educator at the Worcester Department of Public Health and for Kennedy Community Health, formally the Great Brook Valley Health Center.  In this role, the scope of his responsibilities included designing community correction programs and services provided by the Health Center, one-on-one counseling and after care planning to people living with HIV/AIDS, and facilitating HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis courses for men and women at various correctional institutions.

For the last 11 years, Izzy has been working with the Justice Resource Institute (JRI) and Program RISE, a multi-service component of JRI Health, serving Framingham and surrounding towns in MetroWest. Program RISE offers STI preventative, counseling, and testing services for the public as well as case management and group support services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. 

As Director of Prevention Services, Izzy supervises all HIV Client Services personnel, including evaluating performance, disciplining, hiring, training, and providing administrative supervision to all programs and serves as liaison with public and private funding sources and assure compliance with guidelines. In his time at JRI Health, Izzy has grown his staff from 4 to 34 employees, has established 20 HIV counseling and testing sites throughout Central and MetroWest area, launched a mobile health van in January 2021 to provide vaccines and services, and plans to launch Rise On–a mobile app which will improve access to substance use resources in the MetroWest area and reduce stigma to promote healthier and safer options.

Congressman James P. McGovern, who was born and raised in Worcester, has held the office of U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’ 2nd Congressional District since 1997, which includes Kennedy Community Health’s flagship Worcester health center site. In his 25 years serving in Congress, Congressman McGovern delivered millions of dollars for jobs, vital local and regional projects, small businesses, public safety, regional and mass transportation projects, and affordable housing throughout his district and Massachusetts. Congressman McGovern has been a strong advocate for Kennedy Community Health and continues to support legislation which furthers access to equitable healthcare for our local communities. Over the course of the pandemic, Congressman McGovern called attention to and led efforts to address the rise of food insecurity, including attending food distribution events hosted by Kennedy Community Health. 

Connell Sanders: Worcester Public Schools’ best kept secret is in the nurse’s office

 

 

Before Courtney Pelley became the Chief of Staff at Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, she worked as a high school chemistry teacher. “As a new teacher, it took me a while to learn that the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) was there and to understand how it both worked together with and differed from a traditional school nurse’s office, but eventually I did,” she explained. “From that point on, whenever I noticed that one of my students was struggling to see what was written on the board, or was dealing with food insecurity at home, or was in need of a physical examination in order to participate on an athletic team, or was suffering from pain associated with a decaying tooth, or was experiencing anxiety due to violence in the community, I referred them to the SBHC where they could receive services on-site at school and be connected to the services that they needed outside of school.”

I told Pelley the story of getting a fall physical in the SBHC at my own high school, nearly two decades ago. I remember I had struggled to schedule a visit with my pediatrician before the start of the cross country season and my coach referred me to Doherty Memorial High School’s nurse practitioner. Back then, I was struck by the ease of the visit; the nurse managed to squeeze me in at the end of the school day whereas my own doctor’s office told me it would take months to secure an appointment. She gave me my check-up and had me back out on the running trails in no time. My coach was relieved, and so was I.

Family Health Center of Worcester continues to operate Doherty’s SBHC, along with six others across the Worcester Public Schools. Edward M. Kennedy operates five SBHC’s in the city, including one at the school where I am now a teacher. “This collaboration enables us to provide better access to the SBHCs, but it also improves the quality of care provided by sharing best practices, resources and strategies to best reach the students,” said Pelley. “Given the size of the district, it also helps to maximize our reach, both within the schools, but also at pop-up events like vaccine clinics.”

Edward M. Kennedy’s providers offer Worcester Public School students convenient physicals, sports medicine, care for acute and chronic illness, immunizations, and more. As with my own experience, many students and families remain unaware that these services exist in their schools until they are directed by a teacher or a coach. I promised Pelley that I would explain to all of my incoming students how special it is to have access to an SBHC and help them to take advantage if they are in need.

Pelley cites enrollment as the primary challenge. “A student needs to affirmatively enroll in the SBHC in order to receive care,” she said. “This means a parent or guardian needs to sign and return the paperwork to enroll the student in care.” The paperwork is set to go home with students over the next couple of weeks. Every year, Pelley hopes to reach 100% enrollment, but she relies on teachers, school administrators and community members to get the word out.

“Another challenge is the lack of funding mechanisms to support the school-based health centers,” Pelley told me. “We hope that the expansion into dental will help generate some additional revenue through patient visits, and work to further fill this gap.” Right now, dental is offered at Norback Elementary School and Roosevelt Elementary School. Pelley is determined to offer dental at every SBHC in the near future.

My wish for the start of the new school year is that all of my students will be healthy so they can reach their full potential. You can help too. Make sure the Worcester Public School students in your orbit know about the on-site services in their buildings and encourage them to enroll if they feel like it’s the right fit.

https://www.telegram.com/story/lifestyle/2021/09/03/connell-sanders-worcester-public-schools-best-kept-secret-nurses-office/5647598001/

https://www.worcestermag.com/story/lifestyle/2021/09/03/connell-sanders-worcester-public-schools-best-kept-secret-nurses-office/5647598001/

Kennedy Community Health Center Vastly Expands Access to Care in Worcester to Better Serve Patients

Post-COVID Expansion Showcases Investment in Community Health

WORCESTER, MA— Worcester area residents will soon have vastly increased access to health care services under a significant expansion announced today by the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy Community Health).

Kennedy Community Health has purchased and will soon occupy the nearly 30,000 square foot building at 605 Lincoln Street currently occupied by the Veteran’s Administration  (VA). The VA announced in 2019 that it will be moving to a larger veteran’s care center at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. 

Stephen J. Kerrigan, Kennedy Community Health’s President and CEO, said this expansion is an effort to keep pace with the region’s growing demand for equitable health services and to increase the Health Center’s capacity to provide quality health care to the people who live and work in Central Massachusetts. The expansion is a continuation of Kennedy Community Health’s nearly 50-year commitment to serving the people of Greater Worcester, a commitment drawn into sharper focus through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the purchase of 605 Lincoln Street in Worcester, we will have two large sites less than a half a mile apart, providing increased capacity for our patients and access to vital health care services, especially for our most marginalized populations. I’m proud of the work we have done to secure this location as we continue to provide support and care to the people who live and work in the communities we serve,” said Kerrigan.

Plans for Worcester call for Kennedy Community Health to renovate the newly purchased 605 Lincoln Street site to support behavioral health, dental, optometry, urgent care, a small pharmacy and other ancillary services with an opening of some services as early as the spring of 2022.  Once this facility is operational, the Health Center will sell its building at 631 Lincoln Street.  Its flagship site at 19 Tacoma Street will receive renovations to expand primary care and other related services, including the pharmacy.

Kennedy Community 5K Now a Walk/Run, In and Out of Polar Park

By: John Conceison

Kennedy Community Health and Worcester Red Sox have partnered to present the center’s annual 5K walk/run at Polar Park this year

When the event began in 2015, it was a fine walk in the park in Worcester for a tremendous cause. 

Since then, the Kennedy Community Health event has indeed grown, into an annual 5K walk/run, but one thing remains the same — you can still take a walk in the park.

Or course, this walk now can be along a warning track, which girds the playing diamond at Polar Park. Meanwhile, runners also will be on hand, to take on a road race through the Canal District.

The Kennedy Community Health 5K Walk & Run is set for two Saturdays from now, Aug. 7, at the new home of the Worcester Red Sox, and the road race director couldn’t be happier.

“We are so excited to be partnering with the Worcester Red Sox on this,” said Juli True Dooley, Kennedy Community Health’s director of grants and marketing. “We thought what a great opportunity to further our relationship with the WooSox.”

It’s a relationship that began with the Triple-A organization when it was still in Pawtucket. The Kennedy Community Health Center’s event, which formerly was held at Great Brook Valley, across from the center, was held virtually last year, and though it registered more than 100 participants, there remained something missing.

“People were still excited, and they were stir-crazy, looking for that something to do,” Dooley added. “But there was still a lost sense of community, not quite that community-gathering feel. So we figured when we went back live, why not up the ante.”

“Kennedy Community Health is thrilled to be teaming up with the Worcester Red Sox to bring our annual 5K Walk and Run to Polar Park,” said Steve Kerrigan, Kennedy Community Health’s president and CEO. “What started as a walk around Great Brook Valley has grown over the years to become a staple summer event for friends and family of the Health Center.”

Founded in a Worcester housing project in 1972, Kennedy Community Health has three medical facilities, two dental sites, two optometry practices and six school-based centers serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Milford and surrounding communities of Central Mass. and MetroWest. Currently, more than 26,000 of all ages receive care and service through the Kennedy Community Health system.

Aside from the attraction of Polar Park, another enticing feature of this event is the price — $10 entry fee for runners, $5 for walkers, with commemorative T-shirts included. Race-day registration begins at 8 a.m. in the Polar Park concourse, the runners start at 9 and the walkers at 9:15. An awards ceremony is set for 10:30.

“There’s a lot of interest, we’ve had a steady flow of registrations, and we’ve had a few more sponsors,” Dooley said. “Plus, many organizations are pulling teams together.”

While at Polar Park, those on hand can tour the park, and families can enjoy the recently opened children’s area beyond the left field wall, where WooSox mascot Smiley Ball will pose for pictures with the kids.

Volunteers will be on hand from Central Mass Striders, which has provided timing services for the event since offering a running race in 2018, in what is a busy weekend for CMS. Walkers have the option of completing a mile around the warning track, which is exactly four laps, or venturing on the 5K course in the Canal District, a layout planned in conjunction with the Worcester Police Department.

“The move to Polar Park allows us not only give our returning attendees a new experience in the city’s new ballpark, but it also gives us an opportunity to welcome new community members to come together in the name of health,” Kerrigan added. “As Polar Park’s inaugural 5k, we’re also thrilled to continue our work with our friends at the WooSox to help build a healthier Worcester for all.”

To register, visit kennedychc.org/5k-at-polar-park.

Wachusett Mountain race returns

It was mentioned there’s a busy weekend coming for Central Mass Striders two weeks from now. CMS brings back the Wachusett Mountain Race on Aug. 8, with 3-mile and 10K options.

The 28th running is part of the USATF-New England Mountain Circuit 2021. The 3-mile race is a paved road climb to the top of Wachusett Mountain, with the 10K continuing down off summit on paved roads, then fire roads and trail back to the ski lodge. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners of the 3-mile race (“King and Queen of the Mountain”) and the 10K run.

Race officials note that this year’s race is cupless for the first time. The water stops will be at the same locations, but only large water jugs will be available to refill runners’ own bottle or cup, the same system used at the recent Mount Washington race. There will be bottled water supplied at the finish, along with light refreshments at the base of the mountain.

Race time is earlier this year, going off at 8 a.m., with race-day registration at 7 at the ski lodge. The entry fee is $25, before ascending to $35 after Aug. 1. Plans are for the Wachusett Mountain race to return to Memorial Day weekend in 2022.

For more information and to register online, visit cmsrun.org.

https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/columns/2021/07/24/kennedy-community-health-walk-run-polar-park-aug-7/8069514002/