Legislators Tour Minneapolis CHCs 

On July 28^th, Fremont Community Health Services and Southside Community Health Services opened their doors to Minnesota legislators so that they could get a first-hand experience of a community health center.  Legislators learned about not only the challenges facing community health centers, but also their successes as well. 
 


Fremont Community Health Services highlighted some of their clinical outcomes, which range from 88% of pregnant women receiving prenatal services in their first trimester, to 100% of patients over 65 years of age receiving a pneumonia vaccine.  

 

Meanwhile at Southside Community Health Services, staff spoke of their relationships and collaborations with other organizations in the community that improve the overall health of their patients.  Some of the specific programs include partnering with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to increase access to health care for Veterans and their families, to training local barbers to be trusted sources to disseminate accurate health information to the community.  
 
 

At both CHCs, the discussion also focused on the developing health care reform on the federal level along with Minnesota's continued efforts to develop health care homes.  

 

After the discussions, legislators took a tour of Fremont's main site (3300 Fremont Ave. N., Minneapolis) and Southside's dental clinic (4243 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis). 
 
 

Legislators attending the tour included: Senator Linda Berglin (DFL-Minneapolis), Representatives Joe Mullery (DFL-Minneapolis), Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul), Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis) and Paul Thissen (DFL-Minneapolis).