Committed to providing the - Ravenswood Family Health Center

Committed to providing thehighestqualityof primary healthcare servicesSpecialPull-Out SectionProduced byRavenswood FamilyHealth CenterSupervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson at RFHC 5th Anniversary Community CelebrationDear Friends;Photo by Mark TuschmanFive years ago in November2002, I became the CEO ofRavenswood Family HealthCenter. The clinic was just about toturn one year old. In our first year,we had a staff of 23 and enrolled2,400 patients. Five years later wehave served over 20,400 patients.In 2007 alone, we estimate that wewill provide 30,000 medical visits.At our monthly staff generalassembly I look at a sea of facesof our diverse 80+ multi-culturaland multi-lingual staff, each withunique talents but a commondedication to provide the highestquality of healthcare. In 2005, wejoined a federal Health DisparitiesCollaborative, focusing initially onimproving the health of patients withdiabetes.In 2006 we added an administrativesite, a mobile clinic donated byLucile Packard Children’s Hospitaland took over the management ofthe Belle Haven clinic from SanMateo County located in eastMenlo Park. In 2007, we begandelivering prenatal education andparenting support classes. In 2008,thanks to a grant from San MateoCounty Mental Health Services wewill provide bilingual and biculturalbehavioral health services to ourclients on site. In 2008-2009, weplan to purchase land, expand themodular clinic space by 10,000square feet, add dental services andconvert from a paper chart systemto electronic medical records.If focus and determination areindicators of success, then we areright on target. Our success andour continuing work in improvingthe health of the community dependon your continued support of thework that we do. Thank you for yourinvaluable role in making all thispossible. Please visit our website--www.ravenswoodfhc.org -- to learnmore about us or come for a tour.With warm regards to you and yoursthis Holiday Season and in the NewYear to come.Luisa BuadaChief Executive OfficerWhere Healthy Living Takes FlightRavenswood Family Health Center1

Providing access toaffordable, primary andpreventative healthcare services to allages, regardless ofability to pay.— Mission StatementBoard ofDirectorsJulio Garcia, PresidentMelieni Talakai, Vice-ChairGordon Russell, TreasurerManuel Arteaga, SecretaryMarcelline Combs,ParliamentarianSenseria ConleyCharlesetta FishmanCarlota FloresAyodele Ankoanda KinchenJoseph LopezOralia MontoyaSherri Sager, Ex OfficioRev. Elisapeta SavusaStaffChief Executive OfficerLuisa Buada, RN, MPHMedical DirectorLarry Bruguera, MDAssociate Medical DirectorJaime Chavarria, MDAssociate Medical Director,PediatricsPamela Riley, MDChief Financial OfficerWayne Yost, CPACoping with Juvenile DiabetesMargaret Allen, PAElizabeth was happily texting her friends during6th period break, when a teacher came to take herto the Principal's office. Her father was waitingto take her to the emergency room at Packard Children'sHospital. More concerned about getting in touch withher boyfriend, Elizabeth would not realize until muchlater how her world would be turned upside down.When Elizabeth came to Ravenswood's Belle HavenClinic for a check- up, her clinician discovered that theteenager had never been tested for diabetes even thoughher mother had had the disease for many years. NeitherElizabeth nor her family ever thought for one momentthat the disease might strike her. That afternoon, though,her blood tests came back severely abnormal indicatingprobable insulin-dependent diabetes and an early changein her kidney function. Elizabeth hardly skipped a beat.She continued to tease her family that she was planningto have seven children as soon as she left high school!Resourceful SeniorsSome seniors immigrate to California later in lifeto help their families. They are not eligible toreceive Social Security or Medicare, and have to beresourceful if they are going to make it.To get by, Carmen and her husband Valentin havedeveloped a little business. Valentinrides an old bike and Carmen walksalongside him, finding cans and bottlesthat they stuff into black plastic bagsstrapped with bungee cords to the backof the bike. The recycling center paysthem a modest sum that helps pay fornecessities.Both of them have serious chronicconditions. Carmen has difficult-tocontroldiabetes; Valentin has high bloodpressure. They live in one single roomwith Carmen's brother. The three struggleto make ends meet. Carmen babysitsher daughter's children while theirmother works. Valentin cleans housessometimes, and Raymundo sells CDs.None of them can read or write, but theylook after each other as best they can.Belle Haven Clinic staff make homeElizabeth's mother spent the long weekend in thehospital with her daughter, helping her with the endlesseducation sessions, tests, and examinations. "I am proudof the way my daughter has dealt with this," she says,"She has never complained about the insulin injections."Elizabeth is not happy with her new diet, which shesays is "nothing but cottage cheese and peanut butter",and has to think twice about going out with her friendsfor pizza. But diabetes is a dangerous disease that hasto be controlled. Her clinician, Margaret Allen, who alsolooks after Elizabeth's mother, will continue to keep aneye on Elizabeth, monitoring changes in her emotionaland physical state. "A diagnosis of this sort," says Margaret"can take a long time to sink in, especially whenyou are a happy-go-lucky teenager". She still lovesdancing and playing music, but Elizabeth has a lot moreserious outlook now and plans to graduate from highschool and go to college.visits periodicallyto check on themand make surethey take theirmedicine. On onevisit, the MedicalAssistant sawthat Carmen wasstoring her insulinin the refrigeratorto use when sheCarmen and Valentin Vargasreally felt sick.Her providercounseled her to be sure to take it every day. RFHC alsohelped Carmen receive free medications through itspharmacy assistance program.The couple has developed a real bond with staff atthe clinic. Carmen pops in from time to time with a giftshe has made in her ceramics class at the Onetta HarrisSenior Center located next door to the clinic. Several ofher ceramic plates decorate the walls of the waiting room."In spite of being poor and having to deal with thesediseases, we have a joy for life," says Carmen. All theyneed now, she adds, is one of those extendable grabbersto help with picking up the cans.2 Ravenswood Family Health Center

What we doRFHC is a nonprofitcommunityhealth center withcomprehensiveprimary care services.Just in TimeJade JacksonCarmen Jimenez, a mother of three, decided shewould participate in the Comprehensive PerinatalServices program (CPSP) here at Ravenswood duringthe pregnancy of her fourth child. The CPSP is a seriesof seven classes gives our community’s mothers hope, guidance,and the opportunity to establish a network of supportwith the other women.For Carmen, this series would soon provide more preparationand guidance in her fourth pregnancy than she hadever imagined. The night before her childbirth and deliverypreparation class, she began having contractions but becauseshe was an experienced mother, she decided to wait until shewas well in active labor to go to a medical facility.The next morning, she got up and went to class to completethe last class in the CPSP series. While in class, shecontinued to have contractions. Her instructor, MonikaRosika, suggested they time them to see how far apart theywere. Monika said, “She was calm and quiet, you reallywouldn’t have guessed she was as far along as she was.”Carmen decided to leave the class and go to see her regularThe Art of ParentingThere’s a lot to be learned before any one becomesa wise parent.The first day of the Family Wellness parentingeducation series, 4 year old Marco sat with two threeyear old girls, talking without looking at them. He wassurprisingly detached, unsmiling, and unwilling to participatein activities. As Carmen Castillo, the PediatricSocial Worker observed later, this behavior was the tipof the iceberg.Marco learned early on that his world was not safe.His father abused his mother verbally and physically. Byage two, his mother remembers, Marco would imitatehis father, raise his voice and pull her hair as his fatherhad done. A year and a half ago the father left, andMarco was depressed. He wouldn’t talk and didn’t playwith other kids. When kids raised their voices as theyplayed outside, Marco would say to his mother--“Pleasedon’t leave me by myself.”When his mother first came to talk with Carmen, shewas completely overwhelmed. She couldn’t find anyonewilling provide child care. In her frustration, she saysshe ended up yelling at him. Carmen recommended thatshe attend RFHC’s parenting support programclinician. Shetold Carmenthat she was 8cm dilated andsuggested shetake an ambulanceto thehospital or callher husbandto take her.She decided itCarmen Jimenez and babywould be bestto walk homesince they only lived a few blocks from the clinic and haveher husband take her. She felt confident in her ability to deliverher child naturally and with minimal intervention, duein part to her experience as a mother and the education shehad received while a student in CPSP.She arrived at the hospital in the nick of time and delivereda baby girl five minutes later.I’m going to stop punishing my children bysaying, ‘Never mind. I’ll do it myself.’— Erma BombeckSix months later, a lot has changed. His mother hasgained skills to help her handle her son. She says nowshe sets rules and expectations for him and stays in controlwith him. His pre-school teacher noticed that Marcohas really come out of himself. He is not only outgoing,he takes the lead. On the playground, he calls all the kidsaround him and then delegates what each is to do.One of the most positive changes in their lives isCarlos, who is stable and considerate of both of them.Marco feels safe. When Carlos dropped him off atschool, Marco called his friends to come over to meethis “Pappita.” He told his mother, “You don’t yell at me,and you and Pappita don’t yell at each other. Nobodyyells anymore. That means that everybody loves me.”Lucile Packard Foundation of Children’s Health supportedthe start of our Parenting Support program.Medical ServicesPediatric careAdolescent HealthAdult MedicinePrenatal CareChronic Disease ManagementScreenings & ImmunizationsFamily PlanningSpecial ServicesDental care for uninsuredHealth EducationLab ServicesPediatric social servicesPharmacy assistance programEnrollment in public insuranceprogramsRFHC Patient ProfileRFHC treated 10,000 patients in 2006• 92% are Latino, African American,Pacifi c Islander, and Asian• 96% live at or below 200% offederal poverty level• 63% have no heath insurance –25% of children are uninsured• 65% prefer to speak a languageother than English• 44% of the patient population is 12years and youngerMajor Grant AwardsOffi ce of Minority Health awarded athree year grant to fund Multi-CulturalCommunity Health Connections, aunique collaboration between RFHC,a community clinic, two grassrootscommunity organizations (Taulamaand Nuestra Casa) and San MateoMedical Center to create a culturallyeffective continuum of interventions–from grassroots education to clinicbaseddisease management - toprevent and manage diabetes.Nuestra Casa targets Latinoimmigrants, teaching healthpromotion through ESL classes, andTaulama for Tongans reaches Pacifi cIslanders through faith communitiesand a radio program on health.Main Clinic:Ravenswood Family Health CenterTel: (650) 330-74001798A Bay Road,East Palo Alto, CA 94303Belle Haven Clinic:Tel: (650) 321-0980100 Terminal Avenue,Menlo Park, CA 94025Onetta Harris Community CenterMobile Clinic:Various sites in the school district andwhere homeless congregateRavenswood Family Health Center3

Thank you for the generosity of all our contributorsGovernment GrantsBureau of Primary Health CareOffi ce of Minority HealthCalifornia Dept. of Health ServicesSMC Health DepartmentSMC Hospitals & Clinics –HomelessHealth CareFoundations/PartnersAtkinson FoundationBlue Shield of California FoundationThe California EndowmentCalifornia Health Facilities FinancingAuthorityCalifornia Healthcare FoundationCallison FoundationCatholic Healthcare WestCitigroup FoundationCommunity Health PartnershipFlora Family FoundationGrove Family FoundationKaiser PermanenteLeslie Family FoundationLucile Packard Children's HospitalLucile Packard Foundation for Children’sHealthMills Peninsula Health ServicesPalo Alto Medical FoundationPalo Alto Medical GroupSilicon Valley Community FoundationDonald & Rachel Valentine FoundationDonor Gifts in 2007Gifts of $100,000 and aboveAnonymous – SVCF Donor Advised FundStaff HighlightTwo of a KindRamon and Christina Meacham$25,000 and aboveEric & Wendy SchmidtHurlbut-Johnson Charitable TrustGifts of $1,000 - $2,500Bohannon FoundationJeff & Julie BrodyPeter ChungEvans Family FoundationRichard HamnerGretchen HooverRandall & Julie MerkNational Medical FellowshipsHilary ValentineGifts $200 - $500Manuel ArteagaDoug & Leslie BallingerDenis & Eileen Baylorin honor of Charlesetta FishmanRobert & Betty BrownChris & Elizabeth DawesReid & Margaret DennisKathy & Pat GrovesLily Hurlimann & James BassettPatricia Burbank & Michael KilgroeKiwanis Club Foundation of Menlo ParkJohn & Linda MontgomeryKevin & Kristin MurphyTimothy & Perryn RowlandRobert & Ellen SawyerLee & Judy Shulmanin honor of Gordon RussellCourt SkinnerChristina and Ramon drive 2 hours to work everyday. They grew up in East Palo Alto, butlike many young families they went all theway to Stockton to buy their first home.They are both busy from the moment they arrive.As the Front Desk Supervisor, Christina starts herday briefing the Patient Services Assistants on assignmentsand the day’s schedule. No two days are everalike, except that every day is busy and there’s alwaysthe unexpected.We need your helpWe welcome your donation of cash, stock, or gifts in kind.Brad Joondeph & Srija SrinivasanEd StormRoss ZeiglerGifts $100 to $199Tina BairdPatricia BreseeEarl & Helen BrubakerSharon Noguchi & Larry Bruguera, MDMichael & Cynthia DetataDr. Craig FrancesSteve Ingebritsen & Barbara GaalPaul GarrettRobert J. Glaser, MDEileen GovanJohn & Phyllis Johnsonin memory of Duncan Govan, MDS.A. KushinkaCarol LarsonDr. David OakesBetsy O’HareLyndall ParsonsEdward & Christine RiveraUnder $100Gail BarklowBrian & Yvette BedrosianEllie EngelmoreSusan EvansLois FrontinoNurith KurnCarl & Doris LandmanNelee LangmuirStephen & Gennette LawrenceName: __________________________________________ _______E-mail: __________________________________________ _______Address:______________________________________________Hal MorenoMark MoultonMichelle OppenJean ParmeleeLyndall ParsonsMark & Diana RamacherBarbara RosaMark & Kristine SalvoniEugene & Nicole ShimshockMark & Carol SontagJames VertinLisa Pokorny & Gregory WhiteMatching GiftsHenry J. Kaiser Family FoundationDavid & Lucile Packard FoundationMicrosoft Matching Gifts ProgramSpecial Thanks to ourIn-Kind DonorsMarjorie Baer, JewelerLois J. Cobb, The Cook E. Jar& Baking Co.Cheeky Monkey ToysThe Play StoreKepler’s BooksLinden Tree Children’s BooksBooks, Inc.Frankie, Johnnie & Luigi TooSigona’s Farmer MarketTogo’s of East Palo AltoPlease mail to:___Ravenswood Family Health CenterCity: ______________________ State: _____ ____ Zip: ___________ 1798A Bay RoadEast Palo Alto, CA 94303__ Please send information about Ravenswood Family Health Center__ Enclosed is my contribution of $______________ I would like to remain anonymousRavenswood Family Health Center is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencyAs a supervisor, Christina is on the “OptimizingPrimary Care” Team. RFHC is part of the nationalHealth Disparities Collaborative’s big push to improveefficiency and clinic management. One objective is toreduce patient wait time and ensure that any patientthat needs an appointment that day is seen. What happensat the front desk is critical to the process.For his part, Ramon is responsible for getting theMobile Clinic out to the scheduled site.When he’s not driving the van, he becomes the jackof-allmaintenance assignments, appearing first at onesite and then another, fixing, repairing, hanging whiteboards, bolting bookcases to the wall or picking up aprinting order.When the mobile clinic goes out every Thursdayafternoon to provide health care to the homeless, hedoubles as an outreach worker. Being from the community,people trust him and listen when he recommendsthat they take time for a medical check up.The more capable you are, the more people rely onyou and so both of them are called upon often. Theydo get away sometimes. They take their boat to alake, get out on the quiet water and go fishing withtheir sons.Tel. (650) 330-7400Fax (650) 321-1156Email: rfhc-info@ravenswoodfhc.orgSpotlight on Julio GarciaChair, Board of DirectorsJulio GarciaStaying the CourseBefore RFHC opened in December2001, Julio Garcia was alreadyinvolved. He sat in on planningsessions with the Blue Ribbon Taskforcethat laid the foundation for the clinic, andhas seen it grow from one stage to thenext -- blueprint to blueprint. For the pastthree years, he has chaired the Board ofDirectors.Julio was born and raised in GuatemalaCity, the son of a well-to-do family. Manyof his school friends, however, came frompoor families. Julio started his activismat an early age. At 14, he joined his firstprotest march to right the injustice of abus fare hike. By the time he went to university,he had become an organizer andadvocate for peasants’ rights and joinedComité de Unidad Campesina.He moved to this country in the early1990s, settling in Redwood City, buthe didn’t change course. Soon he wasinvolved in advocating for immigrants insteadof peasants and joined the NationalCoalition of Immigrants Rights.Seeing the need is one thing; doingsomething about it almost always requiresa long-term commitment. Currently Julioworks as a Community Organizer withthe nonprofit One East Palo Alto. Heis part of a taskforce that is beefing upafterschool programs that give youth fromEast Palo Alto access to resources andmentoring support, making it more likelythey’ll complete their schooling.Julio also helped start Nuestra Casa,a nonprofit in East Palo Alto that hastaken ESL in a new direction, combiningEnglish language learning with educationabout health, community resources, andhow to advocate for your children. He isalso on the board of CORA, an agencythat provides counseling to victims andfamilies affected by domestic violence.When asked how he manages so manycommitments, he says, “I try to balancemy life. But what really drives me is makinga better world for my kids. Money isnot what changes the world. It’s caring -not just saying it but doing it.”Visit us atwww.ravenswoodfhc.orgGraphic Design by Charmaine Mirsky.4Ravenswood Family Health Center