Improving the Health of Our Community
On behalf of the communities it serves, CHW Foundation – East Valley directs substantial philanthropic support to an abundance of health-related outreach programs. Centered on bettering our community by fulfilling CHW’s mission, the following is a list of program highlights:
Health on Wheels – The mobile health clinic provides comprehensive medical aid to under- and uninsured individuals in need, by visiting locations accessible to these individuals. The mobile unit, manned by hospital staff, volunteers, and interpreters that assist with overcoming language barriers, treats upwards of 35 or more patients during five-hour shifts and moves to different regions of the East Valley. An estimated 138 patients received care and follow-up through the Health on Wheels program during the course of the year.
Health Fairs, Screenings, and Vaccination Clinics
– The CHW Foundation – East Valley actively supports Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers’ participation in community health fairs, screening programs, and delivery of vaccinations. Through these efforts, members of the community are introduced to the vast array of services provided by each facility while receiving personal health assessments and preventative care from trained medical professionals and hospital volunteers.
In FY 08, CHW in the East Valley participated in 113 health fairs, providing more than 1,100 people with screenings, education and care. Over 1,300 free vaccinations were delivered through community clinics as a result of contributions to the CHW Foundation – East Valley. These services, provided free of charge to those who could not otherwise afford them, aid in the prevention of disease and ultimately lower healthcare costs to society.
Building Blocks for Children – Our youngest and most vulnerable community members receive regular dental examinations, vision and hearing screenings, vaccinations, and other clinical care to ensure they have the wellness tools to succeed in their academic and social pursuits. Health-related information is provided to parents and guardians, to help facilitate a continuum of care. Last year, more than 2,500 children received health screenings, education, and other support through this effort, thanks to generous donations from the community.
Community-Based Mammography Service – This program provides free mammograms to aid in early detection of breast cancer, as well as care and support for breast cancer patients. The primary focus of the program is prevention, but it also works to assist patients through surgical and treatment following a cancer diagnosis. In its first full year, clinical services were delivered to nearly 300 women in the East Valley, for whom screening and detection of cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages might not have been possible due to a lack of financial resources and insurance.
Community Education Classes - Classes include: Prenatal Classes, Birth Center Tours, Sibling, Boot Camp for New Dads, Community CPR, Pediatric Basic Life Support, Safe Sitter, Think First, Teen Pregnancy, and Spanish Classes. For more information or to sign up for one of the classes, call our ResourceLink at 1-877-728-5414.
Roadways to Healthcare Careers – This innovative program is a collaborative project with Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Chandler Unified School District, Gilbert Public Schools, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley. Roadways to Healthcare Careers is transforming healthcare by identifying and implementing creative solutions that will contribute to the development of a robust pipeline of future healthcare professionals. The program engages and encourages junior high students through college-age young adults to pursue healthcare careers, with the goal of recruiting, educating and employing quality staff to accommodate our community’s growing population.
