Health

Mission

To establish a group of social service providers and community groups to examine the health needs of the region and promote viable responses.

Contact Information

For more information on the Working on Health, contact the Mon Valley Providers Council at 412-829-7112 or rsmith@hscc-mvpc.org.

Current Projects

Osteoporosis screenings have started thanks to a grant from the FISA Foundation.  The most recent schedule is available under the News and Events Section.  In partnership with the Highmark Caring Foundation, the MVPC is also providing personal health profiles for individuals at a number of sites.  The Human Services Center is currently a pilot site of the KidShape Program offered by Highmark.  If you have a child who is medically identified as overweight, call Alicia at 412-829-7112 to get details.

The annual Super Expo is held on a Saturday in April to combine all aspects of the MVPC, including former MVPC health fairs. The 2004 event was a huge success with over 1,000 people attaining pertinent health information, and hundreds of people receiving free health screenings. This event will be held on a Saturday each spring at Century III Mall in West Mifflin, most likely from 10:00am-4:00pm. Check the News and Events link for more information.

The Working Group on Health continues to provide free community vision acuity screenings and trains its member agencies to conduct screenings for their consumers.  In 2003, the Group identified osteoporosis and obesity as its two gaps for collective action.

The Mon Valley Dental and Vision Screening Project was launched in September 2001 and offered over 1,000 local residents FREE screenings throughout the Mon Valley. The Working Group on Health purchased its own vision screening machine in June of 2002 and is continuing community screenings.  MVPC member agencies are being trained to provide the screenings and the Working Group has launched a Vision Free Care Fund to assist people with FREE eye exams and glasses.  UPMC Braddock has opened a Dental Clinic,  for more information contact 412-636-5187. Check the News and Announcements section for a detailed schedule of future screenings.  The MVPC trains staff of its member agencies to provide the vision screenings on an as-needed basis.

Current Co-chairs

Meeting Information

We meet monthly on the fourth Thursday from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Palmieri's Restaurant in Turtle Creek.

Links

History

The Working Group on Health grew out of a forum that was held in February, 1993. The focus of the forum was on managed care for persons on public assistance (welfare) and changes that were forthcoming in the local Allegheny County Health Department. The whole managed care network has had serious implications for service providers and consumers alike. Still, those consumers who are on plans through the Department of Public Assistance are encountering the most problems. This area remains a focal point for the Working Group. A health survey of residents of public housing communities was discussed and not implemented.

The Group has sponsored many health care forums throughout the Mon Valley, including a recent seminar on changes in the Medicare Managed Care system. Add something on this from the Annual Reports.

Since early 1998, the Group has focused on a comprehensive approach to identifying existing gaps in health care services. The first phase of this project has generated the Mon Valley Directory of Health Care Services (see Publications), a directory of local health care providers with a brief description of available services. Copies of the Directory have been distributed to human service agencies throughout the region to assist providers in directing consumers to appropriate health care services.

The Dental and Vision Screening Project led to the purchase of a vision acuity screening machine which is now utilized by MVPC member agencies to provide ongoing screenings.  A Vision Free Care Fund was launched in 2002 to assist those individuals who are screened and determined not to have 20/20 vision, do not have insurance, and fall below income guidelines.  The Fund assists with a free eye exam and glasses in concert with the West Mifflin Wal-Mart Vision Center.

In 2003, the Group identified osteoporosis and obesity as its two gaps for collective action.