• Number of patients:  1,436
• Number of patient visits:  2,401
• Patients by race African American– 51%; Hispanic – 19%; White – 21%; Other  - 9%
• Uninsured patients – 54% (774 users)

A second dentist was hired in August 2004.

Pediatric clinical staff coverage was increased, a part time bilingual pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) was hired in June, 2005. During the grant period, the PNP has provided service to 1,402 patients, 709 of whom were Hispanic. Her services have generated 3,124 encounters, of which 2,026 were Hispanic.

A bilingual appointment scheduler was hired in March, 2007, requiring two grant extensions to complete this objective. The hiring of the bilingual appointment scheduler has increased calls for appointments from 30 a day to 50 a day, with an increase of Hispanic callers requesting services.  This has resulted in a decrease in walk-ins, improving patient wait times and staff efficiency.

The annual revenue generated by the bilingual pediatric nurse practitioner is enough to sustain both positions.

The Foundation approved a grant of $30,000 on December 19, 2006 to provide primary health care services to people with severe mental illnesses on-site at public mental health agencies in Hamilton County. The grant provided support for the transition of the primary care and mental health integration program Consumer Wellness Program (CWP) from the Health Alliance to The Healthcare Connection (THCC).

THCC secured a change in scope from the Bureau of Primary Care which was necessary in order to provide primary care services on-site at the mental health centers. Subsequently, the State of Ohio assigned a billing rate for CWP. In 2007, THCC provided primary care services for 760 unduplicated clients with severe mental illnesses. By the end of the grant period, billing was covering the cost of services and the CWP was sustained.

THCC saw CWP as a good fit with THCC’s mission to improve access to care for underserved populations. THCC assumed management of CWP in January 2007 and over the course of the year, CWP became a priority initiative of THCC. CWP became self-sustaining and is providing medical homes for hundreds of people with severe mental illnesses who otherwise would not have had medical care.

The students participated in Social Skills classes and job coaching sessions. The students participated in an employment-like mentoring program at Gamble Elementary School 3-4 times a week.

The post-tests of the students, parents, and teachers indicate that overall there was an improvement in both the Social Skills Rating System and the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale. Social skills and academic competence were reported to increase for both the girls and the boys, while problem behaviors decreased.