How long have you been serving the community?
We were founded in 2002. Under the leadership of Dr. Taweh and with a ground-swell of community and professional support including incredible cooperation of state and local government, Kevin’s Community Center opened its free clinic in August 2003. |
Is there a need for a free clinic in a relatively affluent community?
During the start up phase, we had to prove to the State that there was a need, so we conducted a needs assessment. And through interviews with the food pantry, Social Services and census data, not only did we discover that there was a need but that the need was rapidly growing. Health care costs continue to rise causing more people to be uninsured each year. Through corporate consolidation and downsizing, more & more people were losing their jobs and their health insurance. The demographics of the uninsured are changing. It’s our friends and family and neighbors. Over 800 families here in Newtown have no health insurance at all. The number of uninsured in Connecticut increased by 50,000 between 2003 and 2004. Almost 12 percent of state residents have no health insurance. The Connecticut Hospital Association reports that emergency room visits in Connecticut have risen nearly every year since the mid 1990s, from 1.1 million in 1996 to nearly 1.4 million in 2003. The Newtown Department of Social Services has experienced increased demand for its resources as the economy has suffered. Social Services confirms that “individuals under financial stress will forgo the expense of health insurance in favor of paying other living expenses”. KCC provides a local facility to accept referrals from Social Services, which is a “major improvement in health care access to the uninsured and low income residents”. Kevin’s Community Center helps relieve the burden of the health care crisis, providing the uninsured the care they need before they have to resort to urgent care |
What services are offered at Kevin’s Community Center?
Our services include primary care, free specialty care offered through a network of referrals that includes over 100 specialists from the greater Danbury area and the Danbury Office of Physician Services who donate their time. In addition, laboratory and radiological services are offered free through the generous support of Danbury Hospital and Housatonic Valley Radiological Associates. Prescription medications are available through our stock samples or at cost from Drug Center Pharmacy of Newtown. |
Describe the professional providers & specialists who offer free medical services?
Our network of referrals includes all areas of subspecialties such as neurology, pulmonology, oncology, and so on, and all at no cost to either the patient or KCC. |
How does a patient qualify for free health care services?
Income eligibility guidelines are tied to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Individuals are “Eligible” for free medical services at KCC if they have household incomes between 100% and 200% FPL. Individuals are “restricted” or possibly eligible on a case by case review if their household income is between 200% and 300% FPL. |
What types of conditions are you treating with your patients?
Initially we anticipated patients would be visiting the clinic for the common cold, or allergies, but we’re finding severe medical problems such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and even HIV. Left untreated, many of these patients could develop critical and life threatening conditions requiring emergency room treatment. |
How many patients per week are you serving?
Currently, our waiting room is full…we are seeing up to 17 patient visits each Wednesday. Last year, in 2005, we saw over 500 patient visits. |
What is your affiliation with the Town of Newtown?
The Town of Newtown and our 1st Selectman, Herb Rosenthal, have been very supportive from the very beginning, providing free clinic space in the Kendro building at 31 Pecks Lane. Donna Culbert, Health District Director, and Ann Piccini, Director of Social Services, both serve on our Advisory Board and are extraordinarily supportive. |
Describe your volunteer base?
We are so very thankful for a wonderful corps of volunteers that not only help in the clinic operations as doctors, nurses, and physician assistants, but also in financial accounting, administration, public relations, technology, and computer assistance. That being said, we could always use the help of more volunteers, so if anyone is interested please call us at the clinic. |
Are there any outreach programs offered in the community?
KCC offers outreach initiatives through our Medical Programs Outreach Committee. We recently produced a program with the cooperation of the Health District and Newtown Public Schools regarding Tick Born Diseases & Awareness. There will be an annual series of programs available to the community to expand awareness of important medical issues of concern. |
How is KCC funded?
We have been fortunate to receive the support of many community service organizations such as Newtown VNA, Newtown Rotary Club, Lions Club, Junior Women’s Club, as well as generous grants from the Ceres Foundation, Maximillian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation and most recently we became a United Way of Northern Fairfield County affiliate and received a grant from them as well. We’ve also had strong sponsorship support from our business community. But as you know there are so many costs associated with running a Free Clinic, so we established an annual operations support campaign called “Garden of Friends” asking individuals & businesses in the community for their support as well. We also receive many in kind donations of equipment & services that we’re very thankful for. |
What is your vision and long term goals for the organization?
KCC’s vision and long term goal is to provide expanded services and build an independent facility to increase our capacity to see more patients in the surrounding towns, and to establish a comprehensive health care facility. Extended services will include educational programs, professional dialogue and community outreach, supporting and meeting the growing need of providing health care to the people in our region who cannot afford such care. We expect that this would include residents of Newtown, Bethel, Monroe and Brookfield, Connecticut. |
What are the clinic hours & location?
31 Pecks Lane in the Kendro Building, Clinic hours are on Wednesdays 1:00 -5:00 PM. Appointments and walk ins are welcomed. All services are confidential. |
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Paintings used with permission of Artist Lisa Cascone
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View a short video about KCC