Celebrating our Community Health Centers |
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Nonprofit human services organizations like Acacia Network are the cornerstones of our communities. We are on a mission to close access gaps in underserved neighborhoods to ensure that their vulnerable residents have the resources they need and deserve. At Acacia Network, we pride ourselves in providing a one-stop shop for every person who walks through our doors –from housing, health care, addiction treatment, and employment, to social services, childcare, and even groceries to feed their family.
Most recently, in partnership with the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), we launched our Comprehensive Outpatient Integrated Treatment Program at the Clay Avenue Family Health Care Center in the Bronx, which will integrate our existing Chemical Dependency Outpatient Treatment Program (CDOP) and Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) to improve the quality of care provided to patients with multiple needs by streamlining the overall coordination and accessibility of care. This program embodies the three principles that guide our work: Trauma-Informed Care, Cultural Responsiveness, and Integration. Perhaps the best examples of these guiding principles are our Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs).
FQHCs are community-based health centers that provide access to comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services, serving more than 30 million people annually across the U.S. At Acacia, our community health centers in the Bronx and Queens serve as critical hubs for vulnerable patients of all ages, going above and beyond routine healthcare needs to serve the whole individual and their household. Our FQHCs have been strongholds in the ongoing fights against the COVID-19 pandemic, providing uninterrupted access to care, including COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
CCBHCs provide access to integrated mental health and addiction services, including 24/7 crisis response and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Acacia was one of the first five providers in New York City to operate a CCBHC through our affiliate, PROMESA Inc., when the demonstration program was launched in 2017. Today, despite the challenges of the pandemic, the CCBHC model has enabled us to meet rising needs in the midst of the nation's growing mental health and addiction crises, which claim hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Today, patients at Acacia’s CCBHC clinic experience psychiatric hospitalizations at rates that are 8 percent lower than the New York City average.
As we kick off Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month in September, we pause to reflect on the family members, friends, loved ones, and neighbors whom we have lost to suicide or addiction, and we reaffirm our commitment to serving as a beacon of hope for those who are struggling. Critical in our continued efforts to save lives are our FQHCs and CCBHCs, which address health disparities, increase access to integrated care, reduce hospitalizations, prevent overdoses, and improve overall community health outcomes.
And of course, none of this would be possible without the unwavering commitment and support of our staff, our executive team, and our Board of Directors!
If you are reading this, it means you care about our work, so we thank you! Please read on for important news and updates on our programs and services.
¡Gracias!
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Lymaris Albors
Executive Vice President & COO
P.S. Please join us at our upcoming Acacia Network 2021 Gala, titled Renewing Hope, to take place on Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm, at The New York Hilton Midtown Hotel, 1335 6th Avenue, New York. We hope yo see you there!
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OUR IMPACT: RAMON VELEZ COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR |
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Kicking Off National Health Center Week |
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Acacia Network and our primary care partner, La Casa de Salud (LCDS), held a Community Health Fair at our Ramon Velez Health Center on Friday, August 6th, to mark the official kick off of National Health Center Week, an annual celebration that highlights the immense contributions of health centers across the United States.
Our Ramon Velez Health Fair brought together local residents, community partners, CBOs, and providers for a full day of health education and community engagement. In addition to offering critical resources and services to the local community, we provided onsite COVID-19 vaccinations and other immunizations, annual physicals, dental screenings, and more.
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OUR IMPACT: HARM REDUCTION & OVERDOSE PREVENTION |
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Fox 5 Hero of the Day: Bronx Opioid Collective |
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The Bronx Opioid Collective Impact Project was featured on FOX 5's "Hero of the Day" on August 13, 2021! Acacia Network launched the Bronx Opioid Collective in 2018 in collaboration with the NY City Council and the Office of Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, Jr. and the Third Avenue BID in response to the growing opioid epidemic and increasing overdose deaths in the Bronx.
The Bronx Opioid Collective Impact Project utilizes a harm-reduction approach to curb opioid-related fatalities and increase community safety. For more info, visit: bronxopioidcollective.org
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OUR ADDICTION SERVICES IN THE NEWS |
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OUR IMPACT: PUERTO RICO HEALTH FAIR |
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Thousands Attend our "Feriarte" Fair in Aibonito |
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In keeping with its commitment to partner with local organizations in Puerto Rico to improve health outcomes and spur economic revitalization in underserved communities across the island, Acacia Network held a massive Health Fair in the municipality of Aibonito on Saturday, August 14, 2021.
Attended by thousands of local residents from the mountainous region, the Acacia Network health fair, titled Feriarte, offered a wide array of health and wellness resources, including onsite COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, primary care & mental health services, acupuncture & massage, workshops & informational sessions, recreational & cultural activities for kids and adults, and much more. The health fair was held in partnership with local government agencies and CBOs, including Puerto Rico Salud, Sistema de Salud Menonita, Municipio de Aibonito, Connecting Paths, Plataforma EJE, Proyecto Salud y Acupuntura para el Pueblo, Colegio de Profesionales de la Enfermería de PR, Salud Integral en la Montaña (SIM), Corporación SANOS, and others.
[Pictured above from left to right: Aibonito Mayor William “Willie” Alicea Pérez, Helen Ceballos (Health Fair Coordinator for Acacia Network), Carmen J. Villa-Lugo, Esq. (Chairwoman, Acacia Network Board of Directors), and Angel Santini Palos (VP of Special Events & Cultural Programs, Acacia Network). Courtesy of La Voz Internacional.]
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OUR IMPACT: COVID-19 VACCINE OUTREACH |
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Follow Us on our Journey to Immunity |
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Acacia Network proudly presents Episode 2 of our "Journey to Immunity" vaccine education campaign, produced in partnership with the Loisaida Inc. Media & Technology Center. In this episode, our vaccine champion convinces a hesitant “soccer mom” to consider getting her 14-year-old son vaccinated, especially as we head into back-to-school season.
The “Journey to Immunity” vaccine outreach campaign features a series of multi-lingual public service announcements (PSAs) that seeks to spread awareness about COVID-19 and promote vaccine uptake in hard-to-reach communities, while dispelling myths and misconceptions among those experiencing high rates of hesitancy, such as the Latinx/Hispanic community.
This episode of Acacia Network’s COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Campaign is made possible with the support of the UnidosUS Esperanza Hope for All program, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Stay tuned... more episode coming soon! Make sure you don't miss them by following us on Facebook and YouTube.
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OUR IMPACT: VIRTUAL WELLNESS SERIES |
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Ensuring Social-Emotional Wellness in Older Adults |
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In response to the toll that the pandemic was exerting on those most vulnerable, including frontline workers and older adults, who are at an increased risk for overall health complications and who may experience depression at higher rates as a result of increased isolation, Acacia Network and the Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly (IPRHE) launched a Virtual Wellness Series to nurture the physical, mental, and social-emotional wellness of essential workers and mature adults (ages 60+).
Our Virtual Wellness Series, which consisted of weekly workshops and events through a virtual platform, covered topics such as physical fitness, relaxation, mindfulness, music and dance, among others. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 150 virtual wellness activities have been hosted, reaching more than 1,000 individuals.
After remaining closed for in-person programming for over a year, Older Adults Centers across the City finally reopened this summer. PIX11 joined us at our reopening celebration at James Monroe Older Adults Center. CLICK HERE to get the scoop!
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COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER |
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Daycare Enrollment for 3- and 4-Year Olds |
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Our Promesa Day Care Centers provide high-quality education to young learners ages three and four, and accept applications year-round!
We offer full-day, in person Head Start, Universal Pre-K, and 3-K Programs for New York City families who qualify with the eligibility requirements. Our programs provide a full day of in-person learning from 8:45 am – 4:15 pm, including three (3) daily meals (breakfast, lunch & supper).
For more information, contact:
Laura Ortega, Family Services & ERSEA Coordinator
Office: 347-649-3266
Cell: 646-937-0068 (text friendly)
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COVID-19 Vaccines & Testing |
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In addition to offering the COVID-19 vaccine, we also continue to offer widespread testing in our community health centers. We conduct COVID-19 nasal swab tests for those who suspect they might currently be infected with COVID-19, as well as COVID-19 antibody blood tests for those who suspect they might have had COVID-19 in the past.
We accept most insurance plans, as well as Medicaid and Medicare. We also offer sliding scale and/or free testing for uninsured patients.
For more info or to make an appointment, please call: (718)734-2539.
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Learn More About our Work & Services |
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Acacia Network and our affiliates provide integrated, culturally-competent, and trauma-informed services to more than 150,000 individuals of all ages every year. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to provide uninterrupted access to critical resources to ensure that those most at risk are able to overcome the challenges of mental health and addiction disorders, chronic health conditions, poverty, housing insecurity and homelessness, food inequality, economic hardship and unemployment, educational barriers, cultural alienation, among others.
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Please join us at Acacia Network’s Annual Gala, to take place on Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm, at The New York Hilton Midtown Hotel, 1335 6th Avenue, New York.
This year, our theme will focus on “Renewing Hope”, as we reflect on the challenges of the past year and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the communities we serve, while looking ahead toward a healthier, brighter future.
Every year, our Gala is attended by more than 500 community development leaders and professionals from the public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors, who gather to celebrate our work and accomplishments through key focus areas, including primary and behavioral health, education, and community revitalization.
Your contribution will enable us to continue providing critical services and resources to those most in need. Will you become a champion for Acacia?
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Acacia Network is one of the largest Latino-led nonprofits in the nation, serving more than 150,000 individuals annually through integrated, trauma-informed services in the areas of health, housing, social services, economic development, and cultural revitalization. Our Network comprises more than 100 affiliates across four boroughs in New York City, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse in New York State, as well as Maryland, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Connecticut, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit: www.acacianetwork.org
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