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 Whittier Street Health Center Recognizes National Minority Health Month

 BOSTON, MA, ISSUED APRIL 18, 2023…Whittier Street Health Center, a community health center with a mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high quality and accessible health care and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of a diverse patient population, stresses the importance of providing medical information to diverse populations that is both linguistically and culturally proficient during National Minority Health Month and beyond.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Minority Health has designated April as National Minority Health Month, an initiative that targets the health needs of African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, and other minorities. Throughout the month, emphasis is placed on providing individuals and communities with convenient access to health information, resources, and services that identifies and respects diverse languages, religions, cultural behaviors and beliefs.

“Having easy access to accurate information and resources is fundamental to improved health outcomes among minority sectors,” said Dr. Stephen Wright, medical director at Whittier Street Health Center. “As healthcare providers, we are dedicated to providing and advocating for the comprehensive medical care that everyone needs, deserves, and is entitled to receive.”

In addition to its full range of primary and specialty services, Whittier Street Health Center is presently working toward implementation of its Boston Health Equity Program, a system of care for people with chronic illnesses that fully integrates innovative community outreach, wellness support and care coordination and explicitly seeks to eliminate health disparities and their associated costs.

“Enhancing the health and wellbeing of diverse racial and ethnic communities is at the heart of our mission,” said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “The nation may shine a light on minority health in April, but our commitment to promoting wellness and eliminating health disparities is a year-long commitment.”

About Whittier Street Health Center

Whittier Street Health Center is an independently licensed community health care center with a mission of providing high quality, reliable and accessible primary healthcare for diverse populations while promoting wellness and eliminating health and social disparities. A champion of equitable access to high quality, patient-focused care, social justice and economic equity, Whittier Street Health Center is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized by the NCQA for its Behavioral Health Integration. Through its locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, and its Mobile Health Van program, Whittier Street Health Center serves more than 30,000 patients and 20,000 community outreach visits annually; its ethnically and racially diverse patient base is primarily made up of individuals from Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, the South End and greater Boston. Approximately 28% of Whittier’s patients are uninsured. Whittier Street Health Center provides a comprehensive array of 40 healthcare programs and services designed to meet the primary health care, behavioral health, and social needs of the community. For more information, please visit www.wshc.org as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhittierStreetHealthCenter), Twitter (@Whittier_Boston), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/whittier-street-health-center), or call 617-989-3221.