Project Abstract Summary*Project SummaryCaring Hands Healthcare Centers, Inc. (CHHC), is a designated Federally Qualified Health Center located in southeastern Oklahoma, serving Pittsburg County and surrounding areas. CHHC is proposing to continue to address the family planning needs of the full population, including both men and women at each of its two sites. CHHC has nine years? experience providing primary and preventive health care, including voluntary family planning services, in the service area. With the continued support of Title X funding, CHHC will be able to improve overall services provided, increase the number of clients served, and expand the breadth of services available. Service include postponing, preventing, achieving, or facilitating the spacing for pregnancy. Also included are infertility services, health screenings and exams, lab tests and related health services which are important to family planning and male and female reproductive health, improving the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy and birth, should conception occur. Services also include information, education, and counseling related to family planning and referral services as indicated. Family Planning services are under the direction of CHHC?s OB/GYN physician. A full-time Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with experience and special training in family planning, currently on the clinical staff at CHC, provides services to clients. Other physicians and physician assistants can also provide family planning services. CHHC has behavioral health services, under the direction of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who can assist with counseling and education services. CHHC?s CEO has extensive healthcare administrative experience, including a total of fourteen years as CEO of Community Health Centers and administering the related federal grant funds and requirements. CHHC currently provides a broad range of acceptable and effective services including family planning core
services, infertility services physical exams, STD and HIV prevention education and counseling, and comprehensive information to adolescent clients. Family-child communication about sexual and reproductive health is encouraged and promoted. Involvement of parents, spouses, or family for all clients are encouraged where practicable, while being mindful of the health, safety, and best interest of the client. Staff will comply with Oklahoma laws requiring notification or reporting of child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, or incest. All education and informational materials are approved by an advisory committee to ensure they are current, factual, and medically accurate, as well as suitable for the population and community. CHHC will ensure services are voluntary by the client and that clients are not coerced to accept services, CHHC will not provide abortions as a method of family planning. A sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) ensures services are affordable for all clients. Priority will be given to furnishing services to persons below 100% Federal Poverty Level (FPL). They are not charged for family planning services except to the extent that payment will be made by a third party. Those with incomes between 101% and 250% FPL will be charged according to the SFDS. Charges to persons over 250% FPL are made in accordance with CHHC?s schedule of fees designed to recover the reasonable cost of providing services. CHHC provides information to the community about the availability of its family planning services and works with other healthcare providers and agencies to ensure a continuum of care for clients. Family Planning services are part of CHHC?s ongoing CQI program and data is collected for reporting annually via a FPR report.