Health Center Program - Project Title: Damien Center – New Access Point Organization Name: Damien Center Project Director: Alan Witchey Contact Phone Number: 317-632-0123 x 266 Contact Email Address: awitchey@damien.org Website: https://damien.org Proposed Service Delivery Site Address: 1420 E Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46201 Funding Request: $650,000 Needs to be Addressed Damien Center’s New Access Point (NAP) project will expand affordable, accessible, and high-quality primary health care to underserved communities in Marion County, Indiana, with a specific focus on Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTA) 46218 and 46201. Marion County and the surrounding region experience health, wellbeing, and economic disparities by race, ethnicity, and geography. The proposed service area is within an Opportunity Zone. The most recent Unmet Needs Score tool reports an Unmet Needs Score of 87.37 (ZCTA 46218 and 46201) and a health center penetration rate for the total population of 40.5% for the proposed service area. Damien Center will address health disparities for the population within the service area related to 29% of the population living below poverty, 22.5% without a High School Diploma, 19% without access to transportation, and 15% uninsured. Damien Center is uniquely positioned to significantly increase access to quality comprehensive primary care in an area with an incredibly high unmet need, as demonstrated through years of building trust within the community as a provider of quality care and services in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment. Furthermore, in the most recent fiscal year, the number of patient requests for primary care services has increased 237%, indicating a rapidly increasing localized need. Proposed Services and Population to be Served New Access Point funding will make it possible for Damien Center to expand services to include onsite dental, optometry, well child, and gynecological services as well to increase the provision of substance use disorder therapy and expand access to primary care in the proposed service area. Services are in addition to Damien Center’s already robust clinical and supportive services. The proposed NAP site will allow Damien Center to reach an additional 2,000 patients in the first full year, or period of performance, all of whom are currently without a medical home and experience health disparities due to socioeconomic determinants of health, including low-income, disability, and/or minority status. By end of calendar year 2026, Damien Center anticipates providing Health Center Program services to at least 5,021 unduplicated patients through its proposed NAP site, accounting for 30,631 patient visits. Services are provided on a sliding-scale fee schedule, a patient is never turned away for lack of ability to pay, and both transportation and translation services are available ensuring all patients meaningful access to health center services. About Damien Center Damien Center was founded in 1987 and provides a wide variety of supportive, medical, pharmaceutical, and prevention services in Central Indiana. Damien Center is a longtime recipient of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Parts A, B, C and MAI, funding as well as funding through SAMHSA, HUD, CDC, DOJ and many other sources. Damien Center opened its medical clinic in 2015, focusing on individuals living with HIV and those at risk for HIV seeking PrEP services. Since that time the clinic has expanded to serve other high need populations in the community, including those experiencing homelessness, living in public housing, living with Hepatitis C, seeking gender affirming care, and disenfranchised populations who need a safe place for primary care. Damien Center’s mission is to be a trusted partner in providing healthcare, supportive services, education, and advocacy for all people living with or at risk for HIV and any person seeking a safe and welcoming home for care.
