While the country struggles with the issue of health care reform, Pasadena is moving forward with a collaborative effort to provide access to primary health care services to all underserved families within the city.  To showcase this important project initiated by the Pasadena Child Health Foundation (PCHF), the newly expanded and renovated health clinic at Washington Middle School, 1505 North Marengo Avenue will be open from 4-5 PM on Mon., Oct. 12, as part of a special community-wide Open House.   On tap to welcome guests and families will be Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Edwin Diaz and the Washington Middle School Glee Club.

The Pasadena Child Health Foundation (PCHF) is a private foundation whose purpose is to promote the mental and physical health of children in the Pasadena area.  In launching its new three-year funding initiative titled the Child Health Collaborative which involves several Pasadena-area service providers, PCHF will place special emphasis on providing accessible health care to Pasadena’s uninsured and underinsured children.  The initiative has three primary components.  First, to improve access to primary care, the plan calls for the Pasadena Unified School District to provide clinic space and employ a nurse practitioner to staff the clinic beyond the school day.  Second, Five Acres, a well-recognized Altadena-based mental health provider will offer counseling services.  Another highly regarded local agency, Young & Healthy, operating through neighborhood outreach teams will provide information about clinic services and expertise on health insurance enrollment information.