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AFC Earns LEED Gold for Sustainable Design - Continued AFC relocated to its permanent home in the recently constructed Halstead building in South Arlington in May 2009. The Washington, DC, architectural firm Perkins+Will, Inc., the Alexandria, VA, engineering firm, Integral and Arlington builder Bognet Construction Associates incorporated energy-efficient features into the Clinic’s design, such as improved ventilation and lighting systems, ENERGY STAR appliances and recycled, regional, renewable and non-toxic materials throughout the space. Additionally, Washington Workplace, a local Arlington business, provided furniture at a substantially reduced cost to AFC. Mark Silverwood, an AFC Board Member who served as a key advisor during the design and construction process says that AFC’s Board of Directors never thought about being at the forefront of sustainable design. “Building green was just the right thing to do and earning GOLD shows that even a small non-profit can set the bar high and build a space that benefits the entire community,” he said. If you have not yet had the opportunity to see our new facility, please contact Pat McDermott at: pmcdermott@arlingtonfreeclinic.org. or (703)979-1425, Ext. 121. |
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CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF THE NEW CLINIC SPACE.
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The mental health program at AFC started seven years ago and we have consistently been able to add new services as needs are identified. This fall, AFC expanded our successful group offerings. Groups have proven to be an effective way to use our limited resources to provide much needed mental health support for greater numbers of patients. The well attended “Wellness Hour for Women” has met for many years in the evening and has expanded to an additional morning session. These women realize the many benefits of establishing a supportive environment among peers. A highlight of the “Wellness Hour” has been the addition of an experienced instructor who has introduced yoga to our patients and they have embraced the opportunity. The “Mens’ Group” continues to be extremely successful with a growing number of men attending each session. These men look forward to attending the group, bringing family members along when appropriate, and now providing telephone and face-to-face support for each other as they share and seek solutions to medical, financial, employment and relationship challenges. We have been fortunate to have new mental health volunteers who have expertise in a variety of areas offer services for our patients. One of those volunteers, Melissa Winters, MA, is about to complete her PsyD and has a specialty in chronic pain management. She and Marie Markey, RPT, longtime physical therapy volunteer, are now offering a monthly group for patients suffering from Chronic Pain. Marie has long recognized the need in so many AFC patients, and she can now refer patients to this group for assistance in managing this often long-term, debilitating and difficult condition. Melissa will also be working with Dr. Joan Ritter to offer a new group to address barriers and concerns of many of AFC’s chronically ill patients. The goal of the new “Adherence Education” Program will be to increase compliance with medical regimens for patients who are struggling to manage prescribed treatments. In the past, the groups offered at AFC have been in Spanish as the majority of our patients speak Spanish. Another new volunteer this fall, Keith Kaufmann, PhD, who has a wide range of experience in identifying and addressing stress and anxiety offered to conduct a group in response to many requests for a group for English speakers. “Stress Management Strategies” was offered in late October and is scheduled again this month. We wouldn’t have a mental health program at AFC without our two staff and five volunteer counselors who now provide individual counseling for our patients in need. We’ve added a counselor this fall who speaks Arabic and has years of experience in North Africa, bringing yet another valuable addition to our ability to meet the needs of all of our patients and their families.
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2009 Komen Global Race for the Cure Team Arlington Free Clinic joined nearly 45,000 other participants for the 2009 Global Race for the Cure in Washington DC. AFC breast cancer patients and their families along with Clinic staff, volunteers and friends walked or ran the 5K course. The Clinic also had a table in the Komen Grantee tent where we had the opportunity to tell people about the Komen-funded services AFC offers medically underserved women in Arlington County. The event raised more than $4.3 million to end breast cancer forever. Up to 75% of the Race’s net income will remain in the Washington, DC metro area to fund local programs like AFC’s. |
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AFC was extremely well represented in the recent Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, DC which raised $6.8 million to advance access to care and find a cure for breast cancer. Among the 3,000 participants who took part in the 2-day event were AFC’s own Jyl Pomeroy, staff nurse manager, AFC volunteer Beronica Salas and friends of AFC Sally Light and Lisa Cedrone. Since 2002, AFC has been a proud grantee of the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund. With Avon’s support, AFC provides lifesaving care for hundreds of low income uninsured women every year. Congratulations and thanks to all those who walked and those who supported walkers in this important event. http://walk.avonfoundation.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wadc_home_2k8 |
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AFC Chosen for Catalogue for Philanthropy
Arlington Free Clinic has been selected for inclusion in the 2008-09 Catalogue for Philanthropy- Greater Washington. This is the second time Arlington Free Clinic will be featured in this prestigious publication. AFC was first chosen in2004. AFC was one of 69 charities chosen from a very competitive field of 230 candidates. The 60 Catalogue reviewers believe that AFC is one of the finest small charities Greater Washington has to offer! Supported by area foundations (Harman, Meyer, Cafritz, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac) as a service to the community, the Catalogue profiles outstanding environmental, cultural, educational, human services, and international organizations with budgets below $2million. http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org/2007/index.html |
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Serving Uninsured Americans in Tough Times Click below to see a new video about Arlington Free Clinic. This video was developed by a videographer from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. |
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News Channel 8 covers AFC New Patient Lottery- The Need is Great! On July 7, 2009, News Channel 8 visited the Clinic to cover our new patient registration lottery. Over 70 potential patients came to the Clinic to try to be one of the lucky 20 people admitted as a new patient. The number of people participating in our new patient lottery (held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month) has increased 164% since January. To view the full story, click here:- http://cfc.news8.net/videoondemand.cfm?id=44030 |
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