YOUNGSTOWN Health center gets grant for Stark County unit

Some services should be available by Oct. 1.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR HEALTH WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Community Health Center has received a $643,250 federal grant from Health and Human Services' Bureau of Primary Health Care to expand into Stark County by taking over the Good Samaritan Health Clinic in Alliance.
The YCHC Alliance facility will occupy about 3,500 square feet of a 25,000-square-foot community-owned former elementary school building at 405 S. Linden Ave. The monthly rent is $3,500, according to Dr. Ronald Dwinnells, YCHC chief executive officer.
Dr. Dwinnells said YCAC, which operates health centers in Youngstown and Warren, also received a $40,000 grant tohelp fund its diabetes management program.
Dr. Dwinnells said that some renovation to the Alliance building is necessary before dental service will be available, in about three months. However, he said some general medicine and gynecological services should be available by Oct. 1.
Hours, fees
The Alliance YCHC will be open 45 hours a week with a full-time medical staff, which along with support staff, is being hired now. A sliding fee scale based on federal poverty guidelines is available for the uninsured. Services will include family medicine, podiatry, obstetrics-gynecology, dental and mental health. The Alliance YCHC will also serve communities in southwestern Mahoning County, such as Beloit and Sebring.
The annual operating budget for the Alliance health center is about $1.4 million. The amount not covered by the grant would be made up through fees and insurance, Dr. Dwinnells said.
The new YCAC grants are among 204 grants worth $56.1 million announced Wednesday by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.