Case Statement Draft
1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. N.W. -
Atlanta, GA 30305 - 404.874.2241(t) - www.cityofrefugeinc.com
“In many ways, Americans of all ages and in every
race and ethnic group have better health today than
a decade ago, yet considerable disparities remain.
We should commit our nation to eliminate
disparities…for through prevention we can improve
the health of all Americans.”
Dr. David Satcher, Former U. S. Surgeon General
HEAL and City of Refuge – Mission/Background/Partnership
City of Refuge (COR) and Health Education Assessment and Leadership (HEAL) have
united together to build the HEALing Community Center. The clinic will address the increasing
health disparities for minorities and uninsured individuals experiencing poverty and help
eliminate costly preventable Emergency Room visits by providing FREE specialty care for
indigent and low income individuals. COR and HEAL have created a partnership to provide
direct services to a medically underserved inner city area in Atlanta, Georgia.
HEAL was founded in 2004 by Dr. Charles Moore to provide health education and medical
services to at risk or underserved populations in the metropolitan Atlanta, GA area. As a
physician at Grady Health System in the Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Moore saw
numerous patients that would seek medical help after their disease process had progressed to a
point where they had limited treatment options. As time went on, he decided there was more he
could do to increase awareness of head and neck cancer. He reviewed the zip codes of the
patients that represented the highest percentage of head and neck cancer that he saw in his
clinic. All three zip codes were medically underserved.
Dr. Moore has made it a priority to reduce the minority health disparity. He has provided
numerous health screenings around Atlanta focusing primarily on homeless shelters and faith
based institutions in those zip codes. Individuals who are found to have health problems are
referred to the appropriate healthcare professional for long term treatment. In 2008 more than
600 people were screened. HEAL also received a grant from National Institutes of Health of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2008 to create the largest conference
focusing on cancer for the public in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference was held on July 12,
2008 with 327 participants.
In addition, Dr. Moore developed the concept for The HEALing Community Center, a free
medical clinic providing primary and specialty care in the zip code that needs it the most. HEAL
will partner with COR to build a clinic that will enable more screenings and specialized treatment
in 30314.
Founded in 1995, City of Refuge is a 501 (C)3 that began by providing outreach services in
Atlanta, GA. In 2003 COR received a donation of two warehouses in the inner city of Atlanta
with more than 210,000 square feet. Since that time it has grown to help more than 10,000
individuals in 2008 with the following programs:
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Eden Village I – A 132 bed redemptive housing center for that lasts for 120 days.
Partnership with Atlanta Development Authority, Regional Commission on
Homelessness, and Fulton County.
Eden Village II – A 90 day emergency housing center for 100 single women. A
partnership with the Atlanta Development Authority, and Regional Commission on
Homelessness.
1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. N.W. -
Atlanta, GA 30305 - 404.874.2241(t) - www.cityofrefugeinc.com
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After School and Summer Camp Program - Tutoring and homework help programs for
elementary, middle and high school students in partnership with local schools
Resource Center - Rent and Utility Assistance, Emergency and Transitional Housing
Referral - Assisting 100 individuals find a place to stay each year, Clothing Closet,
Transportation Assistance
Safe Haven - Lunch program on Tuesday's and Thursday's for 250 poor and homeless
men and women. Recently showers, clothes closet, and mental health counseling in
partnership with Grady Memorial Hospital have been added.
Children's Homes - Two homes providing foster and/or adoptive care
180 Degree Kitchen -- a culinary arts training program for 16 to 25 year old students
that provides food for the Resource Center, Eden Village I and II and produces revenue
through catering.
Compassion Atlanta Distribution Center -- provides food and household cleaning
products for 35,000 persons per month
Re-entry program - approved by Georgia Department of Pardons and Parole
Health Disparity and Fulton County
The health of many Americans has improved over the past few decades and tremendous
scientific advancements have been made. But the reality is that many homeless, uninsured,
and low income minorities are not benefitting from these advancements, nor are they receiving
important health screenings and preventative primary medical care. In Fulton County, Georgia
the increasing health disparity between Caucasians and African-Americans has cost 28,022
years of potential life lost due to premature death in African-Americans. This number is more
than double the number of years lost in neighboring DeKalb County and is drastically higher
than any other of Georgia’s 159 counties.
Several Health studies and reports have confirmed Dr. Moore’s findings that in minority areas of
Atlanta there is a large disparity in the outcome of treatment of cancer. The Health Disparities
Report 2008: A County-Level Look at Health Outcomes for Minorities in Georgia gives Fulton
County an F for the number of minority mortalities. This finding was based on the data
contained in the chart below.
Annualized Incidence/Mortality Rates of Blacks and Whites in Atlanta, 1999-2003
Rates are per 100,000 and Age Adjusted to the Year 2000 Standard
Breast
Cervix
Colorectal Male
Colorectal Female
Prostate
Lung Male
Lung Female
Myeloma Male
Myeloma Female
Oral Cavity/Pharynx Male
Oral Cavity/Pharynx
White
Black
Black/White White
Black
Black/White
Incidence Incidence Ratio
Mortality Mortality Ratio
148
115.1
0.8
26.2
34.2
1.3
8.6
11.7
1.4
2
3.8
1.9
56.1
75.5
1.3
19.2
32.4
1.7
40.9
54.3
1.3
14.8
23.2
1.6
164.3
268.8
1.6
27.9
71.6
2.6
91.1
118.1
1.3
74.8
97.3
1.3
56.2
42.9
0.8
41.7
33.2
0.8
7.3
13.2
1.8
4.4
8.9
2
4.1
8.1
2
3.4
6.5
1.9
15.3
18
1.2
3.8
6.4
1.7
6.8
6.5
1
1.8
1.9
1.1
1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. N.W. -
Atlanta, GA 30305 - 404.874.2241(t) - www.cityofrefugeinc.com
Female
Grady Health Care System in Atlanta, Georgia spends 250 Million each year in providing
indigent care. Only 80 Million is offset by Fulton and DeKalb Counties. As a result Grady
almost closed its doors in 2007-08 and is still struggling to financially survive. Fulton County
has 816,006 residents and 15.5% are uninsured representing 126,481 people. According to
The Health Disparities Report 2008: A County-Level Look at Health Outcomes for Minorities in
Georgia In Fulton there were 35,292 preventable visits to Emergency Departments; 29,391 of
them by African-Americans in 2007.
Over 650 of the nearly 1300 clients in the City of Refuge database do not have health
insurance, and more than 400 who do not currently participate in any medical care or see a
doctor for regular check ups stated that they would seek medical care at a free clinic. Currently
there is not a free clinic in the area to serve these clients, Grady Health System and one other
clinic provide services in the area on a sliding scale, and ask for payment for services which is a
deterrent to this population.
Current Medical Services
Because of the large demand for medical services, the HEALing Community Center has been
providing clinical treatment and cancer screenings from two mobile clinics during the past two
years. In July of 2009 began providing primary care, cancer screenings and mental health
services in three small rooms at City of Refuge. The Grady Health System is on site at City of
Refuge providing both the ACT and PATH programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition,
a group of three professional body builders have started a physical fitness program in August of
2009. Currently, the HEALing Community Center has more requests for appointments that can
be met.
There is a great need for the 16,000 square foot Healing Community Center to be built, allowing
for more medical services, examination rooms, recuperative care beds and an expansion of
services to full time.
HEALing Community Center Expansion Plans
The HEALing Community Center will be a FREE health facility with an integrated approach to
treatment that will address the needs of the underserved that will be built in two phases. It will
be located in 16,198 square feet of the warehouse owned by COR. Phase I will include a clinic
that will offer primary and specialty medical services to its patients. There are essentially no
specialty clinics for indigent care in Atlanta, Georgia. These services will enable the clinic
to create a network with existing indigent health clinics as they will be able to refer patients to
the Healing Center for treatment. Services offered will include:
1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. N.W. -
Atlanta, GA 30305 - 404.874.2241(t) - www.cityofrefugeinc.com
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Dental
Mental Health
Ear, Nose and Throat
Audiology
Speech pathology
Pulmonology
Asthma
Urology
Cardiology
Podiatry/Foot care
Ob/GYN
Health Education
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HIV/AIDS care
Cancer diagnosis and treatment
Physical Fitness Program
Organic Gardening and Healthy
eating instruction program
26 Recuperative Care Beds for
women and women with children
2 Operating rooms for scheduled
use
Minor Emergency Care
The clinic will help address the increasing health disparity for minorities, indigents and
uninsured individuals below the 200% poverty level in Atlanta in the neighborhoods
surrounding City of Refuge.
The clinic hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for minor emergency care and specialty
care appointments. It will be open 24 hours a day for the recuperative care beds.
Staffing includes a full time P. A. or N. P. and a full time clinical assistant. Specialty care
will be provided by exceptional doctors from Morehouse School of Medicine, Emory
School of Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Grady Health System. It is
estimated that 5,000 patients will receive screenings, primary and specialty care the first
year of operation.
Phase II of the center’s expansion plans includes a 26 bed recuperative care center for
homeless women that have been hospitalized. The recuperative care center will allow
hospitals such as Grady to release homeless women to the recuperative care knowing
that they will receive 24 hour medical oversight, food and shelter for up to six months.
The women can receive case management services provided by City of Refuge and not
only receive medical services but also services that will target the root causes of the
patient’s homelessness giving them an opportunity to overcome homelessness as well.
Collaborative Partners and Sustainability
The HEALing Community Center utilizes a collaborative network of partners. Grady
Health Systems PATH and ACT teams began providing Mental Health services through
HEAL at COR beginning in July of 2009 and the Grady Health Systems lab will perform
all medical testing at cost. ($2.00 per test). MEDShare (on going basis) and Emory
Midtown (up to $60,000) have agreed to provide medical supplies and equipment. The
physicians of Morehouse School of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, the
Centers for Disease Control, and Grady Healthcare System have volunteered their
services and the services of medical students to treat patients for primary and speciality
care. Grady Healthcare System and Emory Clinic will provide maintenance staff to help
with the buildout of the clinic. Emory School of Public Health will provide Individual and
Group Acute and Chronic Health Counseling in September, 2009. All Medical Resource
Foundation will provide free prescriptions for the patients.
The volunteer physicans, medical students and in-kind resources provided by the
collaborative partners will enable HEALing Community Center to greatly reduce the
amount of annual operating support. The total opperational budget of the center once
Phase I and Phase II are built out will be $2,170,096.00. Of that $1,500,096.00 will be
provided by in-kind services and $670,000 will be raised through government grants,
1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. N.W. - Atlanta, GA 30305 - 404.874.2241(t) www.cityofrefugeinc.com
private foundation grants, individuals and corporations. In addition, the center will be
Silver Level -- Leed Certified building reducing the costs for building maintenance and
utilities.
The Facility
Perkins and Will Architecture Firm is donating their services to design a Green Facility
for the 16,198 square foot clinic. They have identified the Silver level as a realistic LEED
goal for the facility. Newcomb and Boyd Engineers is donating the electrical engineering
and Uzun and Case, Inc. is donating the Structural Engineering. The plans include a
waiting room, five primary and specialty exam rooms, a private office for mental health
consultation, a procedure suite, pharmacy, lab, x-ray room, clinical workstations, and
utility and storage.
A construction company has estimate the total cost of Phase I and Phase II of the clinic
to be $2.1 Million Dollars. The Board of HEAL has decided to proceed with fundraising
to build out Phase I in the amount of $1,167,264.00. Once the clinic has been built, the
the board will focus on raising the remaining amount to build the recuperative care
portion of the center.
Call to Action
In order to provide health and healing for 5,000 patients in 2010-2011 the HEALing
Community Center is asking members of the philanthropic community to invest in the
construction of the center. The benefits to the city of Atlanta will provide a great return
on investment including:
 Free, quality medical primary and specialty care to individuals who do not have
health insurance and are at the Federal 200% poverty level and below for more than
5,000 patients each year.
 Reducing the health disparity between African Americans and Caucasians in
Atlanta, Georgia.
 Reduce costly ER visits to Atlanta area hospitals, such as Grady, for routine
medical care
 Provide high quality specialty care with integrated mental health, primary care and
specialty care services to uninsured, homeless and poverty stricken individuals.
Please join these organizations by becoming a lead donor to build out the HEALing
Community Center.
1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. N.W. - Atlanta, GA 30305 - 404.874.2241(t) www.cityofrefugeinc.com