Bed-Stuy Family Health Center Gets Major Upgrade [Video]

Elected officials, community partners, medical professionals and corporate funders gathered Monday morning at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Family Health Center to celebrate the official opening of its brand-new facility, located at 1456 Fulton Street.

For 30 years, BSFHC has become a mainstay in the community, providing primary health care services to nearly 15,000 patients in the community, regardless of income and health insurance coverage.

“I have been a client of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Health Center, my children have come to the center, it’s been an important part of this community’s health,” said Assemblywoman Annette Robinson. “That’s how strongly I feel about this center, because I have entrusted my family here.”

Planning around a new facility started more than ten years ago, as the community’s health needs accelerated and began to outgrow the facility’s capacity. The old facility of 10,000 square feet now has been expanded to 38,000 square feet, with more services and enhanced technology, in a state-of-the-art facility.

The new two-story building, located directly across the street from the old facility, will have the capacity to serve 20,000 Brooklyn residents.

In 2006, during the initial phase of construction, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that the residents of Central Brooklyn experienced more barriers to healthcare than New York City as a whole.

The area ranked below average to 41 other neighborhoods as it concerned heart health, asthma, diabetes and cancer screening. In fact, Central Brooklyn showed a death rate that was 30 percent higher than New York City overall.

“The mission of [this health center] is to address these disparities,” said Dr. Pacale Kersaint, medical director at BSFHC. “But we’ve also developed strategic partnerships that have allowed us to make these achievements.”

In 2006, the center forged a successful partnership with General Electric and its Developing Health Program, to secure a multi-year multi million-dollar grant, making it one of the first health centers to be awarded a grant.

GE then enlisted NBCU volunteers, eliciting the backing of NBC News, which since that time has remained a key supporter of the center through its launch on Monday. BSFHC’s new facility cost in total $26 million.

“A little known fact is that the center was founded by Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation in 1975,” said Colvin Grannum, President and CEO of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. “So we’re excited because it has thrived over the last 30 years, but also because the community really needs a lot of the new services it will be providing.”

The City Council contributed generously to the project, as well as the New York State Department of Health, with a pledge of $1 million, and the Primary Care Development Corporation, which provided soft loans for site acquisition, design and other technical assistance.

The Grio.com assisted with the clinic’s new website, Penske Truck Rental donated trucks and accessories for the move, and NBC News division provided BSFHC with a full team of IT support.

“It’s been a privilege for all of us to be partners,” said Steve Capus, president of NBC News. “It’s been remarkable to have worked with so many good people who have been serving this community for so long and shown such dedication. It’s amazing. This is an extraordinary accomplishment.”

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