The Caridad Center provides comprehensive medical and dental care for the uninsured working poor of Palm Beach County. It is a community effort of over 400 medical, dental, and support volunteers which save taxpayers $4.8 million annually.

The mission of the Caridad Center is to upgrade the health, education, and living standards of underserved children and families. The Caridad Center’s vision is to eliminate the cycle of poverty for the families that we serve in South Florida. Our mission is accomplished through three distinct programs:

• default_titleCaridad Health Clinic (CHC) provides free quality medical and dental health care for 6,000 patients, both children and adults, who do not qualify for government programs with 24,460 patient visits last year. An additional 4,000 people receive health education in community settings through events, workshops and classes.
• default_titleHomework Assistance Program provides homework assistance, literacy and enrichment activities for up to 55 elementary school children.
• default_titleCommunity Outreach Services provides emergency assistance for food, clothing, college scholarships, shelter, hurricane relief, as well as holiday parties and gifts for more than 2,000 children and their families annually.
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Caridad’s Center successful Childhood Obesity Program has broadened in its approach and design and is now called the PET - Healthy Family Program. This program has focused on low-income, elementary and middle school children primarily from homes with no English-speaking parent present, which in Palm Beach County is a rate of 38.5%. According to The Urban Institute’s 2010 research the highest rates of uninsured children in Palm Beach County were those without an English-speaking parent in the home and was greatest in the southeastern part of the County.

• default_titleWest Palm Beach - 21.3%
• default_titleLake Worth - 27.7%
• default_titleLantana - 25.1%
• default_titleBoynton Beach - 22.3%
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The Goal of the PET - Healthy Family Program is to identify and address chronic diseases prevalent in Hispanic, Haitian and African American families in Palm Beach County that can respond to prevention and education.

The Strategy - The Program assesses, identifies, educates and treats obesity as a contributor to other chronic conditions. It employs an inter-generational approach to reach all members of the family from first to the third generation with health education and counseling. The program is culturally sensitive and staff and volunteers fluent in English, Spanish and Creole provide services. It serves all Palm Beach County residents who are low income and uninsured.

The PET - Healthy Family Program is a community-based, family-centered, health care program that aims to improve the lifestyle, diet, and emotional health of the child and his/her family. Staff and volunteers screen children and adults at all outreach activities as well at Caridad’s clinic. Patients found to be at-risk for, or who are diagnosed with, one or more chronic diseases, are referred to the program. Children found to be obese, or grossly overweight, receive family-centered counseling. A treatment plan is formulated for the child and the family’s specific needs. Patients are encouraged to start lifestyle changes that include a healthier diet and exercise. An individual treatment plan is formulated and PET staff works closely with the patient and clinician in its implementation.

• default_titleOutreach to at-risk communities
• default_titleGroup Education Classes
• default_titleHealth Fairs
• default_titleOne-on-one family-centered prevention, education and counseling for program families.
• default_titleCollaboration with community partners
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• default_titleAssessment and Screening at Caridad Clinic and during outreach activities at community sites to determine risk for obesity
• default_titlePromotion of a healthy lifestyle (nutrition/physical activity) individual and in groups
• default_titleNutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modification education classes open to all
• default_titleAn annual onsite Health Fair
• default_titleParticipation in other agencies community events or health fairs
• default_titleOne-on-one family centered prevention, education and counseling for families
• default_titleWork with families and monitor their individual goals and activities
• default_titleCollaborate with community partners in obesity prevention
• default_titleProvide clinical treatment for obesity and other chronic illnesses
• default_titleReferrals to primary care physicians for those found at risk for obesity or other chronic disease(s)
• default_titleRecruitment and training of peer educators for target communities
• default_titleEmotional and comprehensive social services support services
• default_titleFood preparation demonstrations and supermarket tours
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Health Fairs teach wellness techniques, provide health information to students using educational materials and engaging activities. It promotes awareness of health issues associated with lifestyle habits, of community resources, and of healthy behavioral changes.

• Northmore Elementary School
• default_titleForest Hill Community High School
• default_titleHammock Point Elementary School
• default_titleVillage Academy on the ARt & Sara Jo Kobacker Campus
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Health Fair at Caridad Center - The School District of Palm Beach participated in Caridad Center Annual Health Fair a “Family Festival” through the School Food Service (SFS) Department. SFS provided participants with healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables to emphasize their importance in diet. The Family Festival was held on November 9, 2012. In this event, there was a total 537 participants and 754 screenings were completed.

The PET - Healthy Family Program conducted four (2 ½) hours workshops. The workshops encourage behavioral changes that lead to a healthy lifestyle and provide insight on how to prevent or manage chronic disease conditions through:

• Proper Nutrition
• default_titlePhysical Activity
• default_titleGood Self-Esteem
• default_titleFamily Togetherness
• default_titleUse of Leisure Time
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73 families participated at the following locations:

• Bridges at Lake Park
• default_titleBridges at Lake Worth
• default_titleBridges of Northwood
• default_titleCatholic Charities at Pahokee
• default_titleLiteracy Coalition at Belle Glade
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The Chronic Disease-Self Management Programs developed by Stanford University are focused on improving the health status and reducing the utilization of the health system for patients with chronic diseases.

22 people participated in six (2 ½) hours workshops at the following locations:

• Forest Hill Elementary School - Diabetes Self-Management Program
• default_titleGreenacres Elementary School - Diabetes Self-Management Program
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The Nutrition Demonstration Classes are aimed at increasing the family’s nutrition knowledge and awareness of the healthy habits by providing information on the following:

• The relationship between nutrition and health
• default_titleThe nutritional value of foods
• default_titleAppropriate food choices
• default_titleCauses / consequences of obesity
• default_titleImportance of physical activity
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54 families participated at these locations:

• Bridges at Lake Worth
• default_titleDelray Full Services Center
• default_titleSouth Grade Elementary School
• default_titleForest Hill Elementary School
• default_titleKid Kaleidoscope
• default_titleBridges of Northwood
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The Oral Health Education Classes educate people on the importance of the oral health, how to properly care for their teeth and mouth, and explains oral health’s link to total body health. It provides help to high-risk patients identified with chronic diseases to treat oral health problems and maintain good oral health in order to reduce complications.

245 people participated in the classes at these locations:

• South Grade Elementary School
• default_titleGlades Education Families Palm Beach Literacy Coalition (Haitian Community
• default_titleBridges of Northwood
• default_titleHoly Cross Preschool
• default_titleKid Kaleidoscope Head Start Fair
• default_titleForest Hill Elementary School
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• The PET - Healthy Family Program staff serves on the Advisory Board of the School District’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
• default_titleSchool District personnel serve on the PET - Healthy Family Program’s Community Advisory Board and their contribution has been crucial in the development of the program.
• default_titleThe PET - Healthy Family Program staff participated in the Fitness Zone’s inauguration by providing a nutrition demonstration to attendees at this park created to encourage fitness by providing recreational fitness equipment.
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