Promise Community Health Center is inviting all area students to another Back-to-School Block Party on Wednesday, Aug. 1.
At the event, Promise will ensure that students will have all of the health screening requirements and immunizations that they need for school taken care of.
Plus, free food and fun will be offered for the whole family.
The health center, located at 338 1st Ave. NW, across the street from the Sioux Center city office, will host its ninth annual Back-to-School Block Party between 2-7 p.m. on Aug. 1.
“We are so excited to be putting on our back-to-school event again this year,” said Emily Tuschen, clinic manager for Promise, noting that she is especially looking forward various community organizations participating. “This event is a great way that Promise can provide accessible, affordable physicals and screenings to all students who are in need of them. We are looking forward to another great year.”
The Back-to-School Block Party is open to all area students and their families. No appointments are necessary in advance – just show up.
At the event, Promise will offer the following health services:
- Free immunizations that students are required to have for school;
- Free dental screenings that are required for students entering kindergarten and ninth grade;
- Free vision screenings that are required for students entering kindergarten and third grade;
$25 school and sports physicals.
Promise also will give out free drawstring bags with school and health supplies. A $500 grant from the Walmart Foundation and a donation of dental supplies from Delta Dental helped to make the project possible.
After families complete the screenings, they will be invited into the parking area and alley behind Promise’s building for the block party food and fun. KSOU Radio will serve free hot dogs, chips and Coca-Cola and play music. Culver’s will hand out frozen treats.
Several organizations from the community will present booths with various interactive and educational games and activities for children and families.
In addition, Sioux Center Health representatives will provide car seat safety checks again this year, so people are encouraged to bring their vehicles with their car seats to the event. The Sioux Center Kiwanis club donated $650 for Promise to purchase car seats for the event.
The number of people who attend the event continues to grow every year.
“We want to provide students with all the health services that they need before the next school year begins, but we also want this to be an enjoyable family outing,” said Derrick Vander Waal, public relations officer for Promise. “We invite families to come out and have a great time. The number of people who attend the block party grows every year.”
AT A GLANCE:
What: Back-to-School Block Party
When: 2-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1
Where: Promise Community Health Center, 338 1st Ave. NW, Sioux Center
What: Promise will offer free immunizations, dental screens and vision screens that students need for school and $25 school and sports physicals. Free drawstring bags with school and health supplies will be handed out. The event also will include free food, games and activities offered by various area businesses and organizations.
Why: The event helps ensure students are prepared for school.
Contact: For more information, call Promise at 712-722-1700.
ABOUT NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK:
The Back-to-School Block Party also serves as Promise Community Health Center’s celebration of National Health Center Week, which is Aug. 12-18.
The 2018 NHCW theme is: “Celebrating Health Centers: Home of America’s Health Care Heroes.”
National Health Center Week celebrates the history of community health centers providing affordable, high-quality and cost-effective health care to medically vulnerable and underserved people throughout the United States, regardless of their insurance or ability to pay. About 27 million Americans are served by a network of more than 1,400 community health centers and 10,400 service delivery sites.
Promise Community Health Center, one of 14 community health centers in Iowa, opened in July 2008 in Sioux Center as a nonprofit health center and earned its status as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 2012.
During 2017, Promise cared for a record 4,750 patients – 22.4 percent more than the previous year. They receive received a comprehensive array of health services that includes medical, prenatal, dental, vision/eye, mental health and family planning. Of those patients, 44.3 percent were on Medicaid and 36.4 percent had no insurance, but everyone is welcome to receive care at Promise.
To learn more about America’s health centers, view this fact sheet with quick-glance information.
