23 Jul
by Derrick Vander Waal
SIOUX CENTER – Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center wants to make sure children are ready for the next school year – with their basic health requirements met.
SIOUX CENTER – Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center wants to make sure children are ready for the next school year – with their basic health requirements met.
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| Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center has has offered back-to-school screenings for the last five years, but block party activities were added for the first time last year. This year’s Back-to-School Block Party is planned for 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. |
And it wants them to have a lot of fun, too.
The health center, located at 338 1st Ave. NW, across from the Sioux Center city office, will host its annual Back-to-School Block Party 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. The event also celebrates National Health Center Week, Aug. 9-15.
“The Back-to-School Block Party is an event that serves many purposes,” said Vicki Schrock, clinic manager for Promise. “Families can complete their physicals economically, preventive screenings and immunizations are updated, and fun activities will make the night memorable. Promise is working together to deliver a healthier community, and this event fits within that vision perfectly.”
The event is open to all area students. They do not need to make appointments in advance.
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| School and sports physicals will be offered again this year during the Back-to-School Block Party 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. Free vaccinations and dental screens needed for school also will be provided. |
At the event, Promise will offer all the standard immunizations that students need free of charge. Dental screenings – which are required for students entering entering Head Start, kindergarten and ninth grade – will be provided for free. School and sports physicals will cost $20. In addition, Sioux Center School District staff will be available to help Spanish-speaking parents complete registration forms for school.
Promise also will give out free drawstring bags filled with school supplies and hygiene products to the first 150 children. Promise staff conducted an internal fundraiser to purchase the bags and items to fill the bags. Donations from Walmart and the I-Smile program through Mid-Sioux Opportunity also helped to fill the bags.
“The Promise staff cares deeply about the youth in our community. This project was one small way that we could show that,” said Derrick Vander Waal, public relations and development coordinator for Promise. “That’s also why we’re excited to put on this Back-to-School Block Party again this year.”
This is the sixth year that Promise has provided back-to-school screenings, but the event evolved into a full-fledged block party last year.
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| Children enjoyed various activities during last year’s Back-to-School Block Party festivities. |
The block party activities will be hosted in the back parking area and alley behind Promise’s building. Face painting, bean bag toss, skee ball, sidewalk chalk and bubbles, coloring and crafts, and various other activities and games will be provided. Several community organizations also will present booths with interactive activities and education for children and families. Sioux Center Health personnel will be providing car seat safety checks again this year, so people are encouraged to bring their vehicles with car seats to the event.
The event also will have plenty of good food with the help of Sioux Center businesses. KSOU Radio serve hot dogs and soda. Culver’s will hand out lemon ice treats. Fridley Theaters will provide popcorn.
“We want to provide students with what they need before returning to school, but we also want the event to be more than that. We want it to be an outing they can enjoy with their whole family,” Vander Waal said. “Come out and have a good time.”
For more information, contact Vander Waal by calling 712-722-1700 or emailing derrick@promisechc.org.
Promise Community Health Center, headquartered in Sioux Center, is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in the far northwest corner of Iowa. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org.
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| Children participate in activities during last year’s Back-to-School Block Party at Promise Community Health Center at 338 1st Ave. NW in Sioux Center. |
AT A GLANCE:
What: Back-to-School Block Party
When: 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12
Where: Promise Community Health Center, 338 1st Ave. NW, Sioux Center
What: Promise will offer free immunizations and dental screens that students need for school and $20 school and sports physicals. Free drawstring bags with school supplies and hygiene items will be handed out to the first 150 students. The event also will include free food, games and activities.
Why: The event helps ensure students are ready for school.
NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK:
National Health Center Week is Aug. 9-15.
This year’s theme, “America’s Health Centers: Celebrating Our Legacy, Shaping Our Future,” celebrates the 50th anniversary year of community health centers being established in America.
National Health Center Week recognizes the opportunities that community health centers provide people to receive needed health-care services regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. More than 23 million Americans are served by the network of more than 1,200 community health centers and delivery sites. One in every 15 people living in the United States depends on their services.
Promise Community Health Center, one of 14 community health centers in Iowa, opened in 2008 as a nonprofit health center and earned its status as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in 2012. Promise had 2,272 patients receive medical care and 1,181 patients receive dental care during 2014.
