Project partners from Hardison/Downey Construction, Inc., Holly Street Studio Architects, and Arizona Family Health Partnership (AFHP) joined Southwest Center Board members and employees at a wall breaking ceremony to launch the construction phase of a clinic expansion.
For Immediate Release
Contact Information:
Iris Avila, Marketing and Social Media Manager, Southwest Center
Direct: 602.595.8123
Email: iavila@swcenter.org
Breaking Down Walls To Greater Health Equity
Wall breaking ceremony kicked off the Southwest Center’s Clinic Expansion Project
February 7, 2022 (Phoenix, Arizona) – The Southwest Center recently hosted a wall-breaking ceremony to launch the construction phase of a clinic expansion. The expansion will meet the growing demand for services and allow to increase eligible visits for reproductive healthcare services, funded by the Title X program. Project partners from Hardison/Downey Construction, Inc., Holly Street Studio Architects and Arizona Family Health Partnership (AFHP) joined Southwest Center Board members and employees in picking up the sledgehammers and, ceremonially, breaking down the first wall.
AFHP a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to making reproductive healthcare and education available and accessible to all individuals in Arizona, provided support through funding from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Population Affairs. “AFHP’s support has provided The Southwest Center the ability to expand our culturally responsive health care services” states Jessyca Leach, Executive Director. “Our Title X grant has provided reproductive health care services to over 700 community members over the last six months, and depending on income level, we are oftentimes able to offer these services at a very low reduced rate or even free.”
The Southwest Center will add six additional clinic exam rooms and twelve Behavioral Health offices. “The additional exam and testing rooms allow us the capacity to double our clinic exam space and double our Title X access for Reproductive and Sexual Healthcare. The Behavioral Health Offices, allow us to increase our accessibility for mental health services and medical case management, and expand our Psychiatric Mental Health capacity,” said Casey Simon, Senior Director of Healthcare Operations.
Construction is scheduled to begin February 7, 2022, and the grand opening is expected in early Spring 2022. The Southwest Center serves on average 30,000 clients annually through its programs, services, and outreach. Most identify as LGBTQIA2S+ and are considered among our community’s most economically and socially vulnerable. Once completed, this renovation project will immediately impact the Southwest Center’s ability to increase the number of clients they treat, especially those who identify as Queer and LGBTQIA2S+.
About the Southwest Center: For over 30 years, the Southwest Center has been Arizona’s home for financially accessible, culturally competent healthcare for Queer and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, and for people living with or at risk of HIV. The Southwest Center offers a wide array of services to help clients reach and maintain positive health outcomes, including primary care for all; HIV/STI testing, treatment, and prevention; gender-affirming healthcare, hormone replacement therapy, and transgender navigation services; mental health; empowerment coaching; and so much more. Visit SWCenter.org or see us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for more information. To schedule interviews, contact Iris Avila at iavila@swcenter.org
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