Wellness Center Operated By Rutgers, FOCUS Community Organization Will Serve All Newark Residents

WHO: Rutgers College of Nursing (CON); FOCUS Community Center, Newark; Rutgers School of Social Work; the Rutgers College of Pharmacy; and the International Institute of Peace at Rutgers University, Newark.

WHAT: An open house celebration for the FOCUS-Rutgers Wellness Center, a carefully coordinated collaboration of health care professionals from different specialties who will work together to improve the health of Newark residents.  The goal of the center is to provide an interdisciplinary, holistic approach to health care

Tours will be available; RSVP required.

WHEN/WHERE: Oct. 22, 3-5 p.m., 449 Broad St., Newark NJ, adjacent to the FOCUS Community Center

BACKGROUND:  In addition to providing direct primary and preventive care, the center will offer educational programs such as bilingual workshops on nutrition, preventing domestic violence and cyber-bullying, after-school programs, programs for senior citizens and counseling services. 

 ABOUT THE FOCUS-RUTGERS WELLNESS CENTER, 449 Broad St., Newark

Open House and tours: Oct. 22

Facilities: The center, adjacent to the FOCUS Community Center, has six examination rooms, two counseling rooms, laboratories, a waiting area, and administrative space.  A group of Newark schoolchildren, working with a Rutgers graduate student from the Mason Gross School of the Arts, created the murals located though the center.

Operating Partners: Rutgers College of Nursing (CON); FOCUS Community Center, Newark; Rutgers School of Social Work; the Rutgers College of Pharmacy; and the International Institute of Peace at Rutgers University, Newark.

Why: The need for such a center is critical because Newark residents are among the most underserved population, in terms of regular health care, in the nation, according to Suzanne Willard, Rutgers College of Nursing.  “The center is the right thing to do.  Rutgers needs to be a good citizen and good neighbor in Newark.”

Background/Services: In addition to providing direct primary and preventive care, the center will offer educational programs such as bilingual workshops on nutrition, preventing domestic violence and cyber-bullying, after-school programs, programs for senior citizens and counseling services. The center also will serve as a training ground allowing health professionals and students from various disciplines to learn how to work as a team while making valuable contributions to patient and family care.  The partnership of Rutgers and FOCUS, an established and respected community services organization, will make it possible to reach a broad segment of the population that is under-served in terms of non-emergency health care. 

Financing:  Start-up funding is supported by public and private funding, including a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey and the Nicholson Foundation.