Jefferson Community College and North Country Family Health Center Collaborate to Improve Access to Health Related Services on Jefferson’s Campus

Jefferson Community College and the North Country Family Health Center (NCFHC) are pleased to announce that NCFHC is now the provider of all physical and behavioral health-related services in the College’s Health & Wellness Center.  All health-related services that were previously available to students will continue to be offered by NCFHC along with several additional care options.   With this new partnership, health services will now be available for faculty and staff, as well as members of the community.  

“We are excited about our partnership with NCFHC that allows Jefferson to continue to support the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff,” said Dr. Corey Campbell, Vice President for Student Affairs. “Not only will students benefit from the expanded resources and services of NCFHC, but the partnership will allow for even more students to access the physical and personal health services they need.” 

Jefferson first expanded health and wellness services for students in 2016 after receiving a three-year $500,000 Community Schools Grant from Governor Cuomo and SUNY.  Among other things, the grant allowed Jefferson to partner with various community agencies to offer additional counseling and medical services to students on campus at no cost. 

Of the services previously provided by the Health and Wellness Center, behavioral health counseling was in the most demand.  During the 2017-2018 year, 258 students took part in 754 counseling sessions. In 2018-2019, 205 students were counseled in 573 sessions.

“Statistics clearly show that unmet health needs and accompanying financial barriers are two of the largest non-academic barriers to degree completion,” said Dr. Campbell.  “We want our students to have every opportunity to be mentally and physically healthy and to be able to complete their educational and career related goals.”  

NCFHC is a Federally Qualified Community Health Center which provides integrated healthcare services to all regardless of age, income, or insurance status.  This will be NCFHC fourth community-based care delivery location; with others in Watertown, LeRay, and Lowville. NCFHC will staff the Health & Wellness Center at Jefferson with a full-time Physician Assistant and three Licensed Social Workers as well as additional support staff.  Those using the Health & Wellness Center will also have access to the wide array of services offered at NCFHC’s main location at 238 Arsenal Street including insurance enrollment assistance and care coordination services.

 “We are thrilled to be working with Jefferson Community College to expand access to high quality, integrated healthcare services to those in our community,” states Joey Marie Horton, Chief Executive Officer of NCFHC.  “We have over twenty-five years of experience working with K-12 School Districts on integrating healthcare and education and know firsthand that healthy students learn better.  We are very excited to expand our work into a college campus to give Jefferson’s students, faculty, and staff enhanced access to timely, preventative health and behavioral health services.   Additionally, given the needs for primary care and behavioral health services in our community, NCFHC is pleased to be opening the Health & Wellness Center to the community at large as well.”

Beginning March 9, 2020, the Health & Wellness Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, in Building 17 on Jefferson’s campus at 1220 Coffeen Street, Watertown.  Scheduled, same day and walk-in appointments are available. The Health and Wellness Center can be reached by calling 315-786-1042.  A ribbon cutting celebration is planned for Wednesday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m. at the Health & Wellness Center.

Media inquiries may be directed to Gillian Maitland, Marketing and Communications Director for Jefferson Community College, 315-786-2234 or via email gmaitland@sunyjefferson.edu and April Fallon, Marketing & Community Relations Director for NCHFC, 315-782-9450 x 8019 or via email afallon@nocofamilyhealth.org.  

About the North Country Family Health Center

NCFHC provides high-quality, affordable healthcare to over 12,000 North Country residents annually at its community-based locations in Watertown, Lowville, and LeRay, at its six permanent school-based locations within the Watertown and South Jefferson School District, and within its school-based dental locations within 7 school districts in Jefferson & Lewis Counties. NCFHC also provides nutritious food vouchers and other support to approximately 5,000 pregnant women, infants, and children each month through its WIC Program; assists approximately 4,000 individuals with insurance enrollment annually; and provides special initiatives to help high-risk pregnant and parenting women and individuals who have insecure housing. For more information about North Country Family Health Center or its programs, visit www.NoCoFamilyHealth.org or call (315) 782-9450.

About Jefferson Community College
One of 30 community colleges supervised by the State University of New York, Jefferson Community College is the community’s leading resource for leading better lives, offering 40+ associate degrees and certificates for career preparation or for transfer to a 4-year college; local access to bachelor’s and advanced degrees through partner institutions; lifelong learning through personal enrichment workshops; workforce development and career training; and cultural enrichment opportunities for the entire Watertown/Fort Drum region.  Learn more at www.sunyjefferson.edu.