NEWS AND
EVENTS
HISTORY
Over 30 years ago, the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Services Corporation, currently operating as the Plainfield Health Center, was born under the auspices of the 1960's Model Cities Neighborhood Program. Led by a dedicated group of community activists, the Center was initially created to provide accessible health care to the underserved residents of the West End of Plainfield.

The first facility opened in 1969 as a "well baby clinic" housed in a storefront facility on West 4th Street. It started as a maternal and child health care program dedicated to reversing the community's high infant mortality rate, which was, at that time, 26.6 infants for every 1000 births. The community also experienced a high incidence of preventable illnesses caused by lead poisoning, communicable diseases and poor dental health.

Over the years, the Plainfield Health Center grew and added more services, increasing the number of specialties of professional health staff to care for a growing patient population. Additionally, the Plainfield Health Center has expanded its reach to the entire City of Plainfield and neighboring communities. Today, the Plainfield Health Center annually serves more than 16,000 patients of all ages. Its total care program provides internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, family planning, pediatrics, dentistry and social work support services. Additional services include HIV/AIDS treatment and therapy, nutritional counseling, and outreach services. The "well baby clinic" of more than 30 years ago has expanded to a comprehensive parental care program, which provides a full scope of on-site prenatal and support services.

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