CHC’s Wellness Center was established in 2009 in response to NIH-funded research findings of high rates of food insecurity and social/environmental barriers to chronic disease management among CHC patients. Based on the data and through additional focus groups with patients, five guiding principles emerged for the development of the Wellness Center. Based on these five principles, all Wellness Center programming is:

1. Cost-free and culturally-tailored;
2. Group-based;
3. Led by a trained/certified leader and offers capacity building opportunities to develop community wellness leaders;
4. Provides community and social network/support; and
5. Located within the primary care health center and acts as an extension of primary care.

The CHC Wellness Center offers group-based physical activity classes, nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, chronic disease prevention and management education, stress-reduction classes, shared medical appointments (SMA), worksite wellness programming, and other classes.

Wellness Center programming aims to support patients’ capacity to follow primary care treatment plans and recommendations for increased physical activity, dietary improvements, and self-care practices.

All staff and patients of the health center are encouraged to engage in Wellness Center offerings.

For more information, please call: 413-739-1100 ext.1013