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Press Releases

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health Opens New Dedicated Youth Health Center

Center offers adolescents health services in a compassionate, confidential and safe environment

Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris joined the ribbon cutting

Aug 09, 2019

Brooklyn, NY

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health celebrated the opening of a new youth health center with a ribbon cutting ceremony at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland. Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris joined the ribbon cutting. The new youth health center offers primary care, Plan B, STI testing, birth control, PReP and comprehensive physical examinations in a compassionate, confidential, and safe environment. In addition to adolescent health care, the new suite will provide social services and workstations for patients to complete tasks, including homework assignments. Research indicates that adolescents gain greater access to healthcare services when their needs and preferences are in mind, including increased access to mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and other essential care services. The new clinic is part of a NYC Health + Hospitals’ system-wide initiative to improve the health and development of young people across the City. This initiative addresses the need for care that focuses on the unique needs of teens and standardizes the development and implementation of best practices across the system.

“NYC Health + Hospitals is keenly aware that populations such as adolescents have distinct health needs, and addressing these needs is central to our mission of providing high quality care to all New Yorkers,” said Ted Long, MD, MHS, Vice President of Ambulatory Care at NYC Health + Hospitals. “It’s essential that we understand the unique needs and preferences of adolescents so that we can engage them in their care, and they can have the best health outcomes. We are proud of this new youth health center and the commitment being made to this important initiative.”

“This new center recognizes the need for special prevention and health promotion for adolescents during a critical period in their lives,” said Michelle Lewis, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. “NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health understands the importance of being proactive and connecting with teens by providing patient-centered services at Cumberland and other health centers.”

The new services will allow young adults to access vital services that protect their health. Sexually active adolescents are at risk of contracting and transmitting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and generally lack information about how to protect themselves. By providing reproductive health services and education, adolescents will receive information and care that will assist them in making responsible and informed decisions.

“It’s important that teens be able to access high quality, affordable care in their communities” said Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris. “I am thrilled to support the opening of the new youth health center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland.”

Teens are an underserved population with at least 20 percent of North American adolescents having a serious health problem. Teens also have unique healthcare needs. Adolescents establish health habits during this period, both good and bad, that often last a lifetime. Yet healthcare today is typically not designed to help young people develop healthy routines, behaviors, and relationships to prepare them for adulthood.

Located at 100 North Portland Avenue in Brooklyn, hours for the youth health center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland are as follow:

  • Mondays 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Tuesdays 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursdays 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Cumberland provides an additional range of primary care services for the entire family, including adult medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, dentistry, behavioral health, podiatry, eye care, and radiology.

To schedule an appointment, please call 844 NYC-4NYC.