HealthFirst Family Care Center was awarded a three-year grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation to provide care coordination services to homeless individuals in Fall River. Center CEO Julie Almond introduced Family Nurse Practitioner Julie Hetherington on February 3, 2009 to members of the community advisory committee, including representatives of the First Step Inn shelter for the homeless, the Homeless Service Providers Coalition and the Community Development Agency. Other agencies involved in the project include Catholic Social Services, the Homeless Connections, the LOFT transitional program, Project Assert, and People Incorporated's Project New Beginnings. Ms. Hetherington, who also has a Masters in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, will be available to do on-site evaluations and referrals of homeless individuals and to arrange rapid referrals for treatment to appropriate agencies. Medical appointments can be arranged directly with HealthFirst, including transportation by taxi to the initial appointment. "This program answers many of the concerns we have had in this community about providing treatment to the homeless population," stated Ms. Almond. "HealthFirst is honored by the trust place in us by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation", she added. For more information services offered by HealthFirst, contact Director of Community Relations and Development Paula Harrison at 774-627-1204.
 

(Top row, left and right) HealthFirst Family Care Center CEO Julie Almond introduces Julie Heatherton, NP, to Center staff and representatives of the homeless services providers network. (Middle row, left) Ms. Hetherington describes her experience in working with a variety of populations, including mentally ill and dually-diagnosed clients in her role as Director of Nursing at the Westwood Lodge as Lisa Alves of the WIC program listens. (Middle row, right) Mary Camara of the Community Development Agency listens as Linda Hennessey of HealthFirst suggests some of the locations where Ms. Hetherington could identify homeless individuals in the City. (Bottom row) Ms. Hetherington will be connecting with homeless persons at Homeless Connections, the First Step Inn and the Family Resource Center, as well as other locations in the Greater Fall River Area in order to provide care coordination.