Sixteenth Street Community Health Center is proud of our more than 39 year history of service to the community. We honor the advocates who started the clinic, the volunteers, staff, board members and donors who helped us grow and the multi-ethnic neighborhood and patients who continue to rely on us for care.

1969 – A group of neighborhood residents concerned about the lack of health care for central city residents established the “Health Contact Center” in rented 2nd floor space at the corner of S. 16th Street and Greenfield Avenue.

The City of Milwaukee Health Department, along with other health and community based agencies provided volunteer services at the Center. The neighborhood organizers worked to attract funding, recruit a Board of Directors, develop Bylaws and identify additional volunteers. 

1971 – On June 8th the Health Organization for Public Ethics or H.O.P.E. Inc. was legally incorporated. Care was provided to several hundred patients under the philosophy that no one would be denied care, regardless of income. By the end of 1971, H.O.P.E Inc. had moved to its present location at 1036 S. 16th Street, again a rented storefront location that had been the Jensen Jewelry store. The Center became known as the 16th Street Clinic. 

1974 – Services were expanded with support from United Way. Because of its strong emphasis on the importance of adequate nutrition and maintaining health, Sixteenth Street increased its visibility in Milwaukee as a regular contributor to WISN-TV Channel 12’s Health Fair. Sixteenth Street was also a vocal community advocate for the need to have translation services available for Spanish speaking patients at local hospitals. 

1975 – A partnership with St. Mary’s Hospital and use of their residency program was established. This relationship continues today with Columbia St. Mary’s providing substantial hospital support for low-income pregnant women who receive pre-natal care at Sixteenth Street. ¨

1979 – 1980 The Center doubled its size by renting adjacent storefront space. The number of Center staff doubled and the yearly patient load increased to 2,600 people in the medical program and 2,300 receiving the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) nutrition program. ¨

1981 – The first full-time physician was hired. Systems were set up to accept Medicaid, private insurance and Medicare. The Center’s first sliding fee scale (system based on patient’s ability to pay) was developed for low-income patients without insurance. 

1982-84 – Sixteenth Street received its first federal grant from the U.S. Public Health Service. With additional assistance from the City of Milwaukee Community Development Agency, local foundations and corporations, the Center was able to purchase the building, renovate the first floor, increase staff and install a computerized medical and billing system. The first bilingual social worker was hired to help with community residents non-medical problems. 

1984 – During the 70’s and 80’s the cultural diversity of the neighborhood increased dramatically. By 1980 Hispanics made up half the population of Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood. This population was predominantly Mexican, but with significant numbers of Puerto Ricans and Central and South Americans. A Refugee Health Grant provided support to care for the influx of Southeast Asian (Hmong) immigrants who were exiled from their home countries (Laos and Cambodia) as punishment for their support of the United States in the Viet Nam war. Between 1980 and 1990, the Southeast Asian population in Milwaukee grew from 3,600 to more than 11,000. ¨ 1985 - 1987 Major building renovations included remodeling of the second floor for administrative offices and health education rooms. The number of exam rooms increased to 12, allowing a second pediatrician and obstetrician gynecologist to be added to the medical staff. The WIC clinic moved to a nearby building to accommodate the expansion of medical services. Total clinic staff reached 40 and the agency budget grew to $1.6 million. 

1989 - 1994 - The need in the community for primary health care and social services surpassed the available space. A facility expansion was approved by the Board of Directors and completed in 1994. The number of exam rooms increased to 30 and allowed WIC site to move back on-site. ¨

1993 - A satellite clinic was opened at South Division High School in cooperation with Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee Health Department to provide health services to students. At Sixteenth Street’s main clinic, an HIV/AIDS outreach and case management program was developed, offering free anonymous testing to community residents. US Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala visited Sixteenth Street at the grand opening for the expansion, calling the clinic a national model for community health care. ¨ In order to diversify the Center’s revenue, and reduce reliance on grants, a fundraising program was started. In addition to creation of an ad hoc Fund Development sub-Committee of the Board of Directors, the First Annual Celebrity Roast was held. The guest of honor was Congressman Jerry Kleczka. See Celebrity Roast Background. 

1995 – Innovative community-based projects and new programs reliant on computer technologies were initiated. A lead poisoning prevention program, a multi-clinic immunization coordination project and a community environmental health assessment – the environmental health project was started. In 1996 the environmental health project and lead project were merged to form Sixteenth Street’s Department of Environmental Health. 

1997 - The Center purchased an historic bank building 1337 S. 16th Street, just two blocks south of the main clinic. The WIC clinic had room to expand and additional space was available for the Environmental Health Department, administrative offices and board of directors meeting room. In a win-win situation for community residents, low interest financing from the City facilitated the purchase, saved the beautiful bank building (constructed in 1921) from the wrecking ball and allowed the bank to continue providing services in the neighborhood by becoming a tenant in the building with a long-term lease with the clinic.

1997 – Sixteenth Street’s Bayview Community Dental Center began operation on November 3, 1997. Billing and collection services as well as an HIV outreach office also were re-located to this second building purchased at 2306 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. 

A family therapist was hired along with a part-time PhD level, licensed counselor to begin the State’s certification process for provision of behavioral health services.

1998 – Twenty new exam rooms were added in the lower level of the main clinic for a dedicated pediatric center. Administrative office space on the second floor that had been vacated was converted to reception and office space for a full time family therapy clinic – the new Behavioral Health Department. 

The Environmental Health Department received one of only 10 sustainable development challenge grants awarded nationally from the US Environmental Protection Agency, to create a vision for redevelopment for Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley – a former industrial hub and rail corridor. The $250,000 award would support work to engage government, private sector and community partners in a planning process for the Valley, create a new non-profit agency to manage development in the Valley and establish a benchmarking system to be able to assess the progress made. ¨

1999 – In partnership with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, an Urgent Care Clinic was opened, using Sixteenth Street’s pediatric clinic space during evening and weekend hours. ¨ The Environmental Health Department organized “A Vision for Smart Growth: Sustainable Development Design Charette” in partnership with the Planning and Design Institute. Teams of architects, urban design experts, businesses located in the Menomonee River Valley and government agencies worked to create guidelines for a brainstorming workshop. The charge was to ‘raise the bar’ on redevelopment and restoration activities in the Valley. The goal was to attract high-quality investors and family-supporting jobs that could add long-term value and pride to the community while reducing environmental impacts. ¨ 2000 – The Clinic underwent minor renovations to the top floor of the main clinic to increase space for the growing Behavioral Health Department. The Medical Records Department was also moved and expanded on the first floor. Caroline Kennedy-Schlossberg visited Sixteenth Street on November 3, 2000.

2001 – HIV services were expanded to become a Department offering prevention, outreach, testing and treatment. ¨ 2001 – The Roast of United States Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson was cancelled due to September 11th. However, Secretary Thompson had honored Sixteenth Street with his first official visit in Wisconsin earlier in the year --on May 3, 2001. At that visit, Secretary Thompson said “Community health care centers provide access to health care for millions of Americans who have been locked out of the traditional health care system. Thompson promoted President Bush’s first term initiative to double the number of people served by health centers.

2002 – A project to re-engineer the patient visit resulted in the formation of patient care teams to minimize patient waiting time and maximize provider time with the patient. Principles of the re-design include: Prepare for the Expected, Exploit Technology and Ruthlessly Eliminate Needless Work. Open Access scheduling was started at the same time, holding 70% of appointment slots open for same-day/next day scheduling. These changes resulted in a drop in the overall clinic no-show rate from 25-30% to 9-11%.

The Environmental Health Department, with support from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation received a grant award from the National Endowment for the Arts – New Public Works Initiative to plan and host a national design competition focusing on 140 acres on the western end of the Menomonee River Valley. The winning design would be implemented by the City and would lay the groundwork for development of a 140 acre parcel of land at the west end of the Valley. The 2002 Menomonee River Valley National Design Competition: Natural Landscapes for Living Communities received more than 140 submissions from architectural firms all over the world. In addition to Sixteenth Street, the Menomonee Valley Partners, the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Milwaukee County were main sponsors for the competition with final design chosen in June 2002.

2003 – Additional exam rooms and reception space were added to the lower level of the 1337 facility for on-site mammography and physical therapy services. Main clinic hours were extended to 10 p.m., the HIV program moved out of the main clinic to a storefront outreach site and additional exam room space was carved out of hallways and office space to try to accommodate additional patients.

2003 – A strategic planning initiative identified four major objectives to guide Sixteenth Street operations for the next five years – 1) Planning, design and construction of a second full service medical clinic 2) Implementation of an electronic medical record system 3) Comprehensive chronic care management for patients affected by diabetes, asthma or conditions associated with obesity and 4) On-going professional development, credentialing and staff training.

2004 – The 35th year of operation for Sixteenth Street was marked by the start-up of innovative and critically needed programs. Governor Doyle visited Sixteenth Street in February to announce a new Medicaid benefit that would allow fluoride varnish to be applied to the teeth of toddlers by their pediatrician during a well child check. A hepatitis C clinic was started by Dr. Garcia with about 12 patients in active treatment for this disease that can, without much warning, destroy the liver. This type of care is not typically available in a community setting, and is especially needed for high risk patients who would not be able to access specialty care at a hospital. In partnership with Extendicare Health Services, physical therapy services were started at Sixteenth Street. ¨ “Integrating the Environment, the Economy and Community Health: A Community Health Center’s Initiative to Link Health Benefits to Smart Growth” was published in February 2004 in the American Journal of Public Health. Key findings of the article are 1) A community health center can link restoration of the local environment, creation of good family-supporting jobs and public health 2) Visioning exercises help residents visualize how a revitalized area can look and function 3) These visioning and design events have served as a catalyst for achieving high-quality well-designed redevelopment and 4) Redevelopment of industrial brownfield sites may be an alternative to suburban and exurban sprawl.

2005 – Sixteenth Street purchased a building at 2906 S. 20th Street to open a second full service health center and consolidate services located at the 2306 S. Kinnickinnic building. When fully operational, the 30,000 square foot building would be home to as many as 15 medical providers who would be able to serve as many as 30,000 new patients.

2006 – On April 3rd, Sixteenth Street’s second medical clinic opened its doors with two pediatricians and one family practice provider. By the end of the year, an additional six medical staff and five behavioral health providers will be practicing at this site and will be supported by full time social service and financial counseling personnel. This expansion of care comes at a critical time for the community, as two other south side medical sites - the Johnston Community Health Center and Madre Angela Medical clinic - are closing their doors.

2007 – Expansion of health care capacity continued with the hiring of six full-time physicians, a certified nurse midwife, nurse practitioner and part time physician to practice at our Parkway Health Center.  Occupational therapy services were added, a mammography and radiology suite operated by Columbia St. Mary’s opened and the Marquette University School of Dentistry began operation, also at Parkway.  A contractual arrangement with Dental Associates enables us to refer our uninsured patients for dental services as well.

Stay tuned . . . .