Union Mission serves the health care needs of homeless people through it’s J.C. Lewis Health Center and serves persons living with HIV/AIDS through it’s Phoenix Project. Health Services components are designed to treat preventive and immediate medical needs.

The J. C. Lewis Health Center

The facility is a federally qualified health center and offers 32 primary care beds for respite care and is the main site for general outpatient care, including dental health, eye clinics, and health promotion.

The services provided through the J. C. Lewis Health Center in 2005 saved Memorial Health University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System $14,455,063 in the cost of uncompensated care.

Outpatient Services for 2005
• 1,653 patients were seen
• Responded to 10,505 patient encounters

Respite Services for 2005
• 120 total admissions

Dental Services

The J. C. Lewis Health Center Dental Clinic provides oral health care/dental services to homeless persons, including exams (routine and emergency), x-rays, cleanings, periodontal therapy, extractions, oral surgery, restorations, and dentures.

2005 results include:
• Served 600 individuals
• Responded to 1,422 encounters
• Diverted 221 emergency room visits

The Phoenix Clinic and Project House Call

The Clinic provides health services to anyone living with HIV/AIDS and operates Project House Call for visiting medical assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS.

2005 Services
• Served 136 individuals
• Responded to 1,025 patient encounters

Health Education Programs

Health Prevention and Education Programs help to prevent disease, increase early detection of chronic disease, and decrease emergency room/medical visits. These programs served hundreds of people in our community last year.

Real AIDS Prevention Project (RAPP):
HIV/AIDS and STD prevention, testing, and counseling customized for African American Women — located at Phoenix Place.

HOLD UP!:
HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention tailored for adolescents currently delivered through a Hip-Hop play — stationed at Phoenix Place.

Health Prevention Project:
Prevention and assessment for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory infections, and smoking cessation — located at the J.C. Lewis Health Center

HIV Prevention:
HIV/AIDS and STD prevention, testing, and counseling especially for substance users — provided at the J.C. Lewis Health Center

Savannah Area Behavioral Health Collaborative (SABHC)

Comprised of the Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless, Memorial Health University Medical Center, Recovery Place of Savannah, and Union Mission, SABHC meets the needs of adults with mental health and substance abuse treatment throughout Chatham County.

Treatment: Substance abuse services are delivered at 17 Minus Avenue in Garden City through an in-kind contribution by the Chatham County Commission. Mental Health treatment is available at 42 and 44 Medical Arts.

In 2005, SABCH
• Treated 1,239 persons for substance abuse
• Treated 2,744 persons with mental health diagnoses
• Impacted a total of 3,983 persons and their families in Chatham County

Residential Stabilization Unit (RSU) and Detoxification services are delivered at the J.C. Lewis Health Center.

2005 Results
• RSU served 322 persons
• Detoxification served 141 persons

Residential Services: Union Mission, in conjunction with SABHC, is responsible for four group homes for the mentally ill in Chatham County.

• Hamilton House
• Habersham House
• Donnelly House
• Miller House

There were 45 consumers who resided in group homes in 2005. Of these, ten were discharged, five of whom obtained permanent housing.

Future Development of Health Services of Union Mission, Inc.

In 2006, our ability to better serve the community will be significantly enhanced by the groundbreaking for the SABHC J.C. Lewis Behavioral Health Center. The Center is intended to be the site of intensive day treatment services treating substance dependency and/or mental health symptoms It is projected to serve over 4000 people annually who are a part of Savannah’s uninsured and indigent population. The Center will open in 2007.