Codman Square Health Center 2022 Year in Review
Looking back on 2022, we are proud to have accomplished a lot with our patients as well as our community. Delivering primary care to our 23,000+ patients is always our priority, and we know that takes a lot more than seeing patients for appointments. It takes new and innovative ways to reach out to our patients, community engagement, fundraising, advocacy, and more. Check out some of our highlights of 2022.
January: COVID Surge and Massive At-Home Test Distribution
The word Omicron was becoming a household term as the new ultra-contagious strain of COVID made its way through the state. In January, Massachusetts saw the highest average number of COVID cases since the pandemic began.
Testing resources throughout the state were strained, and Codman was no exception. Fortunately, this month also saw wide availability of at-home COVID testing kits. Codman got to work distributing COVID tests with detailed instructions to patients and community members.
February: Launched PrEP campaign – Boston is Prepared
Codman partnered with 7 other sites who provide HIV prevention, testing, and treatment to promote the availability of PrEP with our Boston is Prepared campaign. PrEP is a daily pill that people can take to prevent contracting HIV.
The campaign was created after HIV testing and treatment leaders decided that health centers and agencies could make more of a public health impact if we pooled our resources to promote the availability of PrEP. We launched a website BostonisPrepared.org that explained PrEP, answered questions about it, and included an interactive map where users could find the PrEP provider closest to them.
We promoted the site through an advertising campaign on public transportation, billboards, and digital advertising.
March & April: Implemented new digital signage at 13 locations throughout our campus
In an effort to communicate important information about health center news and health education, Codman launched a new digital signage platform. Anyone in health center waiting rooms, front entrance, or the lobby can read important health-related and community messages on the monitors.
May: Participated in the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace
Codman gathered a large team of staff and supporters to participate in the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace. Hosted by the Louis D Brown Peace Institute, the event raises funds for the group’s services, advocacy, and training. The walk goes through Dorchester and Roxbury.
June: Marched in the Dorchester Day Parade (first time since 2019)
The highlight of June was Codman walking the Dorchester Day Parade for the first time since 2019. Codman staff (and friends) walked ahead of the CSHC van giving out hand-clappers to children and enjoying the crowd.
July: Responded to Mpox outbreak with educational information and vaccine clinics
The country learned about a new virus last summer when monkeypox virus (Mpox) started to appear in the US. In July, Massachusetts saw cases and health officials stepped up prevention efforts. The virus was spreading among men who had sex with men and was more prevalent among people of color. Codman worked with public health leaders, and quickly began vaccinating the at-risk populations with targeted outreach and clinics.
August: Celebrated National Health Center Week with several events
Codman celebrated National Health Center Week in August by honoring staff with awards and socials, and hosting a health education and family fun event in the community.
Each year, health center staff are invited to nominate colleagues who they believe go above and beyond and deserve to be recognized as “Health Center Heroes.” Those staff are recognized with posters in the lobby, social media postings, and around the health center.
We also hosted our National Health Center Week Social Saturday, done in partnership with the Codman Square Neighborhood Council. We performed health screenings for community members, provided health education and information about our services, nutrition samples, vaccines, lunch, and activities for children.
September: Hosted Secretary Becerra and US. Rep Pressley for Women’s Health Roundtable
When US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and US Representative Ayanna Pressley hosted a roundtable event about women’s health, they chose Codman as their location. Medical and policy experts joined the panel to talk about maternal morbidity among women of color and some other important aspects of women’s health.
October: We Celebrated the 25th anniversary of Men of Boston Cook for Women’s Health
We celebrated the 25th anniversary of our signature fundraising event Men of Boston Cook for Women’s Health – in person for the first time since 2019. It was a gorgeous night with lots of delicious food and drinks from the generous local restaurants, bars, and distributors.
Governor Charlie Baker presented Codman CEO Sandra Cotterell with a special citation on the occasion of the anniversary. CNN’s John King and WCVB’s Mike Wankum entertained the crowd again as the emcees of the event.
November/December: Co-hosted Network Night on climate change and Dorchester
Codman partnered with the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation and the Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative to educate community members about how air quality and climate change are impacting the health of people in Dorchester. This was the first in a 3-part series of network nights around climate change and health in our communities.
