Press Releases

YORK, PA – (August 5, 2024) – Family First Health (FFH) is pleased to announce that Jenny Englerth, CEO of Family First Health, has been selected from among hundreds of submissions to present at the 2024 Community Health Institute (CHI) & EXPO national convention in Atlanta, GA., hosted by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in August. This event is the nation’s premier gathering of Community Health Centers, attracting healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing health equity and providing accessible primary care.

The 2024 CHI & EXPO will address significant challenges facing health centers amid a backdrop of Medicaid redeterminations and growing competition for primary care providers. It will offer a platform for health centers to share innovative solutions and best practices, while also focusing on new disciplines, collaboration, workforce development, technology, and innovative models of care that address both social drivers of health and emerging public health issues.

With more than 25 years dedicated to enhancing the health of vulnerable populations, Englerth has built an impressive career with federally qualified community health centers. As the President & CEO of Family First Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system, she spearheads efforts to provide high-quality, cost-effective care to both urban and rural communities throughout south-central Pennsylvania. Her expertise and influence have been recognized in leading media outlets, including ProPublica, WITF’s Smart Talk, MSN.com, Fox 43, ABC27, Yahoo! News, Central Penn Business Journal, and PennLive. 

She will share how consistent storytelling and media engagement have positioned Family First Health’s leadership as community health advocates, leading to increased visibility and influence. The session will highlight the importance of aligning PR strategies with organizational goals, setting and monitoring KPIs, and developing innovative campaigns that engage new audiences and build credibility.

“I am honored to present at the 2024 Community Health Institute & EXPO. At Family First Health, we have seen firsthand the transformative power of strategic advocacy and taking control of our narrative to elevate our mission and amplify our health outcomes,” Englerth said. “I look forward to sharing our journey and insights on how health centers can leverage media relations, storytelling, and thought leadership to advance health equity, affirming our position as a provider, employer and partner of choice.” 

Englerth, along with co-presenter Amanda Peterson Martin, Senior Account Director, Health and Human Services – Public Relations at GAVIN™, will lead the session entitled “Advocacy in Action: Engaging Stakeholders and Leveraging Strategic Publicity for Community Health Centers” on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 8:45 to 10 a.m. ET at the national convention in Atlanta, GA. This session will explore the integration of strategic public relations and community advocacy.

Family First Health (FFH), serves over 25,000 patients in Pennsylvania, and has used strategic media and public relations for more than a decade to elevate its mission, resulting in over $20.7 million in publicity value, leading to increased partnership opportunities, support from larger donors and funding sources, employee evangelism, and increases in patient trust and engagement.

To learn more about the CHI & Expo Conference and to register, click here. 

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Columbia, Gettysburg, Hanover, Hannah Penn K-8 School, Lebanon, and Lewisberry. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

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New full-service office brings accessible, affordable, quality medical and behavioral health care to more than 1,600 students

For Immediate Release

YORK, PA – Family First Health (FFH) is pleased to announce it is expanding its health care relationship with the School District of the City of York by opening a student-based health center at William Penn Senior High School in York City.

The new, full-service primary care office will be available to each of the more than 1,600 students who attend the high school daily. The expansion of the existing health office will provide students access to medical and integrated behavioral health care without leaving campus, offering a vital resource to students who might not otherwise have access to the services.

“This is an exciting effort for us which is based on our partnership in learning from and collaborating with the school district at our school-based health center at Hannah Penn,” said Jenny Englerth, Family First Health President and CEO. “We know accessible healthcare provides greater opportunity for students. When they can access the health care they need, students learn better, attendance rates improve, and graduation rates increase.”

Family First Health currently operates York County’s only school-based health center at the Hannah Penn Pre-K-8 school. The new high school facility allows the school district to expand medical services to students through grade 12.

“For almost 30 years we have had a longstanding relationship with Family First Health and our students have benefitted,” says Dr. Andrea Berry-Brown, Superintendent of the School District of the City of York. “We are excited because this new center at William Penn Senior High School allows us to give students access to seamless medical and behavioral health care services pre-K through 12^th grade. We will reach more students and continue to show that when the community works together, it’s better for our students.”

Family First Health’s School-Based Health Center at Hannah Penn Pre-K-8 offers primary care, integrated behavioral health care, health and wellness coaching as well as mobile school dentistry, insurance enrollment, and more.

To support the new Family First Health at William Penn Senior High School, donations and pledges are being accepted through Family First Health’s website. The fundraising goal is $1.2 million.

For more information about Family First Health at William Penn Senior High School, please visit Family First Health’s website.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality health care at 8 convenient locations in Adams, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. Family First Health strives to improve the health of all members of the communities we serve through primary medical and dental care and a wide range of community health programs. Our uniquely qualified team of health care professionals creates an environment that is patient-centered, helping patients to live happier, healthier lives. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla Español.

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For Immediate Release

YORK, PA – Family First Health (FFH) is pleased to announce the launch of its innovative Community Scholars Program. This initiative aims to empower and support promising students within the community and existing FFH staff by providing them with financial assistance, valuable educational opportunities and mentorship.

The Family First Health Community Scholars Program is a testament to the organization’s commitment to fostering academic excellence, cultivating future leaders, and investing in the bright minds of our community. By establishing this program, FFH aims to break down barriers to education, create a pathway for success, and inspire a new generation of professionals dedicated to making a positive impact on our society.

“We are incredibly excited to introduce this program and make a lasting difference in the lives of talented individuals,” said Jenny Englerth, FFH President/CEO. “We believe investing in employees and community members is the key to building a brighter future, and by investing in our communities’ scholars, we aim to empower them to achieve their full potential.”

Through the program, FFH will award scholarships to deserving, aspiring students who have demonstrated achievements, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service. The program’s comprehensive support will include financial assistance, mentorship, and access to various education resources.

• For existing staff: any individual internally who desires to become a medical assistant, FFH will pay up to $10,000 for their education, to include certification. Through Harrisburg Area Community College, this would cover their entire tuition. FFH will also cover the cost of a current MA who wishes to become certified.
• For community members: this is an opportunity to attend a medical assistant training program, and become a certified medical assistant, even if you don’t have experience. Community members will receive $7,500 for their education (75% of the education expenses for a HACC program). Enrollees in the program can also complete an externship with FFH and obtain employment upon completion.

The funding for this program was made possible by a partnership between Family First Health and the Pennsylvania Association for Community Health.

“We are thrilled for Family First Health to launch this program,” said Judd Mellinger-Blouch, Director of Pennsylvania Primary Care Center. “We are impressed by their team’s creativity in a launching a program that will not only benefit their own staff and community members who want to pursue a career in healthcare but will contribute to the overall future health within our state and beyond.”

Applicants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The next HACC program will begin in late August. Interested applicants should contact Nicole Moore, HR Specialist at Family First Health, at 717-801-4861 or nmoore@familyfirsthealth.

For more information on the community scholars program, please visit the Family First Health website.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality health care at 8 convenient locations in Adams, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. Family First Health strives to improve the health of all members of the communities we serve through primary medical and dental care and a wide range of community health programs. Our uniquely qualified team of health care professionals creates an environment that is patient-centered, helping patients to live happier, healthier lives. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla Español.

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For Immediate Release

York, PA. Family First Health is pleased to announce the hiring of Brent Doores to the position of Vice President of Finance. Doores will oversee all day-to-day financial operations and strategic fiscal initiatives of the organization.

“I am pleased to welcome Brent to the FFH team!” said Jenny Englerth, CEO. “His expertise and enthusiasm for our mission made him the perfect choice to fill the role of VP of Finance. In this role he will set the strategic direction to support our financial health as we move forward from the impact of the pandemic.”

Doores most recently served as CEO for Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of York, where he oversaw day-to-operations as well as patient care and quality. Prior to that position, he served in leadership roles across a variety of service lines and specialties for fifteen years at WellSpan Health, including urgent care, heart and vascular services, and revenue management.

Brent earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Milliken University in Decatur, Illinois, and his master’s degree in business administration from York College.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality health care at 8 convenient locations in Adams, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. Family First Health strives to improve the health of all members of the communities we serve through primary medical and dental care and a wide range of community health programs. Our uniquely qualified team of health care professionals creates an environment that is patient-centered, helping patients to live happier, healthier lives. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla Español.

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For Immediate Release

York, PA. On April 4, 2023, Central Penn Business Journal hosted their annual “Health Care Heroes” awards to recognize excellence, promote innovation, and honor the efforts of organizations and individuals making a significant impact on the quality of health care in our area.

Family First Health is pleased to share that Dr. Luis Garcia, our Chief Medical Information Officer, received a “Physician Hero” award, which honors a physician who displays exemplary performance in his/her field and whose services benefit our local communities.

Dr. Garcia joined Family First Health in 2014. A practicing family physician, he provides primary care and family medicine services to adults and children at the George Street Center, and has proven to be a trusted advocate for the Spanish speaking patient population.

“The achievement of any family doctor can’t be measured in the typical way we think of achievements,” Garcia noted. “Family medicine is a medicine of relationships. It’s not the number of patients seen, procedures done, or lives saved but how the relationship affected the individual patient’s life.”

Dr. Garcia is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, and serves on the board of FACTS, an organization to promote and educate medical professionals about awareness based fertility methods.

His hobbies and interests include spending time with his family, traveling, and photography. He is also a writer and avid gardener, growing much of his own produce to support a healthy diet for his family.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality health care at 8 convenient locations in Adams, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. Family First Health strives to improve the health of all members of the communities we serve through primary medical and dental care and a wide range of community health programs. Our uniquely qualified team of health care professionals creates an environment that is patient-centered, helping patients to live happier, healthier lives. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla Español.

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For Immediate Release

York, PA. On Thursday, December 1, 2022, the York County Economic Alliance hosted their annual “Changemakers” Awards to celebrate the talent and drive of individuals of color making things happen in the York community. Awardees are also featured in the local Changemaker magazine edition.

Family First Health is pleased to share that Dr. LaJuan Mountain and Dr. Joseph Mountain, our Vice Presidents of Dental Services, received the “Builders” award. This recognizes their work to “strive to provide healthcare to all families in order to lead better lives.”

Besides being dental providers at FFH, the Doctors Mountain founded the organization’s Mobile School Dentist Program that takes the dentist office directly into schools and childcare centers so students receive oral health care and are provided with a dental home at FFH. The program, launched in 2015, has provided care for thousands of pre-school and school-aged children across our service area. For more information about this innovative program, click here: https://www.familyfirsthealth.org/mobile-school-dentist-program.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Columbia, Gettysburg, Hanover, Hannah Penn K-8 School, Lebanon, and Lewisberry. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla Español.

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Health Resources & Services Administration awards Family First Health five badges

YORK, PA – November 8, 2022 – Family First Health (FFH), a federally qualified health center (FQHC), recently received five 2022 Community Health Quality Recognition badges for notable quality improvement achievements from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).

Community health centers are required to submit quality data to HRSA every year. As a result, the centers may be awarded badges for their achievements. The badges represent significant improvements in access, quality and health equity. FFH received the following badges:

• Access Enhancer for the increase in the total number of patients served and the number of patients who receive at least one comprehensive service.
• Health Center Quality Leader, Bronze, for ranking in the top 21-30% in overall clinical quality measure (CQM) performance among all health centers.
• Advancing Health Information Technology (HIT) for Quality for meeting all criteria to optimize HIT services that advance telehealth, patient engagement, interoperability, and collection of social determinants of health data.
• Health Disparities Reducer for improvements for at least one racial/ethnic group or meeting established benchmarks for all racial/ethnic groups served.
• Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition (PCMH) for seeking accreditation for ambulatory health care and FFH’s continued team-based health care delivery model.

“Receiving five badges this year is an honor for Family First Health, as it’s a reflection of our commitment to provide high-quality care and improve the health of our community,” says Jenny Englerth, CEO and President of Family First Health. “This achievement would not have been possible without our dedicated staff and patients’ trust.”

For more information about Family First Health’s services and programs, please visit .

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Columbia, Gettysburg, Hanover, Hannah Penn K-8 School, Lebanon, and Lewisberry. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

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York County’s only school-based health center continues to provide services to students

York, PA – September 29, 2022 – Family First Health hosted a press conference on September 28 in honor of the Hannah Penn Center’s 25^th anniversary. For over two decades, the school-based health center has provided pediatric care, routine health exams, preventive care, referrals, integrated behavioral health services, and more to York County students and community members.

The Hannah Penn Center opened in 1997 with support from WellSpan Health, the City of York, and the School District of the City of York to make access to health care services easier for students. The staff of health professionals inside Hannah Penn K-8 includes a 24-hour on-call physician, language interpreters, a Health and Wellness Coach, and Community Health Workers who participate year-round in various school and community outreach efforts. Since 2020, the Hannah Penn Center has received funding from The United Health Foundation to enhance its impact.

Speakers at the press conference included:

• Jenny Englerth, Family First Health President/CEO
• Blair Boroch, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania CEO
• Andrea Berry, School District of City of York
• Carol Hill-Evans, PA House of Representatives
• Michael Helfrich, York Mayor

In addition, community member Shane Moore shared his family’s experience engaging with the Hannah Penn Center. Nicole Martinez Holguin, a 7th grader at Hannah Penn K-8, also shared her experiences as a patient at the school-based center and her work with FFH’s Health and Wellness Coach.

“Having the School-Based Health Center gives me the chance to take ownership of my health,” said Nicole Martinez Holguin. “My dad doesn’t have to leave work to pick me up from school and take me to the doctor. I can see the doctor during my school day by myself. This gives me the confidence to talk about what I need to be healthy.”

With better access to health services, students learn better, the attendance rate of students is increased, and the dropout rate is decreased, according to the School-Based Health Alliance.

For more information on the Hannah Penn Center, please follow Family First Health on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Columbia, Gettysburg, Hanover, Hannah Penn K-8 School, Lebanon, and Lewisberry. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

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09/12/2022