Cervical cancer can be prevented: Get screened!

Empower Your Health with Regular Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical cancer is preventable! Women can take action by getting screened regularly, starting at age 21. Early detection makes a big difference—it can save lives.

Most cervical cancers are caused by HPV, a very common virus spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. Many women will have HPV at some point, but most won’t even know it. For some, HPV can lead to cervical cancer.

Screening for cervical cancer is easy

The two main tests to screen for cervical cancer are the Pap test (also known as Pap smear) and the HPV test. They help find cervical cancer early or even stop it before it starts.

If your Pap test results are abnormal, it’s usually not cancer. Most often, it means HPV has caused changes in your cervical cells that need a closer look. Learn more about abnormal Pap results and the specialists available at Denver Harbor Family Health Center.

HPV Vaccine can lower the risk of cervical cancer

Women can also lower their risk with the HPV vaccine. The vaccine protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical cancer. It’s a safe and effective way to protect your health.

Your health matters! Be proactive and prevent cervical cancer!

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable types of cancer. Yet, each year, about 11,500 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 4,000 die from it. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Early detection and prevention can stop it before it becomes serious and life-threatening.

Call to schedule your screening!

Call to schedule your cervical cancer screening or HPV vaccination at either of our locations.

Airline Children & Women’s Health Center
713-695-4013

Denver Harbor Family Health Center
713-674-3326

What is a Pap test or Pap smear?

A Pap test checks for changes in the cells of a woman’s cervix that could be caused by HPV or early signs of cervical cancer. During the test, a doctor gently collects a small sample of cells from the cervix. It’s quick, and while it might feel a little uncomfortable, it shouldn’t be painful. Regular Pap tests are the best way to catch problems early when they’re easier to treat.

Empower Your Health Through Cervical Cancer Awareness

What is an HPV text?

An HPV test checks for the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer in women. This test is often done at the same time as a Pap test using the same cell sample. An HPV test can identify high-risk types of HPV before they cause problems, helping doctors take action to prevent cervical cancer.

National HRSA quality leader: Celebrating 5 years

Vecino Health Centers (Houston Community Health Centers, Inc.) continues to set the standard for exceptional care, earning recognition as an HRSA Health Center Quality Leader for the fifth consecutive year.

In 2024, Vecino achieved Silver Status, placing us among the top 30% of health centers nationwide. We are proud to be one of only three health centers in Harris County, Texas, to receive this distinction.

HRSA’s Community Health Quality Recognition badges highlight Health Center Programs that demonstrate excellence in improving access, quality, equity, and health IT. These badges further validate our commitment to providing high-quality, accessible care to all our patients.

This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team and reinforces our commitment to providing high-quality, accessible healthcare to all patients.

Two locations in northeast Houston.

Vecino Health Centers provides quality health care to insured and uninsured patients in northeast Houston in Harris County, Texas, through Denver Harbor Family Health Center and Airline Children & Women’s Health Center and outreach at six school-based sites.

Honoring the legacy of Dan Gillett

With sadness, we honor the life and legacy of our dear colleague and friend, Dan (Daniel) Gillett. He passed away on July 24, 2024. Dan joined Vecino Health Centers in May 2010 and, over the years, became an integral part of the organization.

Dan (Daniel) Gillett was the IT Director

Dan’s formal title was IT Director, but his role extended far beyond that. He wore many hats, contributing significantly to numerous key technology advancements at Vecino. For example, he had an instrumental part in implementing our state-of-the-art electronic medical record system in 2015, transforming how we deliver care and support to our patients.

Dan’s dedication to Vecino’s mission was unwavering. His passion for technology and innovation helped us stay at the forefront of healthcare services, ensuring our community received the best possible care. Dan’s work ethic, kindness, and commitment made a lasting impression on all of us, and his legacy will continue to inspire us.

While we mourn his untimely passing, we also celebrate the profound impact he had on our organization and our lives. Dan would want us to remain strong and focused on our mission, and we honor him by continuing our work with the same passion and dedication he exemplified.

Dan’s spirit will forever be a part of Vecino Health Centers. We are grateful for the time we had with him and for the remarkable contributions he made.

No health insurance? No problem! Vecino’s Get Care Program

Don’t let a lack of health insurance prevent you from getting the care you need.

Vecino Health Center’s Get Care program is designed to remove financial barriers to regular health care, especially for those who are uninsured or unemployed.

If you’re unemployed or uninsured for other reasons, we’re here for you.

Patients enrolled in the Get Care program can receive medical, counseling, and dental services through telehealth or at Vecino’s clinics without worrying about how much it’s going to cost.

How it works:

Once enrolled, your fees are determined on a sliding scale based on your current financial situation.
You may also be eligible for coverage, but knowing your options can be challenging. We’ll help you understand and apply for the benefits that are available to you.

Take the first step:

Call 713-674-3326 to start your application process

Get Care, and stay well

We care about your health, which is especially important during times of transition or uncertainty. Make your health a priority. Call 713-674-3326 or enter your name, email, or phone number in the form below, and an eligibility specialist will contact you to start the application process.

I’m interested in the Get Care program.

Privacy policy: We will only use your information to respond to your inquiry. Your information will not be shared or used for any other purpose.

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Vecino Health Centers is transforming the way women and families engage in health care

Vecino’s Healthy Women → Healthy Families Initiative is taking a comprehensive, community-centered approach to tackling the most challenging health issues facing families in northeast Houston.

Healthy-Women-Healthy-Families-visual-elements-8

The health of families and communities begins with women and girls

The research is clear: the health of women and girls determines the health and well-being of the community. Health outcomes extend far beyond clinics and exam rooms. Health is centered in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and places of work and worship. When we focus on a woman’s health and the health of her family, we transform the community as a whole.

Families in northeast Houston have some of the lowest life expectancies in the country. Rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity are high and engagement in prenatal care is low. The new initiative seeks to reverse these trends by reimagining the way women and their families engage with healthcare services at Vecino.

An integrated approach to tackle unacceptably high rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity

Vecino Health Centers has long understood that healthcare is most effective when it is patient-centered and community-centered. The Healthy Women → Healthy Families Initiative takes this approach a step further.

Instead of focusing on standalone appointments that treat a single health issue, patients engage in care through a lifespan approach. Services are delivered as a bundle of care by a coordinated, multidisciplinary team.

There are many factors that affect health. The health of families and the communities in which they live have a significant impact on the health of women. With this in mind, Vecino is implementing a broad approach to women’s health care through the initiative. Specialty care for women now includes care for all members of the family unit. Vecino’s community outreach efforts are also expanding through the Initiative to include health forums and screenings and additional partnerships with community-based organizations.

Designed by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals

The model for the Healthy Women → Healthy Families Initiative was designed by a multidisciplinary team of medical, behavioral health, and social service experts at Vecino. It integrates the following four components:

Women’s health: Women’s specialty care is delivered as a bundle of comprehensive services. These services focus on all aspects of wellbeing, including the non-medical factors in a woman’s life that affect her physical and mental health.
Prenatal and postnatal health: A multidisciplinary team is delivering Vecino’s specialty maternity care. This includes the broad spectrum of prenatal care, from pre-conception and family planning through breastfeeding consultation and postpartum care.
Family health: Specialty care for women encompasses care for all members of the family unit. This includes pediatric care, wellness exams for adults and children, behavioral health services, and substance abuse treatment.
Community health: Vecino is expanding its partnership with schools and community-based organizations to promote the overall well-being of the community and neighborhoods where patients live, study, and work. Community health workers are engaging members of the community through health forums, health fairs, and screenings.

Follow the progress of the Healthy Women → Healthy Families Initiative

The first phases of the Healthy Women → Healthy Families Initiative are well underway. Additional components are set to roll out over the next year.

To learn more about the initiative or find out how you can support Vecino Health Centers as it champions the health of women and families, contact us to receive updates or to partner with Vecino. Contact the team.

Join the Initiative as a patient

For more information about the initiative or to make a health care appointment, please contact Alix CaDavid by phone at 713-343-5512 or by email.

Vecino Health Centers receives $2.6 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

Houston — Dec. 11, 2023 — Vecino Health Centers, a private, nonprofit health care provider, today announced the receipt of a $2.6 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott through Yield Giving. The substantial one-time grant comes with no restrictions on its use, providing a significant boost to community-based health care in Houston.

“We appreciate this extraordinary and unrestricted support,” said Daniel Montez, CEO of Vecino Health Centers. “These funds will expedite our advancements in delivering high-quality community-based health care in the most cost-effective ways possible.”

Unrestricted funds are crucial to Vecino Health Centers’ and other nonprofit organizations’ financial stability and operational flexibility. These funds are not earmarked for specific programs or purposes and can be used at the discretion of the organization’s leadership. Vecino Health Centers plans to use this gift to implement initiatives for financial self-sustainability and future growth.

“This donation will fortify the organization and enhance its long-term sustainability,” said David Webster, board chair of Vecino Health Centers and executive vice president of Bank of Houston. “It signifies a vote of confidence to the entire staff, and we are immensely grateful.”

A Federally Qualified Health Center, Vecino Health Centers operates under the principle that everyone deserves access to quality health care services. The organization provides health care services to nearly 12,000 patients from working families in northeast Houston through its two centers: Denver Harbor Family Health Center and Airline Children & Women’s Health Center. It extends its impact through behavioral health outreach initiatives conducted in association with local schools.

About Vecino Health Centers

Established in 1999, Vecino Health Centers is a private, nonprofit health care provider committed to delivering quality health services to Houston families. With a focus on efficiency and excellence, Vecino Health Centers is at the forefront of health services in northeast Houston, providing primary care, behavioral health and community health outreach programs. For more information, please visit vecinohealthcenters.org.

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