Baby Health Service was founded in 1914 to provide baby formula at no cost to needy families. Today our mission has expanded greatly to meet the changing needs of children in our community. Since well over 18% of Fayette County children have no insurance, our focus and mission has evolved into providing total health care to children between the ages of birth through 12 years. Baby Health Service is now a pediatric health clinic that provides free medical care to children whose families are ineligible for a medical card, yet cannot afford health insurance. These are the children of the “working poor”, who often fall through the cracks in our current health system.
The clinic is open five mornings a week. Our staff consists of 11 physicians who volunteer their time on a rotating basis prior to attending to their own practices. Volunteer board members actually work in the clinic and facilitate the running of the clinic during clinic hours. Our only paid staff consists of a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and two R.N.’s. This personnel assists the physicians in providing well and sick child examinations, immunizations, x-rays, and blood tests. Medicines are also dispensed at no cost to our families.
In 2008 over 3,000 children received medical care at Baby Health. Each year our numbers increase. We operate this clinic without United Way or federal funding. Our board members work to meet an operating budget by soliciting funds through grants, foundations, corporations, and individuals in our community.
Through the volunteer efforts of our physicians and board members in 1997, we were presented the prestigious “President’s Service Award” by President Clinton and the Points of Light Foundation. Baby Health Service truly demonstrates what can be accomplished in a community without government reliance.