Sonoma Valley Community Health Center to Provide Sneak Peak; Covered California Support Offered

With the open enrollment period for Covered California quickly drawing to a close on March 31, the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center (SVCHC) will host a “sneak peek” open house event on Saturday, March 8 at 19270 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA.  The event will allow the SVCHC to provide assistance to community members in completing the Covered California application while providing a glimpse of the new building construction.

The new location and expanded health center facility is scheduled to open in August 2014 and the open house, scheduled for this Saturday, March 8, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., will be the first opportunity for the community to view the new facility as it is under construction.  Hardhat tours will be conducted to allow participants to view the bricks and mortar and hear about the plan for the building that will eventually house the full-service health center, allowing for expanded services for the Sonoma Valley community.

In addition, the SVCHC is proud to offer support to a diverse population in helping to ensure that all Sonoma Valley residents are afforded equal access to quality healthcare through the Covered California enrollment process. As part of the Affordable Care Act, following the March 31 deadline for the open enrollment period, residents must have health coverage or face possible tax penalties. In order to ensure that all eligible Sonoma Valley residents register for coverage, the SVCHC Outreach Staff will provide guidance and support in completing Covered California applications while hardhat tours of the new facility are being conducted. By enrolling prior to March 15, participants will be ensured coverage by April 1.

All community members are invited and encouraged to sneak preview the new facility, as our community celebrates the additional healthcare services this new facility allows the health center to provide. Additional open house dates are scheduled for April and May 2014 allowing the community to take part in this expansion project throughout the entire construction process.

SAVE THE DATE - Upcoming Covered California Application Assistance Events:

· Friday, March 14 (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.): Abe Daniels, business development manager, Sonoma County Department of Health Services, presentation at Sonoma Valley Regional Library; followed by application assistance from SVCHC outreach staff

· Saturday, March 15 (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.): Application assistance and sign up by Redwood Health Coalition – First Floor SVCHC Behavioral Heath Building

· Saturday, March 29 (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) – Last Application Assistance before March 31 deadline; Redwood Health Coalition Application Assistance with Americorp volunteers – First Floor SVCHC Behavioral Health Building

In addition, hardhat tours will offer great photo opportunities. Reporters and photographers are invited and encouraged to attend.