Burleson Health Resource Center to Open in Caldwell

The Burleson Health Resource Center (BHRC) will hold its grand opening on Thursday, October 28, 2004, from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m. A ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. The BHRC is located on the Burleson St. Joseph Health Center grounds at 1101 Woodson Drive in Caldwell, Texas.
Speakers at the event include Reed Edmundson, CEO of Burleson St. Joseph Regional Health Center and Madison St. Joseph Regional Health Center, and Burleson County Judge Mike Sutherland.
The BHRC’s mission is to improve access to care and health status of Burleson County residents through collaboration and coordination of services. The Brazos Valley Health Partnership, assisted by the Community Health Development Program at the School of Rural Public Health, created the health resource center model used by the BHRC. Through the BHRC, organizations headquartered in Brazos County now have the opportunity to expand their services into Burleson County and provide increased access for residents. These agencies are all located in one office space. The BHRC co-locates the following service providers:
· Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol & Substance Abuse
· Brazos Valley Council of Governments’ County Indigent Health Care Program
· Brazos Valley Telehealth Partnership
· Brazos Valley Health Partnership Transportation System
· Project Unity
· Rape Crisis Center
Following a comprehensive community health status assessment in 2001, community leaders and organizations participated in task groups to develop recommendations on how to address health issues in the Brazos Valley community. The residents of Burleson County formed the Burleson Health Partnership, which is open to all residents. They are providing local support and leadership and will be able to give feedback to the process.
The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center provides the state with health education, outreach and research. Its five components located in communities throughout Texas are Baylor College of Dentistry, the College of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology and the School of Rural Public Health.