East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc.
The East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc. (Council) is a multi-service not-for-profit which coordinates an array of affordable and no cost services to more than 10,000 individuals each year without regard for an individual’s ability to pay for services.
The Council was incorporated in 1965 through the grass-roots efforts of East Harlem residents committed to addressing the critical unmet need for culturally and linguistically accessible, affordable health and human services in El Barrio. The Board of Directors and more than 160 staff members are united in a commitment to the Council’s mission of providing the highest quality of comprehensive, community-based, fully bilingual services to the East Harlem community.
The Council is the largest grass-roots, multi-services not-for-profit in East Harlem. The Council has experienced continuous growth and evolution to become the thriving institution which it is today. By continuing its strong history of diverse community-based leadership, and commitment to the self-determination of this institution and the East Harlem community at large, the Council has positioned itself for continued growth. The Council continuously renews its commitment to the residents of El Barrio to ensure that the Boriken Neighborhood Health Center and its sister programs will continue to provide affordable quality comprehensive services in East Harlem for many more decades.
Boriken Neighborhood Health Center
Established by the Council in 1974 with support from the United States Public Health Service, the Boriken Neighborhood Health Center’s mission is to provide the highest quality of comprehensive medical, dental, health education and social services to the residents of East Harlem without regard to the individual patient’s ability to pay.
Boriken is committed to addressing each patient's comprehensive needs, including those related to medical, mental health and psychosocial issues. Boriken's medical, dental, mental health and psychosocial services providers are uniquely qualified to provide services to the residents of East Harlem. Most are bilingual in Spanish, and all are extremely aware of the factors that impact on the health of East Harlem residents. All provider staff is conscious of the poor condition of much of East Harlem's housing stock, common diets among patients which often include foods high in cholesterol, fat and salt, and common social support structures for patients, which often include extended families. This knowledge of the community and its residents allows providers to develop comprehensive and realistic service and treatment plans to address each patient's needs and build on existing supports and strengths.
Boriken provides the following ambulatory care services: adolescent health; adult medicine; comprehensive HIV-related education and outreach, counseling and testing, case-management and primary care services and transportation; dental; family medicine; geriatrics; gynecology (including diagnostic colposcopy); hypertension clinic; nutrition; obstetrics; onsite laboratory; pediatrics; pharmacy (operated by private pharmacist onsite); podiatry; social work; and substance abuse counseling.
Diagnostic and treatment services are provided at Boriken's clinic, which is located within Taino Towers, a large public housing complex. In addition, Boriken provides health screening and health education services throughout the community. The Center has grown tremendously since moving into its current facility in October 1978, and the site is ill-suited for its current use. Boriken is planning for the relocation of its services to a larger, more modern facility, pending renovation of the vacant building located at 2265 Third Avenue, which the Council purchased from New York State in April 2000.
Location: 2253 Third Avenue 3rd Floor between 122nd and 123rd Streets in Taino Towers.
Boriken - School Health Program
The Boriken - School Health Program has provided primary care services in East Harlem schools since 1983. The Program operates clinics which offer medical and mental health services in three elementary schools (Public Schools 7, 112 and 155). The Boriken Neighborhood Health Center serves as backup facility when clinics are closed.
Locations:
P.S. 155, 319 East 117th Street
P.S. 112, 535 East 119th Street
P.S. 7, 160 East 120th Street
WIC Program
The East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc. Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program provides nutritional services to 1,000 women, infants and children each year. The Program is located onsite at Boriken and has served East Harlem families since 1978.
Location: 2253 Third Avenue 2nd Floor at Taino Towers
Bilingual Head Start Program
The Council’s Bilingual Head Start Program has been educating East Harlem’s children since 1969 and currently serves 340 children aged 3 to 5 years at two sites.
Locations:
440-46 East 116th Street (between Pleasant and First Avenues)
30 East 111th Street (at Madison Avenue)
Family Day Care Program
Since 1967, the Council’s Family Day Care Program has provided vitally needed day care services to East Harlem families. The Program currently serves 152 children and within 60 family day care provider homes, with free meals and snacks.
Location: 2253 Third Avenue 2nd Floor at Taino Towers with provider homes throughout East Harlem
Senior Nutrition Program
Established in 1979, the Council’s Senior Nutrition Program provides 191 meals in four senior citizen centers each day, as well as 174 meals daily to homebound elderly persons.
Locations:
Casabe Housing/Senior Center, 150 East 121st Street (at Lexington Avenue)
Schomberg Plaza Senior Center, 1309 Fifth Avenue (at 110th Street)
Benjamin Flores Senior Center, Taino Towers (123rd Street & Second Avenue)
Theater Arts Senior Center, 120 East 110th Street (Park & Lexington Avenues)
Mount Morris New Homes
Based on its excellent reputation and history within the East Harlem community, the Council was invited by the New York City Partnership Housing Development Fund Company, Inc. to serve as Community Sponsor of Mount Morris New Homes, a home ownership project located on East 118th and 119th Street between Madison and Park Avenues.
