Cutting the ribbon at the new offices of CCI Health & Wellness Services were (from left) Warren Hansen, senior legislative aide to Councilmember Roger Berliner, Eric Stroud, CCI board chair, Jane Redicker, president of the Great Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, CCI CEO Kathleen Knolhoff, and Suzanne Lofhjelm, constituent services for U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen. Photo by Mike Diegel.
CCI Health & Wellness Services cut the ribbon on its expanded offices in Silver Spring Nov. 29, allowing it to add dental facilities for all and reproductive health for young people to its health care offerings for patients.
The Silver Spring site originally offered only primary care services for pediatrics and adults when it opened in spring, 2013.
“We were able to expand . . . it was a great opportunity to add dental services and adolescent services, which was offsite,” said José Luis Diaz, communications and marketing director for the organization. A federal grant enabled the group to add the dental services.
“The offering of integrated services really is the most efficient way to ensure that you look at a person in a more holistic way, rather than just treating symptoms,” he added. “Dental care is one of the things that most people ignore, and most people don’t do until it’s too late.”
CCI also now offers behavioral health care at the site, which is located at 8630 Fenton St. The group provides care at 15 locations in Montgomery County and northern Prince George’s County, with two more under construction. Its headquarters, referred to as the “support center,” is at the Silver Spring site.
CCI began in 1969 with volunteer health care professionals treating young people in Rockville. It incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1972.
In 1992, the state of Maryland awarded CCI the Montgomery County contract for the Special Supplemental Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, with an initial enrollment of 7,600 participants. The program now serves about 32,000 participants and is the largest WIC program in the state, Diaz said.
In all, CCI treats more than 60,000 patients annually at its facilities; more than 4,500 of those are seen in Silver Spring.
CCI originally started as a safety net for people below the poverty line without insurance, but now accepts insured and uninsured patients at all income levels.
Unlike most dentists, CCI staff will treat infants as soon as their first tooth appears. The group also offers prenatal care, routine immunizations, physical exams for sports participants, and other health services for children and adults.
Suzanne Lofhjelm, constituent services for U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, reads a proclamation honoring CCI as Eric Stroud, CCI board chair, Jane Redicker, president of the Great Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, and CCI CEO Kathleen Knolhoff listen. Photo by Mike Diegel.