St. Jacob’s proudly announces that beginning April 12th, we will be hosting the Stark County Health Department’s monthly Childhood Immunization Clinic serving the Lake Township area. The clinic, which provides low cost immunizations to the community is held the second Monday of the month from 1:30PM-3PM.

The Childhood Immunization Clinic is offered as part of the Federal Vaccines for Children Program and is primarily used by families with young children – a demographic that St. Jacob’s actively tries to reach.

The Stark County Health Department has been hosting these walk-in clinics throughout the county for many years as supplements to the medical services they offer by appointment at their Belden Village location. Currently clinics are held in Louisville, Navarre, Canal Fulton and Uniontown. St. Jacob’s is replacing the Lake Senior Center in Uniontown where space has become very limited. The clinic staff is extremely professional and the clinic is very self-contained needing little from us other than space.

The clinic offers vaccinations which sell at a pediatrician’s office for $150.00 or more per shot (plus the charge of the office visit), for $14.00 per shot. If a family is unable to pay the fee, they can pay what they can afford or pay nothing – no questions asked. For families with young children – especially those whose employers do not offer corporate sponsored health insurance or those whose insurance does not cover immunizations, this service is invaluable.

The Good News committee presented the possibility of a partnership with the Health Department at the January 2010 Council Meeting. After conversations with the Health Department staff during which concerns about potential liability issues and a few other questions were satisfactorily addressed, Council formally approved the partnership in February 2010.

The Childhood Immunization Clinic (not to be confused with a general health clinic) will be housed on the lower level of the Education Wing in rooms E10, E12 and E14. Patients and clinic staff will utilize the lower parking lot and enter via the east door, allowing for easy access with little disturbance to the St. Jacob’s staff or activities scheduled elsewhere in the church.

The Good News committee, in partnership with Pastor Schafer, the custodians and the Administration Committee, will ensure that the space we provide is in excellent condition. We will ask for volunteers to give an hour on the Sunday before the clinic Monday to set up the rooms and make sure that the area is ready for the clinic.

St. Jacob’s is blessed with an excellent facility that is lovingly maintained. Sharing our building – a ministry of space – for the benefit of our community is a great opportunity to serve and positively impact the lives of people near us. The Health Department clinic provides a much appreciated service, and we provide a safe and clean environment.

It’s a partnership to be proud of!