Good vision is important to your overall health and happiness. Your eyes change over time and having regular exams allows your eye doctor to watch for those changes to protect your vision.

For more information, please contact:
Catherine Veaco, OD
Director of Optometry Services
(209) 383-1848 or cveaco@gvhc.org

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects 20.8 million people in the United States. In 2002, the direct and indirect cost of diabetes reached $132 billion dollars. This cost included medical care and services, short and long-term disability, and premature death due to diabetes. For several years, Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC) has implemented system wide improvements to deliver quality care to our diabetes patients. Our leadership has adopted strategic goals to promote improved access to quality care and services. This visible support has yielded a number of meaningful improvements within our health system design. We have standardized our diabetes progress notes, adopted best practice guidelines, and implemented a new disease tracking registry. In short, these changes have allowed us to deliver better patient centered care in the communities we serve.

For more information, please contact:
Kennoris Bates
Nutritional Services Coordinator
(209) 385-5583 or kbates@gvhc.org

Golden Valley Health Centers began integrating behavioral health into its primary care services five years ago as a response to overwhelming nationwide research that many patients seeking care in primary care clinics also suffer from stress or other concerns or problems which adversely affect their health. In addition, most patients prefer to receive counseling or mental health medications at the same place they receive their physical care. GVHC currently has four behavioral health providers and two psychiatrists serving seven of GVHC’s sites. Behavioral health providers address severe mental illness as well as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, parenting concerns, stress, and other life struggles. In the integrated program, behavioral health clinicians work with primary care providers as a team to treat the whole person, addressing physical and mental health needs.

For more information, please contact:
Elizabeth Morrison, LCSW, NCAC III
Clinical Director of Behavioral Health Services
(209) 385-5403 or emorrison@gvhc.org

With the support from the California Breast Cancer Research Program and in partnership with local researchers, Golden Valley Health Centers is creating, implementing and evaluating a health promotion research project (Project Perlas). The goal is to increase mammography screening among Latinas with Diabetes to help reduce the health disparity gap. The objectives of the project are to adapt an existing diabetes program to include components that may increase mammography screening and to assess the feasibility of the intervention.

For more information, please contact:
Christine Noguera
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
(209) 385-5220 or

In 2005, AWHI (Agricultural Worker Health Initiative) introduced the Poder Popular para la Salud del Pueblo program. Focusing on Community and Population Health, The Poder Popular program introduces Leadership, Civic Engagement, Health, Critical Analytical skills, among other subject matter, to volunteer farm workers. The series of skill training workshops are taught employing education popular training methods. www.podermerced.org

For more information, please contact:
Martin Diaz
Program Manager
(209) 385-5411 or mldiaz@gvhc.org

Recent research has shown that oral health is significantly associated with many health conditions. Golden Valley is working toward incorporating oral health into all health areas. A few examples are our Diabetes and Oral Health Project and our referral and tracking system for pregnant patients to see the dentist. Recently, an oral health needs assessment was done for the state of California, and it found that there is an exceptionally high rate of cavities in young children. GVHC will be doing a dental day for early screening and education of children 0-5. GVHC is also working on a fluoride varnish program in the future and creating open access for mothers to come in to the dentist to help overcome barriers to appropriate oral health care.

For more information, please contact:
Chad Vargas
Dental Site Administrator
(209) 349-1671 or cvargas@gvhc.org

The Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition (MMCAC) is a community based health organization whose mission is to: Control asthma through awareness and education. The MMCAC was formed in 1997 as a grassroots organization by a group of local health care providers and is now housed at Golden Valley Health Centers. Joining the Coalition is free and open to the general public. Coalition membership consists of health professionals, healthcare organizations, parents of asthmatics, local political leaders, businesses and environmental groups. The coalition meets on the third Tuesday of every month at the Golden Valley Health Centers classroom in Merced. For more information please contact the coalition at www.mmcac.com

For more information, please contact:
Mary-Michal Rawling
Program Manager Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition
(209) 385-5490 or mrawling@gvhc.org

This program is part of the National ROR center, which promotes early literacy by making books a routine part of pediatric care. Golden Valley Health Centers¹ medical providers give children six months to five years of age a new book at every well-child visit. Along with the age and language appropriate book, parents also receive advice about the importance of reading aloud early to their children. Volunteer readers in the waiting rooms model reading techniques for parents as they wait to see the doctor. (Sponsored by: First 5 Merced County, Target Stores, National ROR Center, and Golden Valley Health Centers).

For more information, please contact:
César E. García
Reach Out and Read Coordinator
(209) 385-5412 or cegarcia@gvhc.org