Valley Primary Care Network

Articles of Incorporation were filed on April 9, 1997 by the Brownsville Community Health Center, Community Action Council of South Texas, Nuestra Clinica Del Valle, and Su Clinica Familiar, establishing the Valley Primary Care Network (VPCN) as a nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for the purpose of developing a health care delivery network that will achieve a seamless continuum of quality health care and related services for persons in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

Vision, Mission, and Priorities

On January 16, 2007, the VPCN Board of Directors unanimously approved the following statements of vision, mission and priorities for the Valley Primary Care Network.

Vision: Ensuring Affordable Health Care for Everyone.

Mission: To increase funding levels and cost effective delivery methods for health care and related services to the residents of its five counties [Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo, Starr, and Zapata] South Texas Borderplex service area.

Priorities: Listed below from highest to lowest.

1. Health Care Sources and Levels of Funding – Identify and pursue sources of funding (public and private,
grants and contracts) that support health care and related service delivery.

2. Health Care Coordination and Collaboration – Increase integration of area health care and related services resources to achieve greater economy of scale, cost effective and cost efficiency, as well as to maximize quality of care and services.

3. Health Care Awareness and Advocacy – Increase community awareness of health care “best practices”, and advocacy for the implementation of cost effective interventions to eliminate barriers to accessing health care and related services.

Chief Executive Officer: Roy E. Becker
Administrative Assistant: Celina Garcia
Finance Director: Moises Gomez, CPA
Healthy Start Program Manager: Gloria S. Casas Healthy Start Assistant Program Manager: Ruby S. De La Garza Community Coordinator of Programs: Juan Salazar
Board of Directors President: Lucy Ramirez

Services Provided

A. Data Acquisition/Analysis and Technical Assistance: The VPCN staff, at the direction of the Board of Directors, identifies and obtains secondary as well as primary data and information regarding health and related needs, as well as services, in the LRGV Borderplex. VPCN staff provides data analysis and interpretation, and, if requested, recommendations regarding appropriate responses to this information.

B. Logistical Support/Service Integration/and Communication: VPCN serves as a point-of-contact and participation for members, as well as other entities, providing a venue to discuss and analyze care issues affecting the Borderplex to prepare applications or proposals for funds to address identified needs.

C. Preparation of Applications and Funding Requests: The VPCN Board of Directors reviews and selects appropriate Requests for Proposals, from both public entities and private foundations, and sets the programmatic and budgetary parameters of the applications submitted. The Board of Directors considers only projects that are consistent with VPCN's mission, that respond to the health promotion and disease prevention needs of the community, and that involve two or more VPCN member entities. VPCN staff prepares and processes submissions of Board approved applications.

D. Planning and Education: The Board of Directors has authorized VPCN to serve as a representative for its members in several Valley-wide health planning endeavors, including the following activities:

• leading a Valley-wide planning and advisory group for a Health Services District (two or more counties), • representing the membership in a LRGV Diabetes Consortium, and
• maintaining on-going contact with the Regional Academic Health Center in the Borderplex.

E. Representing and Negotiating: Once approved by the Board of Directors, VPCN serves as the designated representative in discussions, deliberations and negotiations involving Valley-wide issues, programs or projects. The provided services include participating in developmental discussions and negotiations, recording critical elements of the discussion, and reporting on and recommending actions.

Current (2008) grants and contract – funding source: VPCN is the recipient of the following.

* Healthy Start Program Grant to Eliminate Disparities – HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau
* CHIP/Medicaid Integrated Eligibility & Enrollment Contract – TX Health & Human Services Commission
* Integrated Health Care Grant – Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
* Community HealthCorps Grant – National Association of Community Health Centers

Contact Information:
1106 E. Tyler Avenue
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 425-6200 phone
(956) 425-6205 fax
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Member Organizations: