The medical division of the Community Health Center provides a myriad of medical services including primary health care and routine physical examinations.

Our medical laboratory uses state of the art equipment, proven quality control methods and proficiency testing in order to ensure accurate results. We perform Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals, serve as a drug specimen collection site for the Ohio Department of Transportation, and hold several hundred Employee Assistance Program contracts with businesses in Summit County. Our Employee Assistance contact can be reached at 330-315-3704.

The Community Health Center's "Children are Special" groups target children, ages 5 through 12, growing up in chemically dependent families and addresses issues of feelings, problem solving, coping skills, and self esteem. These groups consist of eight sessions and are offered at various times and locations throughout the year. This lends to the belief that all clients should be afforded quality, timely, clinically sound and cost-effective services.

The Health Promotion Program at the Community Health Center provides HIV/AIDS education and prevention to area youth and substance abusers. Our Health Promotion Program provides age-appropriate education and prevention through interactive approaches. These include: educational talks, learning activities / games, discussions, videos, role-playing, and questions and answer sessions. Educational materials are made available to youth and their parents on a broad array of health issues.

The Akron Drug Abuse Clinic, located within the Community Health Center, offers Methadone maintenance and detoxification treatment specifically for opiate addictions, in particular, heroin. The Clinic, one of only nine such clinics in the state of Ohio, also offers LAAM (1-alpha-acetyl-methadol) treatment as an alternative to Methadone.

Methadone, the most widely used and studied treatment for heroin addiction in the United States, has been identified as the single most effective treatment for opiate addicts in the world. When given on a daily basis, in appropriate doses and under the supervision of a physician, Methadone blocks the effects of street heroin and effectively reduces the craving for heroin and other illicit opiates.

Another benefit of methadone is that it is safe and produces no significant side-effects. Health services are provided to those who might not otherwise seek treatment of related disorders, such as Hepatitis B and C viruses. Methadone treatment reduces the incidence of HIV/AIDS, as IV drug users often share contaminated needles. Methadone clinics are on the front lines providing education, medical services, and risk reduction information.

PANDA is an education/prevention program designed for middle school students (grades 6, 7, and 8). The goal of PANDA is to begin to educate young people, not only about the dangers of drug/alcohol abuse and use, but also about peer pressure, decision-making and self-esteem. This goal is accomplished during a Friday through Sunday educational camp experience. The 3-day weekend and week long prevention camp directly serve over 500 adolescents per year.

The Community Health Center understands the needs of both the employer and the employee in dealing with potential and existing abuse programs. Our mission is to aid the business community in developing the employee's full potential through training and workshops, medical services, drug prevention and testing. Services include management and supervisory training, and employee education as related to substance abuse issues in the workplace. Further information may be obtained at 330-315-3704.

The Community Health Center operates a state-licensed child care facility at RAMAR, our residential housing facility, as well as a child day care center in our adult unit North Campus facility. KidSpace enables us to provide residential treatment as well as intensive outpatient treatment to moms who otherwise would not be available for treatment due to family obligations. This program eliminates barriers that prevent women from receiving service.

Teaching monetary responsibility and budget management is one of our most critical responsibility in maintaining client independence. Most of our clients are senior citizens who are affected by dementia or Alzheimer's and are referred by the Summit County Adult Protective Services. In the Representative Payee Program a budget is established, but a member of the staff of the Community Health Center actually makes the payments in conjunction with the client. This demonstration of responsibility is one of the vital lessons given to a client to maintain a sense of independence.

Project Moves is a cooperative effort between the Community Health Center and the Caroll County Department of Job and Family Services to assist men and women who are transitioning off welfare support to meaningful employment. Through the use of medical/psycho/social assessment, present or future skills are developed in cooperation with participating training agencies in Caroll County. Primary health care as well as wraparound support services are also provided to clients to enable them to achieve employment and independent living. This program removes barriers that in the past prevented employment and self-sufficiency.