Health Plus - Health Plus Commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month

For Immediate Release

Health Plus Commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Marches And Workshops Remember Slain Employee

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New York, NY - October 16, 2003 — Health Plus has always strived to battle the scourge of domestic violence in its communities, but this year the Medicaid managed care organization is extending its efforts, as it remembers one of its own employee's, Melissa Sanchez, who was allegedly killed by an abusive boyfriend in January.

Sanchez was a health educator with Health Plus for over a year. She was responsible for teaching free health education workshops, informing the public on serious health topics, including domestic violence.

Tom Early, Health Plus CEO, said: "Melissa is a good example of how difficult it is to escape a domestic violence relationship. She was our expert on this topic. She knew the resources that were available to her that could help her get out of this situation. She still couldn't escape before becoming a victim of domestic violence. Health Plus has made it part of its mission to help employees, members and others to avoid this same fate."

Health Plus's staff is observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in a number of ways: Health Plus's staff is participating in Awareness marches, holding free educational workshops on the subject throughout the city, providing detailed information to all employees through mailings and workshops, and is collecting cell phones to donate to Safe Horizons, the largest provider of domestic violence services in the country.

On September 26th, Health Plus united with the New York Latinas Against Domestic Violence and participated in the Brides March, a six-mile march through Washington Heights, The Bronx,and Harlem, to raise awareness and battle domestic violence. The Brides March specifically remembers Gladys Ricart, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend on her wedding day in 1999.

Health Plus staff also joined up with the Washington Heights and Inwood Coalition Against Domestic Violence to march in yesterday's Family Violence Hurts Everybody Walk For Peace. This march was also through the streets of upper Manhattan. According to the coalition, this area of Manhattan receives more than 5,000 domestic violence complaints each year. Health Plus employees, who once worked alongside Melissa Sanchez educating the public about Domestic Violence, held pictures of her and "dove" symbols of peace as they marched with her family and others.

"To honor our colleague, Melissa," says Health Plus's Health Educator Manager Claribel Blake, "we will continue to advocate for victims of domestic violence and their families by participating in local marches, coalitions, and providing workshops citywide in various languages that not only increase awareness about this public health problem, but also provide victims with information about resources available at the local and national level."

Earlier this year, Health Plus set up the Melissa Sanchez fund, which collected $2,560 that was donated to St. Francis College, Sanchez's Alma Mater.

Health Plus will be offering the following two free health education workshops this month to inform the public on what domestic violence is and how victims can seek help, including information on legal rights, shelters, counseling, and other services:

Park Ridge Family Health Center, 6317 4th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11220
October 21 at 9:30 a.m.

Health Plus Office, 2501 Grand Concourse, Bronx NY 10458 (2nd Floor)
October 23 at 10:00 a.m.

Health Plus’s Health Educators Rosanna Quezada and La-Kisa Hines hold pictures and a banner as they march, rallying against domestic violence

Melissa Sanchez’s family and co-workers hold a picture in memory of her during the Violence Hurts Everybody Walk For Peace

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Health Plus, a not-for-profit, multi-cultural organization, is one of the fastest growing managed care organizations in New York City. It was established in 1984 with a commitment to provide coordinated quality health care and improving access to health care for uninsured and underserved families. In its annual review of managed care plans, the New York State Department of Health ranked Health Plus as the top plan for quality in its 2002 and 2003 "Consumer's Guide to Medicaid Managed Care in New York City." Health Plus is New York City's leading provider of Child Health Plus, a New York State Department of Health program that offers parents FREE or low-cost health insurance for children under the age of 19. "CRAIN'S New York Business" magazine ranked Health Plus fifth among the largest health maintenance organizations in the New York area.