Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers has officially completed a significant expansion of its main clinic, the Chavez Clinic in Milwaukee. This development is poised to substantially improve healthcare access for the city’s most vulnerable populations.
The $9.3 million expansion project at the clinic, located at 1032 S. Chavez Drive, introduces a new on-site pharmacy, enhanced mental health services, and expanded facilities for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Previously, WIC services were administered from a separate location several blocks away. This consolidation of services under one roof at the Sixteenth Street Clinic aims to create a more convenient and integrated healthcare experience for patients.
“From our humble beginnings in a small storefront on this very corner in 1969, Sixteenth Street has remained steadfast in our commitment to provide our patients and our community with the essential services they require,” stated Dr. Julie Schuller, President and CEO of Sixteenth Street, during the expansion ceremony on January 30th at the main clinic.
This expansion adds 21,000 square feet to the north side of the existing building, allowing the Sixteenth Street clinic to integrate more comprehensive services within a single location. The goal is to transform the clinic into a “one-stop shop” where patients can seamlessly access consultations and obtain their prescriptions immediately after appointments.
With the expanded facilities, the Sixteenth Street clinic anticipates an increase of 32,000 patient visits annually. The newly opened pharmacy, operational since early December, has already surpassed initial projections, experiencing near-annual prescription volumes within just a couple of months.
“We are acutely aware that this community is facing a pharmacy desert,” Dr. Schuller emphasized. “This reality has only amplified the critical importance of delivering pharmacy services directly within our clinic.” The recent closures of multiple Walgreens pharmacies across Milwaukee, including one in the near south side at 2625 W. National Ave, have exacerbated this issue, making the Sixteenth Street clinic’s pharmacy expansion even more vital.
The Chavez Drive clinic is a cornerstone of Sixteenth Street’s operations, one of three full-service clinics in Milwaukee, alongside a full-service clinic in downtown Waukesha. Additionally, Sixteenth Street manages four other locations across Milwaukee’s south side, further extending its reach and impact in the community.
Serving Milwaukee’s Hispanic Community and Addressing Critical Health Needs
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers are crucial in providing primary care, behavioral health services, and various other essential healthcare services. Their primary focus is serving low-income Hispanic patients, many of whom rely on BadgerCare Plus, Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, or are uninsured. Annually, the clinics serve over 40,000 patients. A significant portion of the patient base at the Sixteenth Street clinic are Spanish-speaking or prefer to communicate in languages other than English during their healthcare interactions, highlighting the clinic’s role as a culturally competent healthcare provider.
The expansion has also enabled the Sixteenth Street clinic to significantly bolster its mental health services. By incorporating substance use disorder treatment at the main clinic and expanding its team of mental health professionals, Sixteenth Street is directly addressing a pressing community need.
The neighborhoods surrounding the main clinic are unfortunately grappling with some of the highest rates of fatal drug overdoses in Milwaukee County, according to county data. The 53204 ZIP code, where the Sixteenth Street clinic is situated, has recorded the highest number of fatal overdoses in the county over the past decade, exceeding 400. The neighboring 53215 ZIP code faces a similarly dire situation. The expanded space now allows the Sixteenth Street clinic to host group therapy sessions, an essential component of comprehensive mental health care.
Substance use disorder treatment remains accessible at other Sixteenth Street locations, including clinics on South 27th Street and West National Avenue in Milwaukee, as well as the Waukesha clinic. Dr. Schuller noted a “dramatic surge” in the demand for mental health services since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among young people and adolescents, underscoring the timeliness and importance of this expansion.
The expansion project was made possible through significant financial support, including a generous $4.7 million gift from Froedtert ThedaCare Health, a roughly $2 million grant from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ administration, and $1.25 million in federal funds secured by U.S. Representative Gwen Moore.
Froedtert ThedaCare Health and Sixteenth Street share a long-standing partnership. Previously, Froedtert contributed several million dollars to facilitate the opening of a Sixteenth Street clinic on West National Avenue specializing in behavioral health and substance abuse services.
David Olson, chief business development officer at Froedtert ThedaCare Health, emphasized the vital role community health centers like Sixteenth Street play in mitigating health disparities. “This expansion will significantly enhance access to crucial programs and services for thousands of individuals and families,” he stated at the expansion event. “It will better serve existing patients of this Sixteenth Street clinic, and empower community members to access all the healthcare services they need in one convenient location.”
