At the heart of Philadelphia, the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel University stands as a beacon of innovative and compassionate healthcare. Recognized nationally for its groundbreaking approach, this center goes beyond traditional medical care to treat the whole person. Esteemed by organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s LEAP project, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the American Academy of Nursing, 11th Street‘s true measure of success lies in its deep-rooted partnership with the community and the countless lives it has positively impacted.
11th Street employs a transdisciplinary model, seamlessly integrating primary care, behavioral health services, dental care, and comprehensive health and wellness programs. Serving over 6,000 patients annually, the center provides a single, accessible point of care for adults and children alike, addressing both the physical and psycho-social dimensions of health for individuals and families.
The core mission of the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services is unwavering: to deliver high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services to its diverse patient population. A particular focus is placed on vulnerable individuals and residents within the public housing developments of the 11th Street Corridor. Beyond direct patient care, 11th Street serves as an exemplary model for nurse-managed, community-based healthcare, playing a vital role in the education of future health professionals and serving as a site for faculty practice.
“The Center takes the nervousness out of asking questions you might not otherwise feel comfortable asking, because it’s easy to open up and talk to the nurses and midwives here. It’s just a magical place.” —Tanesha Palmer, Centering Patient (Prenatal)
Understanding the Community Served at 11th Street
The 11th Street Family Health Services is deeply embedded within its community, with a target population comprising residents of the four public housing developments situated in the 11th Street corridor. These residents face significant socioeconomic challenges, with a median family income of just $15,000. While the center prioritizes this local community, its reputation for exceptional care draws patients from across the wider city of Philadelphia. The residents of these housing developments experience a disproportionately high burden of illness, including elevated rates of diabetes and the lasting effects of adverse childhood experiences.
In 2019, reflecting its vital role in the community, the center provided an impressive 26,298 patient visits, demonstrating its commitment to accessible healthcare.
Financial Accessibility and Reimbursement at 11th Street
11th Street Family Health Services is committed to providing care regardless of financial status. The center’s reimbursement structure reflects this commitment to serving all members of the community:
- 15% Uninsured: Ensuring access to care for those without coverage.
- 8% Medicare: Serving senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.
- 60% Medicaid: Providing essential healthcare for low-income individuals and families.
- 17% Private Insurance: Accepting a range of private insurance plans.
This diverse reimbursement model allows 11th Street to maintain financial stability while upholding its mission of providing care to everyone in need.
Guiding Principles of 11th Street Family Health Services
The Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services operates on a strong foundation of guiding principles that prioritize patients, community, and ethical practice:
- Patient-Centered Approach: Placing the patient at the forefront, resources are strategically utilized to meet the needs of patients, staff, and the community.
- Community Partnership: Working collaboratively with the community and Drexel University to proactively improve the overall health and well-being of the community.
- Needs-Based Services: Providing healthcare services that are directly informed by and responsive to the specific needs defined by the community itself.
- Universal Access to Quality Care: Ensuring high-quality healthcare is accessible to all, irrespective of their ability to pay, removing financial barriers to well-being.
- Integrity and Respect: Operating with the highest levels of integrity in all communications and collaborations, fostering an environment of mutual trust and respect among patients, staff, and the community.
- Dedicated and Skilled Staff: Employing a dedicated, enthusiastic, and highly skilled team committed to providing exceptional care and service, valuing diversity, respecting dignity, and embracing individual uniqueness.
- Innovation and Growth: Promoting a culture of innovation and embracing new approaches with energy and enthusiasm to drive positive change and continuous growth in service delivery and community impact.
These principles are not merely words on paper; they are actively lived out in every aspect of the 11th Street Family Health Services’ operations and community engagement.
The Innovative Model of Care at 11th Street
Partnership for Community Based Care: A Cornerstone of 11th Street
The Partnership for Community Based Care (PCBC) serves as the overarching framework that guides all programs within the 11th Street Corridor. Established in 1998, the PCBC embodies a collaborative spirit between the health center and residents of the 11th Street Corridor, working in close cooperation with local schools, churches, community groups, and relevant agencies. This partnership ensures that the health center’s initiatives are community-driven and deeply relevant to the needs of the population it serves.
A critical element of the PCBC is the health center’s Community Advisory Committee. This committee, composed of community members, meets monthly to advise the center’s staff on program development and provide invaluable community feedback on both existing and planned services. For nearly two decades, this advisory board has acted as a vital bridge between the community and the health center, playing a pivotal role in program and service planning, including significant contributions to the design and layout of the center’s physical space. Furthermore, community representation is extended, with three advisory board members also serving on the Family Practice & Counseling Network’s advisory board, ensuring community voices are heard at multiple levels.
Integrative Health Care: A Holistic Approach at 11th Street
11th Street operates on a patient-centered, integrated, and trauma-informed care model. Integrative healthcare, by its very definition, creates a seamless experience for patients and caregivers, encompassing the full spectrum of physical, psychological, social, preventive, and therapeutic factors essential for achieving optimal health throughout life.
At 11th Street, the staff expertly integrates primary care, behavioral health services, and Healthy Living Center programs to formulate comprehensive treatment plans. These plans are designed to address the multifaceted biological, psychological, and social needs of each patient. This integrated system fosters clear communication and close collaboration between patients and staff, empowering them to effectively manage existing illnesses and proactively prevent future health challenges.
Trauma-Informed and Sanctuary Certified Care: Leading the Way
11th Street Family Health Services is gaining national recognition for its pioneering trauma-informed approach to care. It proudly holds Sanctuary certification, making it the first ambulatory care center to achieve this distinction. The Sanctuary Model® is a well-established, trauma-informed, evidence-supported, and whole-culture approach. It provides a structured methodology for creating or transforming organizational culture, ensuring that all aspects of the center are sensitive to and supportive of individuals who have experienced trauma. 11th Street‘s commitment to becoming Sanctuary certified reflects its dedication to ensuring that staff, patients, and the wider community are trauma-informed, equipped with a shared framework for promoting personal, interpersonal, and communal well-being.
Community Outreach: Connecting 11th Street with Philadelphia
The Community Outreach department at the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services plays a crucial role in connecting the center with the wider Philadelphia community. This department is dedicated to raising awareness about the Health Center’s diverse activities and services, ensuring that community members are well-informed about available resources. Staff are readily available to conduct community health workshops and participate in local health fairs, actively engaging with the community to promote health and well-being. For further information about community outreach initiatives or to request participation in events, individuals can contact Lidyvez Sawyer at [email protected].
Key Partnerships: Strengthening 11th Street’s Reach
The Partnership for Community Based Care (PCBC) serves as a catalyst for expanding local initiatives that strengthen and sustain healthy families within the Lower North Philadelphia community. It fosters mutually beneficial relationships to promote health based on the principles of social justice, working to enhance the quality of life for all residents. These collaborative partnerships are instrumental in supporting the research and training of faculty and students across various health professions. The knowledge gained from these activities is directly applied to address pressing local needs and broader societal challenges.
11th Street embodies a model that seamlessly integrates teaching, research, and service delivery, actively involving its constituents and responding directly to the needs of this underserved community. Faculty, staff, and students engage in thoughtful and ongoing dialogue, both within center teams and with community partners, addressing critical issues such as racism, power dynamics, privilege, and their profound effects on individual perceptions, health status, and the delivery of equitable healthcare services.
A Wide Network of Collaborative Partners:
11th Street Family Health Services benefits from a robust network of partnerships, including:
- Spring Garden Elementary School
- The Rodriquez Branch of the Free Library (The Romonita Rodriguez Branch – Free Library of Philadelphia)
- Philadelphia Housing Authority Resident Councils
- The Philadelphia Housing Authority
- Nehemiah Homes
- St Paul’s Baptist Church
- Rodelph Shalom Synagogue
- The local Community Development Corporation
- Drexel University
- Boy’s & Girl’s Club (The Fairmount Boys and Girls Club)
- EPIC –Equal Partners in Change
- RCTC Center for Returning Citizen’s
- Mural Arts Philadelphia
- Farms to Families (St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children)
- AmeriCorps-Philadelphia Health Corp
- National Nursing Center Consortium
- Family Practice and Counseling Network
- Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Teens 4 Good
- Philadelphia Eagles Eye Mobile
This extensive partnership network amplifies the reach and impact of 11th Street, ensuring comprehensive support for the community.
A History of Redefining Care on 11th Street
The Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel University has a rich history dating back to 1996. It began when the School of Nursing at MCP/Hahnemann University forged an agreement with the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) to address the pressing health concerns of residents within Philadelphia’s 11th Street Corridor. From its inception, the center was envisioned as a comprehensive, nurse-managed healthcare hub dedicated to serving a medically underserved population, many of whom resided in the four public housing developments in North Philadelphia.
Initially, services at 11th Street were focused on health promotion and disease prevention. The Center’s Community Advisory Board, comprised of neighborhood residents, played a crucial role in securing temporary space for primary care health services at the Harrison Plaza Community Center. A pivotal moment arrived in 1998 when a significant $3.3 million grant was awarded from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), in partnership with the PHA. This funding enabled the construction of a freestanding, state-of-the-art 17,000 square foot health center. Strategically located within the PHA’s new Richard Allen Homes, the site provided central accessibility for residents of the four public housing developments in the 11th Street corridor. The new building officially opened its doors in September 2002, marking a major milestone in the center’s development.
In June 2002, the Center entered into a vital “linkage” agreement with the Family Practice and Counseling Network. This agreement granted 11th Street access to cost-based reimbursement and grant funding for uninsured patients through the Network’s Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status, significantly enhancing the center’s financial sustainability and ability to serve vulnerable populations.
In recent years, 11th Street has pioneered an integrated and transdisciplinary model of care, grounded in the principle of creating a seamless experience for patients and caregivers. This model encompasses the full spectrum of physical, psychological, social, preventative, and therapeutic factors recognized as essential for achieving optimal health throughout the lifespan (Institute of Medicine, 2009). 11th Street is committed to delivering evidence-based prevention, wellness, and patient-centered care that is personalized, preventative, and participatory for underinsured and uninsured individuals.
A significant expansion opportunity arose in 2010 when Drexel University acquired the land adjacent to the Center. This acquisition paved the way for increasing the Center’s physical space through an addition to the existing building. This expansion was envisioned to substantially increase the number of patients served, broaden the range of services offered to the thousands of vulnerable patients seen annually, and enhance undergraduate and graduate health professions education initiatives. It also aimed to foster increased opportunities within the evolving nurse-led healthcare environment.
Groundbreaking for a 17,000 sq. ft. addition took place on June 6, 2014. The expansion was made possible through the generous support of Stephen and Sandra Sheller, co-founders of the Sheller Family Foundation. Their transformative gift funded a two-story expansion designed to better serve patients and create expanded space for Drexel students engaged in educational and clinical training. The expanded facility includes dedicated space for integrated primary and subspecialty care visits, behavioral health services, couple and family therapy, and new studio space for art, dance movement, and music therapies. The increased space also facilitated the development of enhanced and new healthy lifestyles programming and services to meet the evolving needs of the community. The expansion project was completed in June 2015, culminating in a Ribbon-cutting celebration on November 11, 2015, marking a new chapter for 11th Street.
The Sheller Family Foundation was established by Stephen Sheller, a Drexel trustee and prominent Philadelphia attorney, and his wife Sandra, a Drexel alumna with degrees in art therapy (’04) and couple and family therapy (’05). Their personal connection to Drexel and their commitment to community health have been instrumental in the growth and success of 11th Street.
Beyond its profound impact on the community, 11th Street provides invaluable hands-on clinical experience for Drexel students from across the health professions in a real-world community health setting. This experience shapes their understanding of patients as individuals striving to improve their lives, the complexities of their needs, and the immense potential of the health system to effectively address these complex needs. 11th Street also serves as a unique setting for Drexel Co-op students to practice experiential learning, a hallmark of Drexel education. Patients, in turn, benefit from this educational exchange by gaining access to services that might not otherwise be available in a primary care setting, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem of care and learning.
Supporting the Mission of 11th Street
The Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services relies on the generous contributions of individuals, corporations, foundations, and other organizations to sustain its vital work in the Philadelphia community. Your gift can directly help 11th Street continue to provide essential healthcare services and expand its reach. To make a gift or learn more about supporting the center, please contact James Harding at 267.359.5925 or [email protected].
Ways to Give:
By Mail:
Drexel University
P.O. Box 8215
Philadelphia, PA 19101-9684
Make checks payable to: “Drexel University” and write “11th Street Family Health Services” on the subject line to ensure your donation is directed appropriately.
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Your support empowers 11th Street to continue its legacy of providing exceptional, community-centered healthcare and transforming lives in Philadelphia.
