Our vision is to be a community leader, committed to delivering dependable, compassionate, high quality health care that enhances the well-being of our diverse and changing communities. By partnering with our patients, drawing on our expertise and collaborating with other community resources, we will promote and support our patients efforts to achieve optimal health goals.
Our health center was named in honor of Whitney Moore Young, Jr., executive director of the National Urban League from 1961 until his untimely death in 1971. Using the Urban League as a platform, Mr. Young worked to put an end to segregation and discrimination. He persistently worked within the system to change attitudes, practices and to promote greater cultural sensitivity. His goal was for African Americans to gain access to good jobs, education, housing, health care, and social services.
It was Whitney M. Young's lifelong commitment to racial justice, social equality and his work to level the playing field for disenfranchised African Americans that led the founders of Whitney Young Health to name the organization after this extraordinary man.
You are the one that suffers if this community becomes poorer. If people become tax eaters rather than tax producers, if people produce crime and welfare costs instead of producing goods and services, you pay the costs,
The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center (WYH) was established in 1971 to provide access to consistent quality healthcare without regard to income. Today, WYH offers primary medical, dental and behavioral health services to over 20,000 men, women and children at sites throughout our region.
We operate health centers in Albany, Troy and Watervliet. Our School Based Health Centers provide medical care in three of the City School District of Albanys elementary schools and at Albany High School, as well as the Watervliet City School District. Our mobile health unit, Whitney on Wheels, provides medical care at schools, public housing and community centers in Albany and Rensselaer counties. Through a collaborative dental program with the Healthy Capital District Initiative (HCDI), Seal a Smile delivers preventative dental care at schools throughout our community and has recently added on-site restorative care to over 52 schools.
Whitney Young Health works to alleviate barriers accessing care and augment its primary care services by providing transportation, translation, patient education, nutrition and case management services as well as by employing culturally diverse clinical and support staff. More than 8% of the diverse patient population reports a language other than English best serves them. To assist these patients, WYH employs Spanish and Russian interpreters and utilizes AT&Ts Language Line.
The School Based Health Center opened a new location at Albany High School which will expand the population eligible to be treated by the SBHC not only to AHS students, but also to any student in the City School District of Albany, including those attending charter schools
We celebrated the renovation, reopening, and naming of our facility at 10 DeWitt Street in Albany. The building, now known as the Harry & Jeannette Weinberg Treatment Center, is home to our substance use disorder programs and a primary care office
The Behavioral Health suite moved into the space vacated by Dental. The renovated space features conference rooms, psychiatrist's offices, and rooms for group therapy and space for Clinicians and Care Coordinators to have confidential meetings with patients
When the COVID-19 vaccine became available, WYH began clinics starting with our staff and community partners such as teachers at SBHC schools, then moving on to WYH patients who met eligibility requirements. Vaccine clinics opened to the general public shortly thereafter, with clinic sites in underserved areas
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center (WYH)is accredited by New York State Department of Health.Whitney Young Health has been recognized, for a third time, by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level 3Patient-Centered Medical Homeat the Albany, Troy and Watervliet Health Centers.In 2019 Whitney Young Health was recognized by theHRSA Health Center Programwith Quality Improvement Awards (QIA), including the Health Center Quality Leader Award, for ranking in the top 30% of health centers nationally for clinical quality. WYH also received 2019 QIA's for Health Disparities Reducer, Access Enhancerand Advancing HIT for Quality.
Our substance use disorder programs are licensed by New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).Our Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program (MMTP) is also accredited byThe Joint Commission. WYH is a member of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) andthe Community Health Centers Association of New York State (CHCANYS).
This health center is a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n).Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center is a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) deemed facility.
This health center receives HHS funding and has Federal PHS deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.
The Joint Commission addresses all complaints that relate to quality of care issues within the scope of their standards. These include issues such as patient rights, care of patients, safety, infection control, medication use and security.
If you have any concerns regarding the quality of care provided at Whitney Young Health, you may speak to a WYH representative or the Joint Commission.Reporting is permitted without fear of retaliation or disciplinary action. For example, no harassment, change in your services, discipline or abuse will be threatened or carried out in retaliation for reporting concerns to WYH or the Joint Commission.
Whitney Young Healths annual fundraiser, The Legacy Event, was held on October 6, 2021 at the Albany Capital Center. This event recognizes and honors community leaders who are making a difference in the Capital Region and benefits individuals and families who rely on Whitney Young Health for affordable medical, dental and behavioral health care.