The Wright Center for Community Health will begin offering whole-person primary and preventive health services inside Friendship House’s new Whole Person Care Center at 30 N. Main Street, Suite 100, Carbondale. To make an appointment, call 570-591-5298.

Building on their longstanding partnership, The Wright Center for Community Health and Friendship House are working together once again to increase access to affordable, high-quality, whole-person primary and preventive health services, particularly for individuals with complex mental health and substance use disorder needs.

On Thursday, Aug. 13, The Wright Center will begin offering whole-person primary and preventive health services at Friendship House’s new Whole Person Care Center at 30 N. Main Street, Suite 100, Carbondale. The new 15,000-square-foot health center will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing a range of services, including checkups, physicals, screenings, and treatment for common illnesses and injuries. To make an appointment, call 570-591-5298.

The Wright Center for Community Health Friendship House – Carbondale’s services will be available to individuals of all ages, regardless of their insurance status, ZIP code, or ability to pay. Patients do not need to be clients of Friendship House to receive care at The Wright Center’s newest location.

The Wright Center will celebrate its continued partnership with Friendship House by hosting a grand opening on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 4-5 p.m. at the Whole Person Care Center. The public event will feature remarks from leaders of The Wright Center and Friendship House, as well as community leaders.

This marks The Wright Center’s second partnership with Friendship House, an organization that serves children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities, emotional or behavioral challenges, and the effects of trauma related to loss, abuse, or neglect. Since November 2024, The Wright Center has provided primary care services at Friendship House’s Whole Person Care Center, located at 200 Wyoming Ave., Suite 250, in Scranton. Since opening, the clinical team has provided care during more than 3,500 patient visits.

“Building on the success of our partnership at Friendship House – Scranton, we are excited to expand our collaboration and bring whole-person primary health services to Carbondale,” said Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer at The Wright Center for Community Health. “By co-locating primary care with Friendship House’s behavioral health services, we can help ensure individuals and families have greater access to the comprehensive care they need, when and where they need it. This partnership is another important step in our mission to improve the health and welfare of our communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.”

Friendship House’s services in Carbondale will include outpatient mental health therapy for children, adolescents, and adults; psychiatric evaluations and medication management; on-site psychiatric rehabilitation programs; and additional behavioral health services.

“Our partnership with The Wright Center reflects our shared commitment to improving access to comprehensive, whole-person care, which includes behavioral and primary care,” said Alex J. Hazzouri, president and CEO of Friendship House. “As we expand services in Carbondale and the surrounding areas, we’re creating greater opportunities for individuals and families to receive the behavioral and primary care services they need, close to home.

“Together, we’re breaking down barriers to care and strengthening the health of the communities we serve.”

The Wright center for Community Health Tunkhannock hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 24, at the Wyoming County Healthcare Center for its new dental service line.

The Wright Center for Community Health celebrated the launch of a new dental service line at its community health center in Tunkhannock on Friday, July 24, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Wyoming County Healthcare Center, 5950 U.S. Route 6, Suite 401.

The event, which was open to the public, featured remarks from leaders at The Wright Center and Wyoming County Healthcare Center, tours of the four new dental operatories, and a meet-and-greet with the Tunkhannock dental team, led by veteran dentist Dr. Frank Pagano.

“We are taking another meaningful step forward as we celebrate the upcoming opening of our new, state-of-the-art dental services center inside our Federally Qualified Health Center Look Alike Center on the fourth floor of the Wyoming County Healthcare Center,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Center. “Oral healthcare is an essential part of whole-person health and our whole-person care model.

“A healthy smile is more than healthy teeth. It is about dignity and confidence – for the child who can concentrate in school instead of living with oral pain, the parent who no longer has to choose between paying a bill and seeing a dentist, and the older adult who can eat nutritious food, speak comfortably, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.”

Starting Monday, Aug. 3, The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock will begin offering affordable, high-quality oral care services, including routine exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, fillings, extractions, restorations, dentures, and other procedures for adults and children. Appointments can be made by calling 570-591-5299.

Officials from Scranton Counseling Center and The Wright Center for Community Health celebrated the completion of a vibrant new mural by Allison LaRussa, The Wright Center’s associate vice president of health and wellness. The artwork commemorates the partnership between the two organizations, which began in 2021 when The Wright Center opened a community health center inside Scranton Counseling Center to provide high-quality, whole-person primary and preventive health services for patients of all ages. Featuring a tree with interconnected roots, the mural symbolizes the strength of community, collaboration, and the shared commitment to supporting mental and physical well-being. Staff members from both organizations helped bring the project to life by adding their handprints, creating a lasting tribute to their partnership and the people they serve.

Participating in the dedication, from left, are Douglas A. Hein, director of development at Scranton Counseling Center; Jerry Musheno, chair, Scranton Counseling Center Board of Directors; Renee Zehel, chief philanthropy officer and vice president of grants and strategic initiatives at The Wright Center; Dr. Sarah Wodder, president and CEO, Scranton Counseling Center; Kara Seitzinger, director of public affairs and advisor liaison to the president and CEO at The Wright Center; Margaret McNulty, immediate past chair, Scranton Counseling Center Board of Directors; and Allison LaRussa, associate vice president of health and wellness at The Wright Center. 

For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

The Wright Center is hosting its annual The Wright Way to Wellness: Kids Edition, a free children’s wellness fair, from 2-5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, in the auditorium at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. Like last year’s event, which drew several hundred families, this year’s fair will feature fitness and art activities, healthy snacks and nutrition demonstrations, a backpack and school supply giveaway, raffles, and interactive exhibits. Families can also learn more about school physicals, vaccinations, and other health resources.

Families are invited to celebrate healthy living and back-to-school season at The Wright Way to Wellness: Kids Edition, a free children’s wellness fair hosted by The Wright Center for Community Health as part of National Health Center Week.

The event will take place from 2-5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, in the auditorium at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave. Open to the public, the fair returns for a second consecutive year after drawing several hundred families to its inaugural program.

Children and their families can enjoy fitness and art activities, healthy snacks and nutrition demonstrations, a backpack and school supply giveaway, raffles, and interactive exhibits while learning about school physicals, vaccinations, and other health resources. The event will also feature the Lackawanna County Public Library system and community partners, including Marywood University, Build-N-Athlete, and Valley in Motion.

The children’s wellness fair is one of several events The Wright Center will host during National Health Center Week, Aug. 2-8, an annual celebration recognizing the essential role community health centers play in improving access to high-quality, comprehensive, whole-person primary health services.

“National Health Center Week is a celebration of the vital role community health centers play in keeping our communities healthy and connected,” said Kara Seitzinger, executive director of public affairs and advisor liaison to the president/CEO. “Every day, we provide responsive, whole-person primary and preventive health services to our neighbors who need it most, and we’re excited to celebrate that impact by hosting this children’s wellness fair and several other community events.”

The Wright Center is hosting a slate of free activities to celebrate National Health Center Week, including:

• Monday, Aug. 3, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., The Wright Center for Community Health Clarks Summit, 1145 Northern Blvd., South Abington Twp., backpack giveaway.
• Tuesday, Aug. 4, noon-2 p.m., The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, food giveaway.
• Thursday, Aug. 6, noon-2 p.m., The Wright Center for Community Health North Pocono, 260 Daleville Highway, Suite 103, Covington Township, food giveaway.
• Friday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Wright Center for Community Health North Pocono, 260 Daleville Highway, Suite 103, Covington Township,  backpack and school supply giveaway.
• Saturday, Aug. 8, 9-10:30 a.m., Olive Street Trailhead entrance to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Scranton, Walk with a Doc.

 For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org/events.

A veteran dentist with more than three decades of experience will lead the new dental service line at The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock, expanding access to oral healthcare at the Wyoming County Healthcare Center.

“I’m excited to bring high-quality dental care to the Tunkhannock community, where access to oral health services is greatly needed,” Dr. Pagano said. “Good oral health is essential to overall well-being, and I look forward to helping patients of all ages receive the compassionate, comprehensive care they deserve while improving the health of our communities.”

The community health center accepts most dental insurances, including Delta Dental, Guardian, United Concordia, and Medical Assistance (Medicaid). To ensure high-quality oral care is available to everyone, The Wright Center for Community Health offers a sliding-fee discount program for individuals who qualify based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines, which take into account family size and income. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay.

The Wright Center for Community Health partnered with officials from the Lackawanna/Susquehanna Office of Drug & Alcohol Programs to host a drug take-back event at its community health center in Scranton on June 12.

Participating in the program, front row from left, are Sheridan Kaschak, chief of staff at The Wright Center; Rachael Iskander, executive assistant and medical scribe to the president/CEO of The Wright Center; Dan White of the Lackawanna County Office of Drug and Alcohol; and Chelsea Chopko, organizational development and communications effectiveness partner at The Wright Center; second row, Scott Constantini, associate vice president of primary care and recovery services integration at The Wright Center; and Scranton Police Officer Jason Alers.