The Family Health Clinic of Carroll County has received a federal stimulus grant. The grant is for $1.3 million, to be shared with the Family Health Clinic of Monon, another Purdue Nurse Managed clinic.

"The money will be used for more staffing, equipment, and transportation," said R.N. Deb Mears, patient care coordinator for the Carroll County clinic.

"We hope to hire an executive director and more nurse practitioners, be open more hours, and be able to offer more same day appointments," Mears said.

"The whole purpose is to help us serve more people in the community," she added.

The Carroll County clinic, located in Delphi, served 2,800 patients in 2008, according to Mears. Current staffing includes one full-time nurse practitioner, three part-time nurse practitioners, one full-time registered nurse, and one part-time LPN.

The clinic opened in downtown Delphi in 1995, and moved to the new Brooks Center, Vine Street and Prince William Road, in August of 2008. Four other agencies are located at the Center. The Brooks Center is named after Jo Brooks, the founder of the clinic.

"Our doors are open to everyone," Mears said. "For those without insurance, we have a sliding fee scale, based on income."

The clinic is open Monday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon.

Those currently serving on the clinic's governing board are Ezequiel Licona, Norman Miller, Kay Ross, Dean Overholser, Connie Hughes, Clara Rider, Yolanda Castillo, Zeyad Abdulrazzaq, Maria Albins, Julie Gutwein, Maribel Montes,

Ilse Gonzalez, and Jerry Horner.

Mears said the clinic is supported by fees charged, United Fund, sorority donations, Purdue University, and state and federal grants. The clinic also has an annual fundraising event, which will be June 19 this year.

"We truly do appreciate all of the community support that we get from Carroll County," said Barb Strasburger, family nurse practitioner and clinic coordinator. "Without it, our jobs would be a lot harder. Providing health care to the underserved is our mission, and this community has embraced it. I have served this community for seven years at the clinic, and our clients are very appreciative of the affordable care that they receive. This is a clinic the community can be proud to have here."